2024-2025 OKC Thunder Games Thread

[Clav]

it'll be interesting to see who we start with a full roster and what the bench rotation looks like. caruso/kenny/wiggins bench units seem like our best combination but if we start chet / hartenstein together and also have wallace off the bench, i dunno how we get to it. will jaylin williams play?

Yeah I'd like us to try single big lineup to start and have one of Holmgren/Hart on the floor entire game -- unless we're by 15+ try not to play Jaylin.

The two big lineup might be useful at times but it still has some issues to iron out. It's vs Utah in this game so mostly it's about matchups on Collins Kessler and Markkanen. They play pretty big, but rely on a lot of younger guards to get those three looks.

Personally I'll be watching how we guard Collier, George, and Clarkson because the first two are both averaging over 5 assists a game and I think we can stymie the Jazz more by cutting the head off of their initiation.

Long-term, will be curious how we keep using Hart/Chet. It's a good problem

[Dadouv47]

Chet doing well after such a brutal injury...very happy with the way he's playing.

Caruso is a game changer to us...need his experience and defense for the POs.

[Devilanche]

it'll be interesting to see who we start with a full roster and what the bench rotation looks like. caruso/kenny/wiggins bench units seem like our best combination but if we start chet / hartenstein together and also have wallace off the bench, i dunno how we get to it. will jaylin williams play?

Yeah I'd like us to try single big lineup to start and have one of Holmgren/Hart on the floor entire game -- unless we're by 15+ try not to play Jaylin.

The two big lineup might be useful at times but it still has some issues to iron out. It's vs Utah in this game so mostly it's about matchups on Collins Kessler and Markkanen. They play pretty big, but rely on a lot of younger guards to get those three looks.

Personally I'll be watching how we guard Collier, George, and Clarkson because the first two are both averaging over 5 assists a game and I think we can stymie the Jazz more by cutting the head off of their initiation.

Long-term, will be curious how we keep using Hart/Chet. It's a good problem

I think Jaylin spot is an obvious point of upgrade in the summer .

[Kizz Fastfists]

I think Jaylin spot is an obvious point of upgrade in the summer .

He's under contract and cheap for next season. They already have 15 players under contract for next season and are well over the cap. I'm not sure they change anything about the roster for next year. They could trade all their draft picks this year for future picks and just run back this team as it is.

Maybe they package Kenrich and Deing with picks for an upgrade. Maybe they give someone a 1st to take Dillon Jones if they end up with multiple FRPs and there is someone they want to draft. I expect the biggest addition for next year to be Topic's rookie season.

[Devilanche]

I think Jaylin spot is an obvious point of upgrade in the summer .

He's under contract and cheap for next season. They already have 15 players under contract for next season and are well over the cap. I'm not sure they change anything about the roster for next year. They could trade all their draft picks this year for future picks and just run back this team as it is.

Maybe they package Kenrich and Deing with picks for an upgrade. Maybe they give someone a 1st to take Dillon Jones if they end up with multiple FRPs and there is someone they want to draft. I expect the biggest addition for next year to be Topic's rookie season.

You are probably right based on what Presti does so far but I’m an optimist and always hoping for improvement.

It’s more likely they package or do something with the Jaylin/Dieng/Dillon spot . I think Kenrich is still here next season. As a 3rd/4th big I think he’s excellent since he can play SF to small ball C.
Jaylin will be on the last year of his contract as would Dieng .

[Mr Thunder Nick]

A good loss to Minnesota. I hope this a learning process.

[ThunderBolt]

A good loss to Minnesota. I hope this a learning process.

I think it could be helpful in the long run but it was pretty gross to watch unfold.

[Kizz Fastfists]

A good loss to Minnesota. I hope this a learning process.

They learned they are not as good when Chet is sitting. They learned they need to make their 3s. Is there something else you think they should have learned from this game? Wiggins, Caruso, Cason, Kenrich and JDub were 7 for 34 from 3.

[Dadouv47]

wonder how our players will react to the "fraud" narrative comes playoff time. They read social media so they know a lot of people are saying they are 2nd round exit PO etc.

I don't want to play the Warriors in the first round, could be tricky. I wanted to avoid Dallas as well but no clue anymore.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I don't want to play the Warriors in the first round, could be tricky. I wanted to avoid Dallas as well but no clue anymore.

I would like to avoid Dallas for the same reasons as last year. Their size concerns me. OKC is better equipped to deal with it this year, but a healthy Dallas team is a big team that will have a similar size advantage it had last year during stretches of the game. Gafford, Lively, AD and PJ Washington taking all the minutes at C and PF, with Washington as the starting SF. Chet and IH will hold their own against the starters, but when you start tossing out Jaylin with Kenrich or JDub then Dallas gains some significant size and strength advantage in the paint. I'm not saying OKC shouldn't win as their starters should win more significantly than their bench loses, especially when you factor in for the playing time of starters compared to bench players.

On paper, OKC is clearly the best team in the West. They were last year also, but ran into the worst possible matchup. OKC made a move this off-season to limit that issue. The Lakers are a concern just because of Luka and LeBron and that duo is capable of beating any team in a series even with a questionable supporting cast. Denver is always dangerous. If OKC lost to any team in the West it would be a disappointment. Unlike last year, they are the clear favorites in every matchup. Yes, we can imagine scenarios where Dallas, Denver or LAL pull of something crazy. Luka and LeBron put up 40-12-12 each in four games to somehow pull off a miracle upset. Jokic does magical things with Murray has four games where he is the best shooter in the world for Danver to pull out a crazy upset. These are such low probability outcomes that OKC not coming out of the West would be a disappointing season AND would lead some interesting questions for the off-season.

[Dadouv47]

can't believe ESPN had a "rather build team around Ant or Shai?" topic just because we lost last night.

[Mr Thunder Nick]

A good loss to Minnesota. I hope this a learning process.

They learned they are not as good when Chet is sitting. They learned they need to make their 3s. Is there something else you think they should have learned from this game? Wiggins, Caruso, Cason, Kenrich and JDub were 7 for 34 from 3.

I hope coaching stuff has learned also something. I.Joe was in good shape. He played only 18 minutes in an overtime game. Kendrich eared also more minutes. To much minutes without a center. JWil played also just 18 min.

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

Is that a new thing though? We saw teams playing zone defense against us last zone (Spoelstra does it very well).

[Devilanche]

Read on Twitter

Is that a new thing though? We saw teams playing zone defense against us last zone (Spoelstra does it very well).

I don’t know , but I can’t wait to find out.

Losing that badly should fire up the team but without Chet , the holes are kind of more obvious.

[Dadouv47]

Read on Twitter

Is that a new thing though? We saw teams playing zone defense against us last zone (Spoelstra does it very well).

I don’t know , but I can’t wait to find out.

Losing that badly should fire up the team but without Chet , the holes are kind of more obvious.

the only hole (when healthy) is the lack of a second scorer.

we probably have the most complete team since the Warriors dinasty but I don't recall a championship team that had not a good second scoring option.

[Kizz Fastfists]

the only hole (when healthy) is the lack of a second scorer.

we probably have the most complete team since the Warriors dinasty but I don't recall a championship team that had not a good second scoring option.

The championship team that comes to mind immediately is Dallas in '10-'11. Who was their second scorer? I could also ask about the '08-'09 Celtics who arguably didn't have a primary scorer with no one that team averaging 20 PPG. Paul Pierce led them in scoring and was 33rd in the league in PPG.

Why do you not believe JDub qualifies as a solid second scorer? Specific #2 scorers I'd put him as comparable with would be Jamal Murray and Khris Middleton who were #2 scorers for recent championship teams.

[Devilanche]

the only hole (when healthy) is the lack of a second scorer.

we probably have the most complete team since the Warriors dinasty but I don't recall a championship team that had not a good second scoring option.

The championship team that comes to mind immediately is Dallas in '10-'11. Who was their second scorer? I could also ask about the '08-'09 Celtics who arguably didn't have a primary scorer with no one that team averaging 20 PPG. Paul Pierce led them in scoring and was 33rd in the league in PPG.

Why do you not believe JDub qualifies as a solid second scorer? Specific #2 scorers I'd put him as comparable with would be Jamal Murray and Khris Middleton who were #2 scorers for recent championship teams.

That Dallas team have dirk going supernova while Jason terry was the spark plug . Everyone else contribute game to game.

I think Jamal and Khris are more of a consistent offensive threat than Jdub.

I guess we need both of Chet and Jdub to have one of them be consistent 2nd offense kind of option this playoff round and then the rest will need to step up game to game …

[Big nick]

When ih went out in the 3rd I told my wife this is not good the wolves had a big advantage inside, I felt we might lose the game. Well we did.

[Kizz Fastfists]

I guess we need both of Chet and Jdub to have one of them be consistent 2nd offense kind of option this playoff round and then the rest will need to step up game to game …

I'm not disagreeing that one of them, or someone else, will need to step up a bit in some spots in the playoffs. I just don't see OKC having a lack of scoring options with JDub, Chet, Wiggins and Joe all capable of putting up 20+ on a given night. The team is young enough that I can easily see JDub and Chet both as capable of becoming a fringe #1 scoring option so I don't see a lack of #2 scorer as something OKC is going to address. Presti had plenty of opportunities to get someone like Cam Johnson, but he'd be similar to JDub where he could do it any night, but a lack of consistency would still be there. They probably see Topic as someone who will give them someone else that can be in that mix for a #2/3 scorer type and a great P&R guy.

I just don't see an issue with the top 3 as SGA, JDub and Chet when they are all healthy. With Wiggins, Joe, Cason, Dort and Caruso all capable of picking up the slack on a given night. Even IH can drop 15 in a game. If you want to say their depth is less valuable in the playoffs and they should consolidate some of the deeper depth like Kenrich and Dieng for another player that could come in and spark the offense I'm not going to disagree, but I think the long game is just to keep what they have and maybe dump someone at the bottom of the roster for a rookie and let the team develop. If they get the Philly pick this year it makes for an interesting off-season since they could find someone very good in the 7-9 range, but wouldn't it be wild if that pick ended up being #1 next year?

[Devilanche]

I guess we need both of Chet and Jdub to have one of them be consistent 2nd offense kind of option this playoff round and then the rest will need to step up game to game …

I'm not disagreeing that one of them, or someone else, will need to step up a bit in some spots in the playoffs. I just don't see OKC having a lack of scoring options with JDub, Chet, Wiggins and Joe all capable of putting up 20+ on a given night. The team is young enough that I can easily see JDub and Chet both as capable of becoming a fringe #1 scoring option so I don't see a lack of #2 scorer as something OKC is going to address. Presti had plenty of opportunities to get someone like Cam Johnson, but he'd be similar to JDub where he could do it any night, but a lack of consistency would still be there. They probably see Topic as someone who will give them someone else that can be in that mix for a #2/3 scorer type and a great P&R guy.

I just don't see an issue with the top 3 as SGA, JDub and Chet when they are all healthy. With Wiggins, Joe, Cason, Dort and Caruso all capable of picking up the slack on a given night. Even IH can drop 15 in a game. If you want to say their depth is less valuable in the playoffs and they should consolidate some of the deeper depth like Kenrich and Dieng for another player that could come in and spark the offense I'm not going to disagree, but I think the long game is just to keep what they have and maybe dump someone at the bottom of the roster for a rookie and let the team develop. If they get the Philly pick this year it makes for an interesting off-season since they could find someone very good in the 7-9 range, but wouldn't it be wild if that pick ended up being #1 next year?

We do have enough but can always want more . Just kind of weird we didn’t strengthen considering we are 12 deep (exclude Dieng , topic and Dillon this season) and that we are asset rich. That time has obviously passed with the close of the trade deadline .

I prefer for the pick to convey this year . No clue how inspired they might be next season.