Which Thunder will surprise this year?

[jazzfan1971]

Assuming a season of course.

Who do you see stepping up? Who might be stepping down? Anyone look to be ready to bust out?

[bbms]

Westbrook will take a step down with his stats and I think Harden will take a huge step up his stats.

Thunder would be a better team if Westbrook's USG went down and Harden USG went up.

Maybe Ibaka can improve his range, so I guess it'd be fair to include him more at the team's O.

[jambalaya]

Harden should take a large step up. He should get at least 12 FG shots per game. If he takes 12 and still does well, maybe it could go to 15. He was 14th best in the league on TS% last season, Westbrook was at about league average. But Harden only got / took 8 shots per game while Westbrook took 17 in the regular season and pushed it to 20 in the playoffs even though his TS% fell well below average. Meanwhile Harden had a tremendous March, a weak April and a very good May.

Harden needs to be much more assertive and I think summer ball suggests he will be. Brooks needs to run plays for him a lot more and constantly get Westbrook to run them and just pass the ball to him early and let him create for himself or others. If they do the smart things the Thunder will benefit greatly. If Westbrook doesn't and tries to repeat the huge usage of last season or last season's playoffs that will probably be a major issue. Unless Westbrook shoots / scores more efficiently or they scrape together enough shots for Harden (and Ibaka) from the rest of the players or they all decide to think it isn't an issue.

Ibaka seems somewhat less likely to assert himself strongly by taking a lot more shots or get a favorable push from the Coach to do so but he probably should get 2-4 more per game also to see what he does with it. The regular season should be about a fair amount about experimentation to try things and see if they can get better before the playoffs by playing somewhat different than in the past.

Jackson might surprise but probably won't get enough minutes to be a major surprise... except in the case that a guard in front of him (or more than one) is traded or not re-signed or has their minutes cut sharply.

If the team philosophy is really team first and they live that then all 3 of these guys should be priorities even though it means less shots for Westbrook, less minutes for one or more of Thabo, Maynor and Cook and maybe less minutes for Perkins.

[Clangus]

Harden and Ibaka should both be better, I would expect 2+ Blocks from Serge - maybe up to 3. And 8-10 boards.

Harden will be a 17ppg player with 3ass and 3 rebs.

Just my opinion though

[HeartSouloma]

I expect KD to go on a scoring rampage, and score 70 points. As for Harden I expect him to help the teams offense when needed. Serge/KP should do good on the rebs... so i expect okc to stay healthy

[Devilanche]

Who do you see stepping up?
KD: Time to show some post moves and be more of a closer.
Harden: With a more defined role on offence (since green is gone) and a higher usage, i would expect his stats to be boosted probably with added efficiency as well.

Ibaka: More consistent jumper out of him. better individual defence on the perimeter.
Perkins: Better movements than in the playoffs. Supposedly he used to have a jumper but wasn't encouraged to use it in Boston. Would be good if he does really have it.

Thabo: More of the same defensive efforts + euroleague offensive thabo to show up or at least be relevant on offence through cuts or the likes.

Who might be stepping down?
Deaquan Cook: His 3 pts % was quite high not sure if it's contract year production.
Westbrook: Lower usage rate leads to lower stats but expecting him to be a better playmaker.

Rest of the team
Nick Collison: More of the same probably show his offence a little bit more considering 1) It's reliable. 2) no one else has it.
Nazr Mohammed: Guide Aldrich/Mullens as much as he can. Veteran presence. If his tweets are any indications this is a pretty smart man.

Cole Aldrich: Some backup minutes would be nice. lower his foul rate with decent defence and rebounding rate.
BJ Mullens: Will probably be traded if anyone wants him.

Maynor: More of the same, Presti will probably shop him if he can.
Reggie Jackson: Get some minutes closer to all star break.

Nate Robinson: I think he's only getting minutes if Maynor is traded. Even than that will depends on Jackson's performance in training.

Royal Ivey: Expect him to be cut.
Robert Vaden: Expect him to be cut.


I'm a pretty optimistic person.

[wiff]

I don't really see any Thunder stepping down this season. At least not in play or effectiveness. I agree that Harden will be noticeably better. But the Thunder's entire roster is made up of mostly kids. Only a couple of guys are over the age of 30. But Nick Collison and Nozr will both get minutes but not enough to wobble their older knees.

I think Westbrook might not have the shear numbers he had this past year because of Harden getting more minutes and a bigger role in the offense. But I think his efficiency over all will be better. He will be better with the eye ball test too, playing under control more, fewer forced plays.

Durant will lead the league in scoring again. Hopefully develop a post move however from what I have seen on youtube I haven't seen him working on much other than his handles and 3ball.

Perkins should be in better shape, that is only a plus.

Ibaka is just going to keep getting better. I hope he comes back with a solid post move or two. He can hit the 15 footer but I'd like for him to come back with a little turn around jumper. And a consistent jump hook.

But I don't see any real surprises. Most of the roster are kids. Kids get better as they turn into men.