Kanter signed ,Durant/Ibaka healthy ,where do they finish in the WC

tleikheen · Post #1 » by **tleikheen** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:10 am

Lots of negativity towards Kanter,blamed for a contract he had nothing in doing in setting....but now he's with the Thunder....where do you think they will finish in the highly competitive Western Conference

1)OKC
2) Golden State or San Antonio
3) San Antonio or Golden State
4)Grizzlies
5) LA Clippers
6) Houston
7) Utah
8) New Orleans

Two things factored into Golden state winning .....San Antonio losing home court advantage on the last game of regular season,but they put themselves there
Clippers meltdown against Houston ,they had the team style for Golden State

Got OKC on top because they can lead NBA in scoring and rebounding ,smallball isn't going to slow this offense down

In the West ,you better be able to score ..

gom · Post #2 » by **gom** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:03 am

Healthy OKC? 1st.

goodboy · Post #3 » by **goodboy** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:08 am

West will be a dog fight (isnt it always? lol) Though I predict OKC will be around the 3rd seed, possibly higher? I just know Durant will come out with vengeance. Excited to see the duo of GOATbrook/Durant once again.

oh hey gom.

Post #4 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:20 am

gom wrote:Healthy OKC? 1st.

HeatWillRise wrote:West will be a dog fight (isnt it always? lol) Though I predict OKC will be around the 3rd seed, possibly higher? I just know Durant will come out with vengeance. Excited to see the duo of GOATbrook/Durant once again.

oh hey gom.

Glad to see you guys, and thanks for the good vibes!

I'm not jinxing anything, last year was the "what seed will they get" in December. Not going there as a fan, just too nervous.

Oh, and to the Heat fans.

Spoiler:

goodboy · Post #5 » by **goodboy** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:29 am

bondom34 wrote:
gom wrote:Healthy OKC? 1st.

HeatWillRise wrote:West will be a dog fight (isnt it always? lol) Though I predict OKC will be around the 3rd seed, possibly higher? I just know Durant will come out with vengeance. Excited to see the duo of GOATbrook/Durant once again.

oh hey gom.

Glad to see you guys, and thanks for the good vibes!

I'm not jinxing anything, last year was the "what seed will they get" in December. Not going there as a fan, just too nervous.

Oh, and to the Heat fans.

Spoiler:
Grapes?

Happy to drop by brotha.

Yeah you guys wont experience "what seed we'll get" saying no more, not while Durant/WB are on your team. With solid additions and a coach am excited to see, sky's the limit for you guys.

Thanks for the grapes! :beer:

Marcus50 · Post #6 » by **Marcus50** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:44 am

realistically if we stay healthy we are top 3. New coach is going to cost us a game or two and GS and SA look really strong so at this stage i would pick GS, SA then OKC

spearsy23 · Post #7 » by **spearsy23** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:59 pm

Too many question marks right now. I expect a run similar to the Heat's first year with some big ups and downs as Donovan and Kanter get integrated.

Post #8 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:39 pm

Golden State has to still be considered the cream of the crop. They were clearly the best all year last year and didn't lose anything they care about.

OKC and SAS figure to be the 2 main challengers to emerge from the West in the PS, but OKC has a new coach and some new lineups that essentially never played together to figure out. And the Spurs core continues to age. I don't see Pop pushing them hard in the RS. And Houston with a ton of injuries especially in their front court somehow managed to grab the 2 seed last year.

RS -- I'd guess OKC finishes 2nd, but SAS, LAC, MEM, HOU conceivably could all be in the mix as well. But come playoff time assuming no major injuries I'd have OKC behind GSW and SAS(sorry but I'll doubt them when Duncan's done but never before) and ahead of everyone else.

Now I'd love to see you guys dump Novak and Jones at a minimum and Waiters too possibly. I'd bring in a veteran defensive-minded big to take one of the roster spots: O'Neal, Perkins?, Dalembert, maybe Okafor down the road if healthy. I think in the West with all the size and several teams playing 2 good bigs together (SAS, MEM, LAC) having someone to help Adams defensively is a real need.

Post #9 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:16 pm

Chuck Texas wrote:Golden State has to still be considered the cream of the crop. They were clearly the best all year last year and didn't lose anything they care about.

OKC and SAS figure to be the 2 main challengers to emerge from the West in the PS, but OKC has a new coach and some new lineups that essentially never played together to figure out. And the Spurs core continues to age. I don't see Pop pushing them hard in the RS. And Houston with a ton of injuries especially in their front court somehow managed to grab the 2 seed last year.

RS -- I'd guess OKC finishes 2nd, but SAS, LAC, MEM, HOU conceivably could all be in the mix as well. But come playoff time assuming no major injuries I'd have OKC behind GSW and SAS(sorry but I'll doubt them when Duncan's done but never before) and ahead of everyone else.

Now I'd love to see you guys dump Novak and Jones at a minimum and Waiters too possibly. I'd bring in a veteran defensive-minded big to take one of the roster spots: O'Neal, Perkins?, Dalembert, maybe Okafor down the road if healthy. I think in the West with all the size and several teams playing 2 good bigs together (SAS, MEM, LAC) having someone to help Adams defensively is a real need.

Can't bring Perkins back within a year of him being waived IIRC. O'Neal or Dalembert would be a good get.

Post #10 » by **Texas Chuck** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:21 pm

dbrandon wrote:Can't bring Perkins back within a year of him being waived IIRC. O'Neal or Dalembert would be a good get.

Does that rule apply since his contract was expiring at the end of that season anyway? I honestly don't know, but it seems like that shouldn't prevent the Thunder from signing him. It wouldn't be an end-around trying to get a player back.

He wouldn't be my first choice for you guys anyway, so no big deal if its really illegal. Just doesn't feel like it should be.

Post #11 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:24 pm

Chuck Texas wrote:
dbrandon wrote:Can't bring Perkins back within a year of him being waived IIRC. O'Neal or Dalembert would be a good get.

Does that rule apply since his contract was expiring at the end of that season anyway? I honestly don't know, but it seems like that shouldn't prevent the Thunder from signing him. It wouldn't be an end-around trying to get a player back.

He wouldn't be my first choice for you guys anyway, so no big deal if its really illegal. Just doesn't feel like it should be.

Just checked CBAFAQ and I couldn't be more wrong. It's only during the length of his contract. We'd be able to bring Perk back.

Post #12 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:25 pm

Chuck Texas wrote:
dbrandon wrote:Can't bring Perkins back within a year of him being waived IIRC. O'Neal or Dalembert would be a good get.

Does that rule apply since his contract was expiring at the end of that season anyway? I honestly don't know, but it seems like that shouldn't prevent the Thunder from signing him. It wouldn't be an end-around trying to get a player back.

He wouldn't be my first choice for you guys anyway, so no big deal if its really illegal. Just doesn't feel like it should be.

I think they could, per the CBA FAQ:

A team cannot reacquire a player they traded away during that season (a season being July 1 - June 30). If he is waived by his new team, then he cannot re-sign with his original team until the one-year anniversary of the trade, or until the July 1 following the end of his contract, whichever comes first. However, if a team trades a player's draft rights, they can reacquire the player during the same season.

That said, I'd take him for the min, but I'd look around at others too (Okafor?).

Post #13 » by **Andre Roberstan** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:03 pm

bondom34 wrote:
Chuck Texas wrote:
dbrandon wrote:Can't bring Perkins back within a year of him being waived IIRC. O'Neal or Dalembert would be a good get.

Does that rule apply since his contract was expiring at the end of that season anyway? I honestly don't know, but it seems like that shouldn't prevent the Thunder from signing him. It wouldn't be an end-around trying to get a player back.

He wouldn't be my first choice for you guys anyway, so no big deal if its really illegal. Just doesn't feel like it should be.

I think they could, per the CBA FAQ:

A team cannot reacquire a player they traded away during that season (a season being July 1 - June 30). If he is waived by his new team, then he cannot re-sign with his original team until the one-year anniversary of the trade, or until the July 1 following the end of his contract, whichever comes first. However, if a team trades a player's draft rights, they can reacquire the player during the same season.

That said, I'd take him for the min, but I'd look around at others too (Okafor?).

Okafor would be great.

Post #14 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:13 pm

I think he'd be available for the min too, would be a great pickup for a vet as well.

spearsy23 · Post #15 » by **spearsy23** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 4:25 pm

Our roster is set, even after dumping guys I'd be shocked to see another signing.

Post #16 » by **bondom34** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:31 pm

So would I honestly. I don't see a glaring weak spot, even the SG I like.

Kizz Fastfists · Post #17 » by **Kizz Fastfists** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:13 pm

The roster is currently full at 15. If they were to move 2 of Waiters, Novak, PJ3 and Augustin to relieve the tax burden some I still don't think they'd need to add anyone. Obviously, Novak and PJ3 are more likely to be moved, but depending on potential return and cap savings I could see Waiters or Augustin moved.

tleikheen · Post #18 » by **tleikheen** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:16 pm

San Antonio showed you can't give games away at the end of the season,they got in a situation in the last game of the season where New Orleans had to win to make the playoffs and a lost drops them out of HC advantage.They had rested their stars alittle before that game to put themselves in that position and it turned out to bite them in the a$$.
Golden State avoided meeting them,Golden State avoided meeting a Cleveland team minus Love and Irving, so luck helps.

So I haven't anointed Golden State the top spot for the upcoming year.They showed they could be pounded on the boards.
OKC led the NBA in rebounding.And somehow with a healthy Durant and a top scoring Center in the lineup ,I dont see GS outscoring OKC either.

Theirs not much separating the top 5 but playing styles,one team has the right team style for another team, favorable matchups at the end will be a big difference.

Post #19 » by **slick_watts** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:18 pm

Golden State is still very good. Spurs will be as well so long as Tim Duncan does not regress much on defense. Think the Clippers are a bit underrated. I still have us behind GSW for sure right now, and I'd give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt. So #3. Clippers/Rockets/Grizzlies close behind.

Marcus50 · Post #20 » by **Marcus50** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:32 am

OKC has reportedly been shopping Novak and PJ3 around for a while which suggests no takers. Waiters is unlikely to be shipped and if DJ is shipped it leaves an exposure to Cameron Payne as a back up to Russ. Might work but we havent seen him play at this level yet