OKC Thunder Offseason 2015

[gom]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-enes-kanter-contract-and-okcs-gamble-in-the-year-of-kd/

Ouch. A brutal assessment of the Kanter signing

Yeah, that's completely unfair. There was no way OKC was going to "win" this transaction anyway. If you let him go to Portland, fans and writers will call the team miserly. If you keep him by matching, they'll say you're overspending. Just accept it and hope they prove that it was the right deal on the court. I think they will.

The fact is that Kanter coming off the bench (I think Adams should start at Center) is a powerful scorer and excellent rebounder. It's crazy to play him mostly in the second unit until you realize that many games are won and lost there. Put him next to McGary and you have scoring, spacing, rim protection, rebounds, and blocks.

Also, Donovan is going to make him play defense. OKC has one helluva great coach and nobody seems to be taking that into account.

This is the Thunder's year if they can put it all together. They have all the pieces. The trick is to manage the playing time to reduce the threat of injuries (our problem too, btw) and have everyone ready when it counts.

[KD35Brah]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-enes-kanter-contract-and-okcs-gamble-in-the-year-of-kd/

Ouch. A brutal assessment of the Kanter signing

Also, Donovan is going to make him play defense. OKC has one helluva great coach and nobody seems to be taking that into account.

This is the Thunder's year if they can put it all together. They have all the pieces. The trick is to manage the playing time to reduce the threat of injuries (our problem too, btw) and have everyone ready when it counts.

Who do you think is a better coach, Donovan or Hoiberg?

From all the things i've read i think Donovan is going to be a much better coach than Hoiberg.

[gom]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-enes-kanter-contract-and-okcs-gamble-in-the-year-of-kd/

Ouch. A brutal assessment of the Kanter signing

Also, Donovan is going to make him play defense. OKC has one helluva great coach and nobody seems to be taking that into account.

This is the Thunder's year if they can put it all together. They have all the pieces. The trick is to manage the playing time to reduce the threat of injuries (our problem too, btw) and have everyone ready when it counts.

Who do you think is a better coach, Donovan or Hoiberg?

From all the things i've read i think Donovan is going to be a much better coach than Hoiberg.

The better question is who is the best coach to take the Thunder to a championship. I think hiring Donovan was brilliant. I do not dislike Brooks at all, but Donovan is going to make a real difference. How?

First, when the chips are down and you are in the post-season series, the Thunder will mutate into each team's worst nightmare. That's what he did with Florida. Whoever planned to face them learned that they were dealing with a chameleon that exploited their weaknesses and were never weak themselves where they were supposed to be.

Second, he will really help with player development. Waiters may have found a life vest and McGary... Well, just wait. You'll see. Oh, and I should mention that his point guards tear the conference apart, so I'll let you think about what that means for Westbrook and Cameron Payne.

Third, you will find that he is not going to stick to his principles if they aren't working. This is one place where I think the Heat have an issue with Spo (& a place where Riley would like him to change - in his reinvent message). Donovan will not make the same mistake again and again. This is also a weakness - because you can't be too flexible! - but he knows what he's doing. Rest assured.

I also think he has a lot of class and showed it in this full page ad after he left Florida:

https://twitter.com/GatorZoneChris/status/602453494524706817/photo/1

By the way, I'm not a Gator fan, but I've seen what he's done.

[Pillendreher]

The fact is that Kanter coming off the bench (I think Adams should start at Center) is a powerful scorer and excellent rebounder. It's crazy to play him mostly in the second unit until you realize that many games are won and lost there. Put him next to McGary and you have scoring, spacing, rim protection, rebounds, and blocks.

McGary might be as bad defensively as Kanter. Pairing those two isn't such a good idea (for now at least).

[legit_savage]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-enes-kanter-contract-and-okcs-gamble-in-the-year-of-kd/

Ouch. A brutal assessment of the Kanter signing

Yeah, that's completely unfair. There was no way OKC was going to "win" this transaction anyway. If you let him go to Portland, fans and writers will call the team miserly. If you keep him by matching, they'll say you're overspending. Just accept it and hope they prove that it was the right deal on the court. I think they will.

The fact is that Kanter coming off the bench (I think Adams should start at Center) is a powerful scorer and excellent rebounder. It's crazy to play him mostly in the second unit until you realize that many games are won and lost there. Put him next to McGary and you have scoring, spacing, rim protection, rebounds, and blocks.

Also, Donovan is going to make him play defense. OKC has one helluva great coach and nobody seems to be taking that into account.

This is the Thunder's year if they can put it all together. They have all the pieces. The trick is to manage the playing time to reduce the threat of injuries (our problem too, btw) and have everyone ready when it counts.

No doubt in my mind that we'll win it all.

[gom]

https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-enes-kanter-contract-and-okcs-gamble-in-the-year-of-kd/

Ouch. A brutal assessment of the Kanter signing

Yeah, that's completely unfair. There was no way OKC was going to "win" this transaction anyway. If you let him go to Portland, fans and writers will call the team miserly. If you keep him by matching, they'll say you're overspending. Just accept it and hope they prove that it was the right deal on the court. I think they will.

The fact is that Kanter coming off the bench (I think Adams should start at Center) is a powerful scorer and excellent rebounder. It's crazy to play him mostly in the second unit until you realize that many games are won and lost there. Put him next to McGary and you have scoring, spacing, rim protection, rebounds, and blocks.

Also, Donovan is going to make him play defense. OKC has one helluva great coach and nobody seems to be taking that into account.

This is the Thunder's year if they can put it all together. They have all the pieces. The trick is to manage the playing time to reduce the threat of injuries (our problem too, btw) and have everyone ready when it counts.

No doubt in my mind that we'll win it all.

Well, there are 29 other teams that are in the way. Many of their fans also have no doubt they'll win it all.

I prefer to doubt everything.

[spearsy23]

I have doubts that we're even the team most likely to win it all...

[bondom34]

Yeah, I wouldn't say favorites at all. I think a top 3 seed is possible/probable with health.

[bondom34]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623178689623146496[/tweet]


[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623169145597591552[/tweet]

[Kizz Fastfists]

It is sooooooooooo good to see KD playing ball.

[QPR]

Grantland is often excellent but that article reads like it's just random general board posts tacked together.

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623529466275344384[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623529676296683520[/tweet]

Waiters is heading there too.

[bondom34]

Welp, no Kanter. And suddenly my hopes are fading.

[bondom34]

Well, good to know Serge/KD/Russ are all in, and the team is doing team building stuff too. Looks like a birthday dinner for Adams with the guys too! Cam's fitting in, so that's a plus.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Welp, no Kanter. And suddenly my hopes are fading.

If you are expecting improvements from Kanter now that he got paid I think we are asking too much. I'm also not surprised there is no mention of Waiters. Although, Waiters could decide to try to not be the dumbest player on the court this season to try to get a big contract as a FA.

[bondom34]

Welp, no Kanter. And suddenly my hopes are fading.

If you are expecting improvements from Kanter now that he got paid I think we are asking too much. I'm also not surprised there is no mention of Waiters. Although, Waiters could decide to try to not be the dumbest player on the court this season to try to get a big contract as a FA.

Waiters is supposedly going to be there soon. At least that's what KDBrah said above, and as much as I hate on Dion at least he's working.

[KD35Brah]

Welp, no Kanter. And suddenly my hopes are fading.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623561329115185152[/tweet]

They have probably already talked to him about it. Is he even in the US?

[bondom34]

Welp, no Kanter. And suddenly my hopes are fading.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/623561329115185152[/tweet]

They have probably already talked to him about it. Is he even in the US?

Don't know, I assumed so but he could be elsewhere. He wasn't playing for Turkey in FIBA so I figured.

[bondom34]

Perk to NOLA.

[bondom34]

And Serge challenges Barnes to a UFC fight :


[tweet]https://twitter.com/sergeibaka9/status/623600558222344192[/tweet]