Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season 2015-2016 Part 2

[bondom34]

And more worrisome to me is I don't think the FO sees an issue. And KD and Russ talking about lack of energy scares the hell outta me, with free agency coming up and I really thought they were buying in preseason. I have zero idea now.

[getrichordie]

What makes D.J.'s and Dion's suckage even worse is that our incompetent head coach is relying on them as our primary ball-handlers and playmakers off the bench despite both being seemingly terrible at either of those things.

Well, to be fair, at some point, you are going to have to rely on them as your primary ball handlers. Who else is there? Donovan isn't incompetent by any stretch. You don't win 2 NCAA championships being incompetent and he can't turn water into wine. That's what our bench is: water. I think, for what he has to work with, he has somewhat brought out the best in Dion. I mean, Dion's best isn't great. I don't think anyone expected him to be a competent SG in the first place, but he is at least making some improvement. Augustin is terrible on defense and it shows because our entire bench is terrible on defense.

Augustin isn't a guy you play with another incompetent defensive player in a Morrow or a Kanter. That's the issue. Because then you can just screen out DJ all day long and there's nothing his little gnome-size self can do about it. Our bench personell is lacking on defense. I think that's why we are seeing Singler get run and Collison get more run as of late because they actually have good defensive positioning and are long enough and big enough to bother the competition. Donovan's true weakness is not in his defensive coaching or offensive coaching, it's in his rotations. After we figure out rotations, I think we will be a lot better off. In our last ten games, we have won 8 of them, I believe. That's scary. Once the rotation is set, we will be THAT much better. And if Durant and Westbrook can get this team playing with more discipline and focus, all the better.

So, the FO needs to find a way to turn Dion into a more productive bench player (which shouldn't be that hard) for Donovan to work with. Donovan needs to figure out how to balance out the rotation while not making players feel butt hurt (because that's as much of a job in itself as it is being a good coach in the NBA). Our veterans need to get this team fired up and it starts with our Collison, Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka setting a precedent for the rest of the team to follow. This is their team. Any excuses such as "lack of energy", "not playing hard enough", etc., all falls on their shoulders as leaders. If we can do those 3 things, we will be golden. But WILL we do these things?

Next time on Dragon Ball Z...

[Pillendreher]

There's no way Waiters becomes a good role player in the near future. The problem isn't that he's limited in certain ways - that's ok, every player is. The problem is his stubborness and stupidty to recognize it. He's in his 4th year now and he stil doesn't get he'll never be a great scorer or a first option. And that's why he needs to go, because things won't change with him there getting minutes.

[bondom34]

The problem with Donovan isn't playing them some, because he does sort of have to. But he has zero excuse for Dion to average more mpg than Roberson and Morrow and never even trying to play Payne yet. Good college coach =/= good pro coach, and so far he's been a step in the wrong direction from Brooks. I don't remember the last time a Brooks team lacked energy and focus.

[Pillendreher]

Dion 2014/2015



Dion 2015/2016



#Potential

[bondom34]

Dion 2014/2015



Dion 2015/2016



#Potential

He needs time to adjust.

[Pillendreher]

Wade in the making.

[Marcus50]

More and more I am expecting a meaningful trade in the trade window. I can see Mitch, DJ, Novak and perhaps Dion and or Amo on the block or various combos. Our biggest need has gone from a 2 way SG to a serviceable backup PG who has enough length to defend and can run the pnr with Kanter. It's getting too late to get Cam enough experience to be trusted in the post season

[OkcMagic]

More and more I am expecting a meaningful trade in the trade window. I can see Mitch, DJ, Novak and perhaps Dion and or Amo on the block or various combos. Our biggest need has gone from a 2 way SG to a serviceable backup PG who has enough length to defend and can run the pnr with Kanter. It's getting too late to get Cam enough experience to be trusted in the post season

It's not too late, it can actually start tomorrow since we got a weaker team in Denver. Donovan just needs to give him all of Dj minutes

[spearsy23]

Not putting too much stock into a Christmas game. I lacked energy and effort when I was at work too. We still have our problems obviously, I just can't be arsed to panic about a game they shouldn't even be forced to play.

[Pillendreher]

While that played a part, it certainly didn't help that Augustin and Waiters are the worst guard-combo in the league, Collison shows his age, Morrow has been ruined to the point where it's a miracle he gets going and Kanter's main offensive contribution is putbacks since nobody gets him the ball when he rolls to the basket. Those are problems that have been haunting us all season.

Re Payne: We still have almost 60 games to play. We need to get him all the time he can get. We knows he can play; he can't be worse than Augustin.

[getrichordie]

There's no way Waiters becomes a good role player in the near future. The problem isn't that he's limited in certain ways - that's ok, every player is. The problem is his stubborness and stupidty to recognize it. He's in his 4th year now and he stil doesn't get he'll never be a great scorer or a first option. And that's why he needs to go, because things won't change with him there getting minutes.

Poor choice of words by me. I meant that we need to turn Dion into something more via trade. I don't think Dion is close to becoming a good roleplayer anytime soon, which is why he needs be traded now and get what value out of him that we have, rather than just watch him walk. Though, we do have a chunk of change expiring after the year and that might open up some doors for us. But the main mission is getting KD and Russ a ring this year.

[getrichordie]

Ugh. Coming out flat, once more. Westbrook settling for the jumper over the big man. Not a lot of off the ball movement. Faried getting into our guys down in the post early. If I'm Donovan, I'm finding a way to give Westbrook the ball in the post every time versus Nelson.

[NaturalThunder]

Get our tails kicked in front of our home fans on Christmas day and how do we respond? Come out and play with zero energy and fall behind an inferior Nuggets team 8-2.

[bondom34]

Still look tired. Yep.

[bondom34]

Bigs still look off defensively.

[NaturalThunder]

Our defense has been deplorable. Giving up blow-by layups and offensive rebound putbacks like they're free candy.

[getrichordie]

Let's go small ball versus Denver right now. Their quickness is killing us.

[KD35Brah]

No help defense whatsoever.

NBA players should know how to close off gaps and holes in a defense.

[getrichordie]

Durant/Ibaka, I think is defensively better versus Faried/Jokic.