Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season 2015-2016 Part 2

[getrichordie]

Yeah, this I absolutely don't get. If he can play D-League games, he's physically ready for the NBA. You don't waste such an energy player if your bench lacks exactly that.

Yeah, it's weird. Maybe their big plan is to move him soon? Idk. Just speculating.

P.S. Why can I not add an avatar? Everytime I try to link one it says "Please link from an allowed site." I'm so confused.

[Pillendreher]

Because we don't allow Dion avatars here!

[getrichordie]

Because we don't allow Dion avatars here!

No, seriously, though. What are the allowed sites? I found out 'imgur' is one of them.

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

[bondom34]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

Don't buy what? The LA thing?

I think he wants to win, unless the Lakers somehow improve massively and KD leaves, I don't see it. Its what he's always been about, and he saw how fun it was last year without KD and Serge and everyone to not win as much.

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

Don't buy what? The LA thing?

I think he wants to win, unless the Lakers somehow improve massively and KD leaves, I don't see it. Its what he's always been about, and he saw how fun it was last year without KD and Serge and everyone to not win as much.

I should have clarified, i meant the technicals.

LA isn't a factor, they win less than 30 next season too.

[bondom34]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

Don't buy what? The LA thing?

I think he wants to win, unless the Lakers somehow improve massively and KD leaves, I don't see it. Its what he's always been about, and he saw how fun it was last year without KD and Serge and everyone to not win as much.

I should have clarified, i meant the technicals.

LA isn't a factor, they win less than 30 next season too.

Oh, the good time thing, yeah I'd agree with you.

[Pillendreher]

Just saw this on DT:

[spearsy23]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

Don't buy what? The LA thing?

I think he wants to win, unless the Lakers somehow improve massively and KD leaves, I don't see it. Its what he's always been about, and he saw how fun it was last year without KD and Serge and everyone to not win as much.

I should have clarified, i meant the technicals.

LA isn't a factor, they win less than 30 next season too.

He is on pace for about half the amount of last year, and I've seen way less arguing calls. He will always get some just based on how angry he plays, but I believe him that he is trying to cut down.

[getrichordie]

How do you guys feel about going up against Milwaukee at home tonight?

Feeling pretty good about this one. We should easily dominate. I definitely want to see Payne get some more run tonight.

Here's tonight's preview of the game: http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828359

Some quotes from that article:

The Bucks, who have lost 13 of their last 14 on the road, did have one positive as Jerryd Bayless had 19 points and seven assists off the bench after missing 11 games with a sprained left ankle.

Lost 13 of their last 14 on the road? We should have this one, easy. Let's just hope our guys don't feel that way and come out and grind.

Milwaukee failed to force a first-half turnover, induced an NBA season-low four overall and were outscored 26-0 in points scored off turnovers, becoming the first team this season to be shutout in that stat. The Bucks didn't help themselves defensively on the perimeter as the Mavs went 10 for 22 from 3-point range, falling to 1-13 when opponents hit at least 10 3s from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee failed to induce a turnover in first-half and allowed close to 50% from 3 pt land. BBQ chicken?

Rebounding wasn't the issue for the Bucks (12-20) on Monday in Dallas -- they allowed only six offensive rebounds and amassed a 52-34 edge on the boards -- but a slow-rotating defense contributed to a 103-93 setback.

Well, I think OKC just might be a better rebounding team. I'll wager our bigs out rebound their bigs +10.

Kanter's prowess on the offensive boards could prove troublesome for the Bucks, whose average of 11.7 offensive rebounds allowed is among the highest in the league. He has proven to be a handful for Milwaukee, totaling 50 points and 30 rebounds -- nine on the offensive end -- in his last two matchups.

I'll be watching how Kanter fares this game. In our last two matchups with Milwaukee, they didn't have Monroe nor Plumlee. When Monroe is defending shots attempted from 6 ft. or less, he doesn't affect anyone's shots much, but when Henson defends the same shots attempted, opponents shoot an average of 9.1 percentage points less than their usual field goal percentage. When it's Plumlee, it's 12.6 percentage points less. For reference, Miles Plumlee ranks 6th in the league in that statistic for Centers (filtered by players who have played over 10 games).

In the last 10 games, Milwaukee has the 4th worst in the league at defending FGA < 5 ft. They sit at 62.5%. That's awful. Only the Mavericks, Rockets, and Nets are worse. In the same 10 games, the Bucks are the best in the league at defending shots attemped between 5-9 ft and are pretty solid all around beyond that point. If there is a game to start Kanter, this is it. His strength is Milwaukee's weakness. I expect to see a heavy dose of Kanter tonight.

All in all, we should MANHANDLE the Milwaukee Bucks, tonight. The odds are in our favor. We just have to bring the energy and make the correct basketball play. As long as we do that and Donovan has a sound rotation, we will be fine. I do expect Milwaukee's length and athleticism to bother us a little more than Denver, but I also expect our Thunder to come out with a lot of energy out of the gate and to set the bar earlier on. The players have been talking about "lack of energy" and "not playing hard enough" so let's see how everyone responds, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

[getrichordie]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/681889055118766080[/tweet]

I don't buy it.

Neither does KD.

Not at all, not all," Durant said when asked if he believed Westbrook was truly done butting heads with officials. "We'll see. Hopefully he doesn't get any more [technicals], but I don't buy that.

source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2603396-russell-westbrook-says-hes-cooling-it-with-technicals-kevin-durant-disagrees

[Pillendreher]

Durant is gone. Book it.

[getrichordie]

Durant is gone. Book it.

Are you saying that because of his comment on Westbrook and technicals?

[KD35Brah]

How do you guys feel about going up against Milwaukee at home tonight?

Feeling pretty good about this one. We should easily dominate. I definitely want to see Payne get some more run tonight.

Here's tonight's preview of the game: http://espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400828359

Some quotes from that article:

The Bucks, who have lost 13 of their last 14 on the road, did have one positive as Jerryd Bayless had 19 points and seven assists off the bench after missing 11 games with a sprained left ankle.

Lost 13 of their last 14 on the road? We should have this one, easy. Let's just hope our guys don't feel that way and come out and grind.

Milwaukee failed to force a first-half turnover, induced an NBA season-low four overall and were outscored 26-0 in points scored off turnovers, becoming the first team this season to be shutout in that stat. The Bucks didn't help themselves defensively on the perimeter as the Mavs went 10 for 22 from 3-point range, falling to 1-13 when opponents hit at least 10 3s from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee failed to induce a turnover in first-half and allowed close to 50% from 3 pt land. BBQ chicken?

Rebounding wasn't the issue for the Bucks (12-20) on Monday in Dallas -- they allowed only six offensive rebounds and amassed a 52-34 edge on the boards -- but a slow-rotating defense contributed to a 103-93 setback.

Well, I think OKC just might be a better rebounding team. I'll wager our bigs out rebound their bigs +10.

Kanter's prowess on the offensive boards could prove troublesome for the Bucks, whose average of 11.7 offensive rebounds allowed is among the highest in the league. He has proven to be a handful for Milwaukee, totaling 50 points and 30 rebounds -- nine on the offensive end -- in his last two matchups.

I'll be watching how Kanter fares this game. In our last two matchups with Milwaukee, they didn't have Monroe nor Plumlee. When Monroe is defending shots attempted from 6 ft. or less, he doesn't affect anyone's shots much, but when Henson defends the same shots attempted, opponents shoot an average of 9.1 percentage points less than their usual field goal percentage. When it's Plumlee, it's 12.6 percentage points less. For reference, Miles Plumlee ranks 6th in the league in that statistic for Centers (filtered by players who have played over 10 games).

In the last 10 games, Milwaukee has the 4th worst in the league at defending FGA < 5 ft. They sit at 62.5%. That's awful. Only the Mavericks, Rockets, and Nets are worse. In the same 10 games, the Bucks are the best in the league at defending shots attemped between 5-9 ft and are pretty solid all around beyond that point. If there is a game to start Kanter, this is it. His strength is Milwaukee's weakness. I expect to see a heavy dose of Kanter tonight.

All in all, we should MANHANDLE the Milwaukee Bucks, tonight. The odds are in our favor. We just have to bring the energy and make the correct basketball play. As long as we do that and Donovan has a sound rotation, we will be fine. I do expect Milwaukee's length and athleticism to bother us a little more than Denver, but I also expect our Thunder to come out with a lot of energy out of the gate and to set the bar earlier on. The players have been talking about "lack of energy" and "not playing hard enough" so let's see how everyone responds, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

With the way the season has played out, i don't really care for any of this. Chicago loost 3 straight when they played us on our homecourt on Christmas. It's best not to get your hopes up, they will find a way to make this competitive then we'll lose to one of the worst teams in the league or win by 5.

Parker goes for 40p, 15r, and 30 assists.

[KD35Brah]

It's on NBATV too....

We start in a 20-4 hole.

[bondom34]

Yeah, they should win. That gives me zero confidence, this is another chance to not really show up.

[bondom34]

Durant is gone. Book it.

This may be the most negative thing I've ever seen you say . And kinda random.

[getrichordie]

Yeah, they should win. That gives me zero confidence, this is another chance to not really show up.

I know, right? But, honestly, I'm looking forward to a step in the right direction tonight. I believe in our guys and our coaching staff to get it done. Worst case scenario is that we come out flat, our leaders get frustrated, and we hold some type of team meeting and light a fire under everyone's ass.

[Pillendreher]

Nah guys, I was just joking. That's just something someone on the GB's would say based on KD's comment. Like 'KD's git no trust in Westbrook'

[bondom34]

Going about as expected.