Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season 2015-2016 Part 2

[KD35Brah]

It's sad to see Payne actually respect Waiters enough to keep giving him the ball

[spearsy23]

The best part is just wait til the bench comes in.

And watch Cam lead them to victory?

I'm in love with a rookie.

[Cuban_Linx]

Is this the first time Presti drafted a high IQ guy instead of just another longlimbed freak? Damn Payne is great.

[bondom34]

The best part is just wait til the bench comes in.

And watch Cam lead them to victory?

I'm in love with a rookie.

Me too!!!!!!!!!!!


Wow, so glad Dion doesn't have to handle the ball so much either.

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/683470472655179776[/tweet]

[NaturalThunder]

It's sad to see Payne actually respect Waiters enough to keep giving him the ball

Durant does it too. Well, now that i think about it, our best/highest IQ players respect Dion enough for whatever reason to keep giving him the ball. Durant and Russ both pass up a couple or three or four shots that would be considered good or even great shots for them to kick it to a wide-open Waiters. I understand trying to build confidence in your teammates and whatnot and that being a good sign of being a good leader, but htey just need to stop it.

Unfortunately the best solution is either getting rid of Waiters or benching him and neither seem like a possibility. Waiters has to be in the discussion for worst rotation player in the NBA, yet he doesn't seem to be in any kind of danger of having his minutes reduced.

[NaturalThunder]

On another note, that was one of those games where I wasn't ever overly worried...despite my usual heat of the moment overreactions.

Seemingly every shot the Hornets hit in the 1st quarter, to somewhat stay in the game, was of the "stepback 15-18 footer with a hand in the face" variety. I feel like I'm not even exaggerating too much. I know at one point, probably a little more than halfway through the 1st quarter the only non-jumper I could remember seeing them make was a Kemba Walker layup. It was one of those games where it seemed and looked like we might jump out to something like a ridiculous 30-7 or 35-11 lead because all they were really getting were 3-pointers and difficult long 2s; unfortunately they made just enough of them in the 1st quarter to keep them semi-close. Point being, yes, our defense at times left something to be desired, but I also feel like the Hornets just kept hanging around by making really tough shots.


DISCLAIMER: I was at my in-laws house helping my father-in-law with something so I wasn't exactly able to watch the game real intently. I mean I was able to watch long enough stretches intently enough to know what was going on, but there were long stretches I was barely able to catch or only catch in passing.

[bondom34]

It's sad to see Payne actually respect Waiters enough to keep giving him the ball

Durant does it too. Well, now that i think about it, our best/highest IQ players respect Dion enough for whatever reason to keep giving him the ball. Durant and Russ both pass up a couple or three or four shots that would be considered good or even great shots for them to kick it to a wide-open Waiters. I understand trying to build confidence in your teammates and whatnot and that being a good sign of being a good leader, but htey just need to stop it.

Unfortunately the best solution is either getting rid of Waiters or benching him and neither seem like a possibility. Waiters has to be in the discussion for worst rotation player in the NBA, yet he doesn't seem to be in any kind of danger of having his minutes reduced.

He is, literally, a younger Jamal Crawford. Same skillset, about the same ability, neither gets benched.

Also, great to get an easy W with Russ not really playing well and a solid show from the bench. Payne has been such a great find.

[bondom34]

Small sample but Cam is in the 92nd percentile for PnR ball handler.

[Pillendreher]

One of our better games in the past few weeks. The defense looked solid in my opinion; we couldn't contain Walker, but other than that it was OK I think. That might have to do that we started hedging the PnR again. Maybe Donovan realized our backcourt doesn't want to go over screens and that Ibaka's quite good helping by hedging and trapping.

Dion looked good 3-4 times this game and straight **** 10-15 times. I don't want him out there anymore, it's way too frustrating. He shows potential one time and looks like the worst player in the NBA the next 5 times. Time to move him.

I like Singler getting minutes if he keeps up this defense. He may be our best wing defender next to Roberson. He needs to be a spot-up shooter on offense though - no more dribbling. Oh and did you see his smile after trying to dunk that ball? He was like "Guys, look at me - I almost cotributed!"

Payne looks great. That kid got game.

[KD35Brah]

Payne looks great. That kid got game.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2016&p1=payneca01&y2=2010&p2=curryst01&p3=&p4=&p5=&p6=

I just feel like acting stupid today.

[getrichordie]

One of our better games in the past few weeks. The defense looked solid in my opinion; we couldn't contain Walker, but other than that it was OK I think. That might have to do that we started hedging the PnR again. Maybe Donovan realized our backcourt doesn't want to go over screens and that Ibaka's quite good helping by hedging and trapping.

Dion looked good 3-4 times this game and straight **** 10-15 times. I don't want him out there anymore, it's way too frustrating. He shows potential one time and looks like the worst player in the NBA the next 5 times. Time to move him.

I like Singler getting minutes if he keeps up this defense. He may be our best wing defender next to Roberson. He needs to be a spot-up shooter on offense though - no more dribbling. Oh and did you see his smile after trying to dunk that ball? He was like "Guys, look at me - I almost cotributed!"

Payne looks great. That kid got game.

Finally, someone sees the light! The Singler Light!

[Pillendreher]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuu3r0WTUds

Possible Orange Is The New Black Season 1 spoilers!

[KD35Brah]

Some numbers for you 2 months into the season

OKC is 2nd in offensive efficiency

OKC is 8th in defensive efficiency

We allow the 7th lowest opponent FG%

And we shoot the 3rd highest fg%

Pretty average from 3, 11th in the league percentage wise

And not great defending it, 18th in.the league percentage wise

We are only 19th in assists

But we are 3rd in efficient field goal %

2nd in true shooting %

Were the best offensive rebounding team

And the best overall rebounding team as well

We could improve more with assisting and we are the 7th worst in terms of turnovers per game but we have been pretty elite on offense. And defensively we might look weak but we've been around top 8 for a while. We aren't even playing at our highest level consistently, I'd say our most dominant game was vs Memphis. Even though we aren't consistently dominating in terms of the eye test, the stats show we are top tier offensively. We don't get as much buzz as GS or SAS, but we are third in net rating at +8.4


http://stats.nba.com/league/team/#!/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&dir=1

So I ask you guys, how do you feel about us so far?

(Via Thunder Subreddit)

[bondom34]

Some numbers for you 2 months into the season

OKC is 2nd in offensive efficiency

OKC is 8th in defensive efficiency

We allow the 7th lowest opponent FG%

And we shoot the 3rd highest fg%

Pretty average from 3, 11th in the league percentage wise

And not great defending it, 18th in.the league percentage wise

We are only 19th in assists

But we are 3rd in efficient field goal %

2nd in true shooting %

Were the best offensive rebounding team

And the best overall rebounding team as well

We could improve more with assisting and we are the 7th worst in terms of turnovers per game but we have been pretty elite on offense. And defensively we might look weak but we've been around top 8 for a while. We aren't even playing at our highest level consistently, I'd say our most dominant game was vs Memphis. Even though we aren't consistently dominating in terms of the eye test, the stats show we are top tier offensively. We don't get as much buzz as GS or SAS, but we are third in net rating at +8.4


http://stats.nba.com/league/team/#!/?sort=PLUS_MINUS&dir=1

So I ask you guys, how do you feel about us so far?

(Via Thunder Subreddit)

I think they're pretty much exactly where they'd be with Brooks, but I'm liking some of Donovan's recent moves with Cam. The defense needs work, and the bench is still weak, but I feel a little better than 2 weeks ago. I still need to see it against good teams though.

And of course obligatory less Waiters more A Mo and Robes.

[spearsy23]

Win loss column would look better with Brooks and DJ wouldn't have been as big of a liability. I feel like we're pretty much as good as we'll get with the current roster, so Donovan has probably cost us 3 games or so overall. Not a major deal, but he hasn't shown anything that makes me think we're better off with him and he'll be the difference in a championship run. We aren't a real contender, and have no hope of being one this year unless Cam goes off in the second half of the season and Dion's minutes are reduced/we bring in a capable wing. Even then I don't think we can beat both elite teams.

Not really the players or coaching staff's fault, Presti put too many eggs in the Dion basket for us to be a championship team this year. Next year could be the year, with Cam/Mitch improving and Kanter/Dion likely being turned into better fitting pieces.

[Soonerule]

All hail Cam Payne (it's ok to say hail in the US, right? ) !!!



To quote Michael Cage: I'm loving it.

And to quote Joshua Radin - Brand New Day:



We're gonna tell our grandkids about this day. Man, I'm excited. Just picked Cam up in my fantasy team.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkQyfNAat0c[/youtube]

Yes Papa Donovan, we'll be nice when the kid has an off night, we promise. lol

What did you think about his game last night?

Payne is everything bondom said he would be and maybe even more. He needs to work on his defensive fundamentals but he's a rookie, he's got time and I saw him get beat against the Hornets on a possession and hit the pad under the basket so I think it is a priority for him. What can I say, he's "the Maestro", with that haircut and the way he is leading the bench like a big orchestra, the name fits.... and he is fun to watch play, that's the best part.

[bondom34]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkQyfNAat0c[/youtube]

Yes Papa Donovan, we'll be nice when the kid has an off night, we promise. lol

What did you think about his game last night?

Payne is everything bondom said he would be and maybe even more. He needs to work on his defensive fundamentals but he's a rookie, he's got time and I saw him get beat against the Hornets on a possession and hit the pad under the basket so I think it is a priority for him. What can I say, he's "the Maestro", with that haircut and the way he is leading the bench like a big orchestra, the name fits.... and he is fun to watch play, that's the best part.

bondom knows all and sees all.


Well almost, I've learned a few things from that RK guy too.

[getrichordie]

I think the big reason Donovan will ultimately be a better coach then Brooks is his willingness to experiment with lineups. Even though they may not work, he at least tries. I had been saying that Brooks needed to give Lamb a chance for years. Now that Lamb has found his chance to be a rotation player, he is playing pretty well. I'd rather have Lamb over Waiters any day of the week. I feel like Donovan would have given Lamb some run eventually and come to see the light.

I think Donovan is the type of coach that can get more out of a guy than Brooks ever could, in my humble opinion. We still have a ways to go and I firmly believe that Donovan is just getting started. I can't wait to see us a pull a trade to dump Dion off and bolster our bench.

I don't think some fans can appreciate the huge learning curve that is Billy Donovan's motion offense, especially when they have been under Brooks' "system" for as long as they have been. This is probably the most complicated offensive system a lot of our guys have seen in a long time.

[spearsy23]

I think the big reason Donovan will ultimately be a better coach then Brooks is his willingness to experiment with lineups. Even though they may not work, he at least tries. I had been saying that Brooks needed to give Lamb a chance for years. Now that Lamb has found his chance to be a rotation player, he is playing pretty well. I'd rather have Lamb over Waiters any day of the week. I feel like Donovan would have given Lamb some run eventually and come to see the light.

Lamb WAS getting pt last season. After Presti traded for Dion it was foregone that it would go to him apparently. Donovan hasn't been willing to change lineups until it's been made excessively clear that they aren't working, and he is still playing Dion like he's as sixth man of the year candidate. Was Brooks too rigid in his lineups? Maybe, but they were almost always lineups that produced well. It doesn't take much to change a lineup when it has as net rating of -30.

I think Donovan is the type of coach that can get more out of a guy than Brooks ever could, in my humble opinion. We still have a ways to go and I firmly believe that Donovan is just getting started. I can't wait to see us a pull a trade to dump Dion off and bolster our bench.

Absolutely nothing to suggest this. The only player having more success than previously in his career is Russ, and having KD is helping with that.

I don't think some fans can appreciate the huge learning curve that is Billy Donovan's motion offense, especially when they have been under Brooks' "system" for as long as they have been. This is probably the most complicated offensive system a lot of our guys have seen in a long time.

Donovan's offense isn't complicated or particularly motion heavy. It has a bit more player movement than Scotty's, but nothing significant.