Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season 2015-2016 Part 2

[Pillendreher]

Man, what a weak ass performance. I don't even want to watch the games anymore. This doesn't feel anything like the years before. Last season was way more fun. This year the only guy that leave me somewhat excited are Westbrook, Adams and Payne. Durant is having a midlife-crisis, Dion and Singler are trash, Morrow isn't part of the offense, Collison is old, Ibaka's impact has been seriously diminished and Kanter is still too bad defensively.

The T'Wolves broadcast summed it up perfectly:'It doesn't look like they're having fun'. What the hell has happened?!

This is all Patrick Beverley's fault.

[spearsy23]

22 sec - Are we really going to blame Kanter for Russ getting past a weak screen and not ever bothering to put a hand up and watching Lavine shoot a wide open shot? If Kanter jumps forward to contest that shot, that leaves a rebound opportunity for KAT against Russ or a wide open layup/dunk for KAT off a Lavine dime. That wasn't his fault at all, Towns was already trying to roll.

Absolutely. That is horrible help defense on a pick and roll. Kanter is way too flat and nowhere near the ball handler. It's called help defense because you're supposed to help the guy getting screened, watch Serge and Steven and they have their hips turned and are in position to get a hand up on those shooters. This is the primary flaw in Kanter's defense.

36 sec - Dude Kanter isn't running a 4.2 to the other side of the court to protect the rim, Serge turns his head around on a live fast break and has no idea what's going on, that completely his fault. Allowed an easy pass to Lavine running straight at the rim.

If Kanter can't run from three point line to baseline in 4 seconds then he needs to be working on his conditioning. That said, I'm not blaming Kanter for the other team scoring, I'm blaming him for poor effort and not trying to get back in the play, something he has been routinely criticized for throughout his career. This isn't an isolated incident.

55 sec - Dieng is shooting 53% from 10to16 and 43% from 16to3pt, leaving him open for a midrange shot isn't really that smart. Morrow could have easily close off that lane better.

Anthony Morrow is not going to be able to deter a shot at the rim, and he would be leaving a wide open 3 point shooter with nobody in position to rotate. Help defense should never come from the wing in that situation, help always comes from the middle. A Dieng 18 footer is a better proposition than a layup, and there is help that can rotate towards Dieng from there. Again, it's help defense, and this shows why Enes is so bad at it, he sticks to his man too much.

1:22 - Kanter's man(who is setting up to shoots 3s at the top of the key) isn't even there yet on an early fastbreak. Dion has his head completely turned away from Lavine and Durant doesn't even help Serge.

See above. And in transition it is never about where 'your man' is, it's about getting into the lane then covering an open guy.

[TheBeardedMan]

lol, here we go again.. Boo Hoo! We still got the win guys. Mann I kinda regret joining this site because this little group of (fans) complain about everything.

This team is a work in progress. We're going to get better. Keep y'all heads up

[Pillendreher]

Dude we have been playing like **** this past few games. This should have been an super easy stretch and instead we play like this. We haven't played against a playoffteam since 12/25 and have a NetRtG of 4.1 over that span. The Spurs, Clippers and Warriors are all above 10 over these 10 or so games btw.

There hasn't been one team over the last 2,5 weeks that we shouldn't be able to blow out, yet we don't. Of course we have won the most of these games, but the 'how' is what matters. This is not what a contender looks like.

[TheBeardedMan]

Take a deep breath... We're going to be alright
Just have faith. The season is still long

[Pillendreher]

I can't have faith if the only reason to have faith is Russ having an MVP season and Adams taking the next step. I mean I've said I'm not the biggest fan of Scott Brooks and he certainly had his flaws, but at least those teams were fun. They competed, played hard and based their game on their defense, which has always been the cornerstone of the 'Thunder way'. Almost everyone has taken a step back compared to last year and that can't just be a coincidence. Dion Waiters is still out there getting minutes. We're paying 70 mio. for a guy that turns every defense to ****.

Man, I'm done. Both me and the team need a timeout. 3,5 years ago we were starting a dynasty and now we have 3-5 guys with a positive impact on the floor. What the ****.

[spearsy23]

lol, here we go again.. Boo Hoo! We still got the win guys. Mann I kinda regret joining this site because this little group of (fans) complain about everything.

This team is a work in progress. We're going to get better. Keep y'all heads up

Barring trade I don't really see how we get better this year.

Also, this team is more of a work in regress.

[Pillendreher]

And I gotta say this: I've lost faith in Presti. He's quite good at drafting, but he shouldn't be a GM because he can't trade to save his life.

-Reggie for Augustin and Singler looks so bad right now. We gave up a guy that could become an Allstar this season for two players that aren't even playing anymore.
-Waiters for a 1st rounder is clearly a bad deal
-And even Perk+1st for Kanter seems like too much.

We gave up one Top 20 PG (that didn't wanna be here, but still) and 2 first round picks for two rotation players that should both be traded. Presti screwed us royally last season. All in all we gave up:

-Lamb
-Jones
-Reggie
-Perk
-Jarret
-2 first rounders

for Waiters and Kanter. Yikes.

[bondom34]

And I swear if I hear one more person complain about Westbrook's defense and say Durant is a good defender.....

[Pillendreher]

They both don't commit fully. Durant has been awful this past two weeks or so...and you know my opinion on Westbrook's defense.

[Zagor]

This is a problem of defensive commitment and comunication. During December defense "clicked", but last 6-8 games it fell down to the effort from November.
Yesterday Kevin, Dion, Roberson and Morrow were just awful in defense. And even with that, Oklahoma was in fine position with +18.

Someone needs to tell Durant there is no ring without complete sacrifice and without mental "edge". Honestly, he doesn't look like ready for biggest prize.
He needs to kick ass some laizy teamates. Demand for 110% of effort.

Defense.

[bondom34]

They both don't commit fully. Durant has been awful this past two weeks or so...and you know my opinion on Westbrook's defense.

I know it, I'd just like actual evidence for it.

You still never asked any non-Thunder fans on this either.

[Marcus50]

I don't think the bench units defense is necessarily Kanter's fault but there is no doubt he is a major contributing factor. Up until Christmas he was making some improvement, his energy levels were better he was getting back on defense and at least occupying the paint. From Oct - Dec Kanter's ORTG 109.2 DRTG 104.3 Nrtg +4.9. January numbers simply reflect what were are seeing with the eye test. Kanters ORTG 101.7 DRTG 115.8 Nrtg -14.1.

Lets contrast with Adams

October - December ORTG 108.1 DRTG 97.3 Nrtg +10.8
January ORTG 115.0 DRTG 93.5 Nrtg +21.5

Adams numbers are reflecting what were are seeing, he has taken a big step up in production in January. It confirms Bondom34's observation that Adams has stepped up as our most effective defender right now.

Back to Kanter: Yesterday he scored efficiently and quickly which is what we need from him because with his defensive frailty if he is not scoring he becomes hard to play. The units he played with were still leaking points as fast has they were scoring but he was doing what we asked of him. I'm hoping that he works back to the pre Christmas defensive level because right now he has regressed to last years level. Despite all the criticism he gets, Kanter is really important to this teams success. We need his production off the bench and we need him defending better. I really like what he brings to the team despite his January struggles

[Marcus50]

ANother Interesting stat for January

Adams on Court of Court Numbers

On Court ORTG 115.0 DRTG 93.5 Nrtg +21.5
Off Court ORTG 99.5 DRTG 115.3 Nrtg -15.9

Now you can run the argument its who he plays with and there is truth in that but those are staggering differentials

[Pillendreher]

Kanter's On/Off for January
On Court ORTG 101.7 DRTG 115.8 Nrtg -14.1
Off Court ORTG 111.7 DRTG 95.5 Nrtg +16.2

That's a freaking 60p100p turnaround!

[bondom34]

Kanter's On/Off for January
On Court ORTG 101.7 DRTG 115.8 Nrtg -14.1
Off Court ORTG 111.7 DRTG 95.5 Nrtg +16.2

That's a freaking 60p100p turnaround!

Saw you asked about Russ, just wanted to say thanks .

[Pillendreher]

Yeah, but I'm already regretting it since I'm not getting the answers I wanted. Y'all just haters cause I see the truth and you don't!

[bondom34]

Yeah, but I'm already regretting it since I'm not getting the answers I wanted. Y'all just haters cause I see the truth and you don't!

Actually wouldn't you be the hater in this case .

He's been massively better, I don't know what people are expecting, but the fanbase as a whole needs something negative to focus on and for some reason it always seems to be him.

[getrichordie]

I think people also need to blame Donovan for how he uses Kanter. Often times he is playing him way too long when he could be bringing in Adams a lot sooner.


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[bondom34]

Half the fanbase wants more Kanter.