2016 Playoffs Round 1: OKC Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/720713725842329600[/tweet]

[NaturalThunder]

Durant is 2nd in the league in Post Ups(149 poss) PPP at 1.23.

61% FG on Postups along with a 17% FT Frequency. The Mavs have no one that equals the length of KD on the perimeter, If we want to end this series quick and fast we need KD to abuse every opportunity he can in the post.

I'm hoping Donovan is able to use the the time between games to coach more.

I know probably the biggest reason Durant gets this bad rap as “no postgame” is his or the coach’s own doing. Part of it is because Durant’s lack of strength keeps him from getting consistently good post position. I know Dirk struggled with the same thing for a while to start his career. But our coaching schemes, under both Donovan and Brooks, also didn’t run enough sets to get Durant in a position, coming off screens (doubles/staggers) along the baseline, to immediately open him up in good post position. Brooks had it pretty well figured out but, for whatever reasons, I don’t think we did it enough.

Anyway, this season Durant has dominated in the post when he’s actually operated from the post. I know there’s been games this year where he scored seemingly every time he caught the ball in the mid or low post area. It wasn’t really because of great footwork and/or great post moves as much as it was him using his ridiculous length and soft touch around the basket, but still. What’s infuriating is that he’d have games where he shot like 10/23 from the floor, would go something like 2/12 on jumpers (long 2s and 3s) but make almost everything from the post area.

[KD35Brah]

Durant is 2nd in the league in Post Ups(149 poss) PPP at 1.23.

61% FG on Postups along with a 17% FT Frequency. The Mavs have no one that equals the length of KD on the perimeter, If we want to end this series quick and fast we need KD to abuse every opportunity he can in the post.

I'm hoping Donovan is able to use the the time between games to coach more.

I know probably the biggest reason Durant gets this bad rap as “no postgame” is his or the coach’s own doing. Part of it is because Durant’s lack of strength keeps him from getting consistently good post position. I know Dirk struggled with the same thing for a while to start his career. But our coaching schemes, under both Donovan and Brooks, also didn’t run enough sets to get Durant in a position, coming off screens (doubles/staggers) along the baseline, to immediately open him up in good post position. Brooks had it pretty well figured out but, for whatever reasons, I don’t think we did it enough.

Anyway, this season Durant has dominated in the post when he’s actually operated from the post. I know there’s been games this year where he scored seemingly every time he caught the ball in the mid or low post area. It wasn’t really because of great footwork and/or great post moves as much as it was him using his ridiculous length and soft touch around the basket, but still. What’s infuriating is that he’d have games where he shot like 10/23 from the floor, would go something like 2/12 on jumpers (long 2s and 3s) but make almost everything from the post area.

I'm not sure if i'm biased or just oblivious, but does anyone else in the NBA get literally bearhugged full circle off the ball as much as Durant without Refs calling fouls? It's ridiculous every time i see it.

I would give him an excuse if it was bigger broader players, but guys like Matthews, Parsons, Klay , Livingston, Green, and Jimmy Butler should all be too short to contest most of his shots in the post. Seeing him dance around all seaosn o nthe perimeter and jack up 3s has been annoying, especially with the careless turnovers that have been generated because of it. I have no doubt Kerr or Pop would have have him in the post 24/7 and start action from there. It is annoying how Coaches haven't drilled this into him 9 years deep in to his career, he would be much better because of it.

[actively]

Appreciated.

RE: Enes, FWIW in an interview that just went up today on NewsOK he talked about the fact that he always felt like he was competing against the other bigs in Utah, where when he came here he started to cheer on the other guys and it changed his mentality. In his words it made "all the difference in the world".

Can't blame you guys for feeling salty, but it seems like there's been some personal growth there, which is good to see.

I'm not salty at all (though many Jazz fans are). If anything, I'm salty at our front office for mismanaging his situation from the start.

Ah, fair enough. I've been involved in enough Reddit brawls over Kanter that there's a little wariness there.

I have no idea why the Jazz FO has such a love affair with bigs.

Enes didnt play much before he was drafted by Jazz. He played 9 professional games in Istanbul, when he was 16, before he came to the states.
At 17, he played one year in prep school in the states, and at 18 he wasnt eligibil to play at UK. When he was drafted by Jazz, he was still 18, and Derick Favors was one year ahaed of him. First two years he coudnt play much at Jazz, because Al Jefforson, Paul Millsap and Favors were ahead of him. Third year, Gobert was drafted, iback to back three years, three bigs. So he was unconfortable at Jazz, because 3 bigs had to be developed, there was too little playing time. On the top of that, he was a young foreign kid, without parents and relatives to help him. Many reporters took advantage of his young age, let him talk too much. He clearly wasnt happy at Jazz(no real coach, and PG, no playing time). He didnt have Super players like KD and Russ to look upto, and get mentorship like they do at OKC. Jazz had to other potentially good bigs, so they really didnt need him. He did what is good for both parties. So he left. I do not blame him.

[Pillendreher]

David Thorpe has the Mavs taking us to 7 just because of Carlisle. It seems he doesn't understand that coaching can only take you so far....

[Old Man Game]

Don't know where to post it, but just wanted to wish you guys luck in the playoffs. I'm rooting for you guys (regardless of Kanter) and hope you go all the way. Godspeed.

Appreciated.

RE: Enes, FWIW in an interview that just went up today on NewsOK he talked about the fact that he always felt like he was competing against the other bigs in Utah, where when he came here he started to cheer on the other guys and it changed his mentality. In his words it made "all the difference in the world".

Can't blame you guys for feeling salty, but it seems like there's been some personal growth there, which is good to see.

As opposed to our own experience with Reggie who seems to have doubled down on his ill feelings towards the Thunder organization and certain players. No personal growth outwardly evident there.

[Old Man Game]

Getting unreasonably excited about the playoffs. Forgot how much fun this was after missing out last year.

[bondom34]

Anyone who missed the Stache Brothers article, really worth a read:

http://newsok.com/article/5491490

[Pillendreher]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TimBontemps/status/720993345095516160[/tweet]

LMAO

[Pillendreher]

And also this:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TrueHoop/status/720997164558721024[/tweet]

[OkcMagic]

cant wait until we go 16-0 in the playoffs and you guys look at me like I knew something all along when all i had was faith in my team

[KD35Brah]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/721144444573974528[/tweet]

Could this season get any more embarrassing?

[bondom34]

Adams 11th among Cs in RPM to end the season.

[Pillendreher]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/anthonyVslater/status/721144444573974528[/tweet]

Could this season get any more embarrassing?

Damn. And Royce Young wanted us to believe this wasn't a huge problem.

Our NetRtGs in clutch situations:

2008/2009: -0.7 (17th)
2009/2010: -8.1 (22nd)
2010/2011: +16.3 (4th)
2011/2012: +5.0 (11th)
2012/2013: +12.6 (5th)
2013/2014: +8.2 (10th)
2014/2015: -3.4 (18th)
2015/2016: -8.3 (24th)

This better be fixed for the Playoffs, otherwise it's gonna get ugly.

[Pillendreher]

10 hours to go! Whooo!

[bondom34]

It's game day fellas, get hyped!

[Texas Chuck]

David Thorpe has the Mavs taking us to 7 just because of Carlisle. It seems he doesn't understand that coaching can only take you so far....

yeah Carlisle is a genius, but I just can't see this either. I know we took that last Spurs title team to 7(with Dirk playing awful no less) and then they went on to win the next 3 rounds by an average of 15 ppg or something absurd. But we matched up a lot better with them because they weren't a particularly athletic team something Dallas struggles with.

I think we might could steal one game with our vets and Rick and maybe we can steal another game if the Thunder take us lightly/take their foot off the gas--tho I think KD/GOATbrook are too focused to let that happen. I think it will be OKC in 5, but I won't be shocked at all if its a sweep with every game being a double digit margin. And I'd be stunned if we forced a game 7. We just don't have the talent and we don't match up well.

I mean bless Wes Matthews' heart he is going to defend his tail off, but he's clearly limited, and he was never quick enough for Wes and never big enough for KD. And we don't have much else. Deron? ugh. Devin? GOATbrook too physical imo. JJ? well maybe he can get Westbrook tossed again? Anderson? He has no chance to guard Durant--just none. Mejri is awfully cocky about his ability to block shots--and he will certainly get some--but I can't see how he keeps Kanter or Adams off the glass.

But its exciting to see Dirk in the playoffs when I certainly didn't expect it once DeAndre changed course on us. And I really really want Durant to stay in OKC with Russ long-term so I'm rooting for you guys to beat the Spurs in the next round because I think that really strengthens his commitment to staying.

[Pillendreher]

Thanks Chuck! Good luck to you as well, although not too much

[Thabo Sefolosha]

wtf where's our avatars

[Pillendreher]

What avatars? I see yours.