Around the NBA, 2015-16 Season Thread

[shakendfries]

Spurs are also the only team in NBA history to go 41-0 at home

[kamaze]

I thought Golden State beat them at the end of the season? Anyway I forget the exact stat but they said Durant has never won a game 1 on the road.

[shakendfries]

You're right, they went 40-1

[MrDollarBills]

I have said time and time again OKC plays some of the worst basketball you'll ever see from a winning team. No ball movement, ISO heavy. Outside of the spectacular plays from Westbrook and Durant they are painfully bad to watch from a basketball perspective.

There is zero difference between the way they played under Brook and now Donovan. Presti fired Brooks for no damn reason.

[MrDollarBills]

It's one thing to get schooled offensively by the Spurs but these immature fouls on threes and half hearted effort to defend is disgraceful. I wasn't a fan of the antics and distractions they fed into against Dallas.

Donovan was a bad hire. He could be a good coach elsewhere but the Thunder needs a coach capable of embarrassing Durant and Westbrook because there is absolutely no leadership there.

It reminds me of when kids act out in high school class cause a teacher has no control of the room, and the kids don't respect them at all. Durant and Westbrook just don't seem happy in okc anymore. Either it's the culture of Donovan, or it's the frustration of making the playoffs every year and then realizing the strategies their team employ is one a 4 year old could have drawn on a napkin. I'm guessing it's a combo of the two.

I can't imagine Donovan getting hired without an ideal system in mind. I don't believe that Westbrook and Durant are all that coachable, tbh. Durant complains about being overshadowed by Leonard and Curry but who's outplaying him? Kawhi.

Presti has done a poor job of getting a proper coach that emphasizes on either a structure on offense or defense but at the same time in games like this there is no coaching that can push effort and IQ. Aldridge is beasting and setting a tone. Leonard is out there setting a tone. Westbrook and Durant look absolutely clueless. When the stars aren't ready to compete then the rest will not compete either.

Durant's problem is his lack of assertiveness and the ball not being in his hands. He and Westbrook need to be split up...Durant is one of the league's most efficient players but his number of touches is stunted by Westbrook's usage rate. There are too many playoff games where I see the guy standing on the 3 pt line watching things happen instead of being the focal point of the offense.

He needs to leave there if he ever wants to really see how great he really can be. Not saying he should come here, god no, but he may need to realize that he and Russ aren't a good match with their skillsets

[Dirk]

I have said time and time again OKC plays some of the worst basketball you'll ever see from a winning team. No ball movement, ISO heavy. Outside of the spectacular plays from Westbrook and Durant they are painfully bad to watch from a basketball perspective.

There is zero difference between the way they played under Brook and now Donovan. Presti fired Brooks for no damn reason.

You start to think that the bigger problem is the players. Kind of like the Raptors situation. Those two backcourt guys were good in the regular season, take them to 56 wins, then for the second straight year they're awful. Coaches make a difference, but more often than not, it's simply about players stepping up.

OKC has been around for 6 or 7 years now with these two and they just don't look like they're maturing the right way. The series against the Mavs underlined that to me, they were clowning and getting dirty against a team that should have no business to compete with them. They are very immature and insecure. So when they face these challenges, they usually melt. And this from the mental standpoint, because we then have that horrible basketball, where they inevitably degenerate into taking turns going one on one. Let's not even bring their defense or lack thereof.

If last night wasn't an aberration and they are knocked out without much resistance... things will be interesting. It will tell us a lot about Durant how he handles the losses and his free agency.

[MrDollarBills]

I kind of am surprised we put up better competitive series than Boston did to be frank... Many commentators and fans was saying that Boston was the most feared team in the playoffs other than Cleveland and that nobody would want to face them.

they're team is better than our team last year. They have great defense and guys that play tough and hard which we didn't have last year. You could argue that they lost Bradley and Olynk but remember we lost Teletovic and we also lost D-will for 5 games lol not exactly but he only had that one 35 point performance and was nowhere to be found other than that. Either way we faced a much better Hawks team last year than Boston did this year and we didn't get blown out by 30 points in any of those games. Boston is the definition of a treadmill team, they better pray they strike gold with this pick those pricks

I'm not sure how anyone could consider them a team to be feared. Yes, excellent defensively, tons of heart and hustle...but there's only one player on that team that is above C tier.

That's exactly why, because they are great defensively and have tons of heart. Nobody wants to face a scrappy team like that in the playoffs , I still watch a little ESPN and NbaTv and a lot of those guys were saying exactly what I said. Even on the General Board guys were saying that and it's not hard to believe. I think Avery Bradley is a B player but yea he got hurt , Crowder is a very good 2 way player and great defensively , Smart is great defensively, their bench was definitely better than ours. We probably had only one player above C tier too which is Lopez.

Bradley is a good player but I have him in the C tier.

A = Superstar
B = All Star Stud (Lopez, Isiah Thomas level)
C = Above Average NBA Player (Thad Young, Avery Bradley level)
D = Roleplayer
F = D League Level, 15th man scrub.

[MrDollarBills]

I have said time and time again OKC plays some of the worst basketball you'll ever see from a winning team. No ball movement, ISO heavy. Outside of the spectacular plays from Westbrook and Durant they are painfully bad to watch from a basketball perspective.

There is zero difference between the way they played under Brook and now Donovan. Presti fired Brooks for no damn reason.

You start to think that the problem is the players as well. Kind of like the Raptors situation. Those two backcourt guys were good in the regular season, take them to 56 wins, then for the second straight year they're awful.

OKC has been around for 6 or 7 years now with these two and they just don't look like they're maturing the right way. The series against the Mavs underlined that to me, they were clowning and getting dirty against a team that should have no business to compete with them. They are very immature and insecure. So when they face these challenges, they usually melt. And this from the mental standpoint, because we then have that horrible basketball, where they inevitably degenerate into taking turns going one on one. Let's not even bring their defense or lack thereof.

Yeah, this is spot on.

With the Raptors, i think its moreso a case of DeRozan being heavily reliant on FTAs to be an impact player. Much like James Harden, if you rely on multiple trips to the foul line to score 20 points or better you will be shut down in the playoffs. Its even worse for Derozan because he can't shoot from the arc.

[NyCeEvO]

I have said time and time again OKC plays some of the worst basketball you'll ever see from a winning team. No ball movement, ISO heavy. Outside of the spectacular plays from Westbrook and Durant they are painfully bad to watch from a basketball perspective.

There is zero difference between the way they played under Brook and now Donovan. Presti fired Brooks for no damn reason.

I largely agree but there are two things that stick out to me.

1. Billy Donovan started alternating Durant's and Westbrook's breaks so that one of them was always on the court (which is something that we begged for early on in Brooklyn with D-Will, JJ, and Brook). Having at least one superstar on the floor at all times allowed them to kill most teams on talent alone.

And yet we still saw them blow so many 4th quarters with them on the court together because of mental screwups.

2. I give Donovan the benefit of the doubt because it's only his first year. I don't know if KD will give them another year to figure it out but I think Donovan is already better than Scott Brooks was when fired.

[NyCeEvO]

I have said time and time again OKC plays some of the worst basketball you'll ever see from a winning team. No ball movement, ISO heavy. Outside of the spectacular plays from Westbrook and Durant they are painfully bad to watch from a basketball perspective.

There is zero difference between the way they played under Brook and now Donovan. Presti fired Brooks for no damn reason.

You start to think that the bigger problem is the players. Kind of like the Raptors situation. Those two backcourt guys were good in the regular season, take them to 56 wins, then for the second straight year they're awful. Coaches make a difference, but more often than not, it's simply about players stepping up.

OKC has been around for 6 or 7 years now with these two and they just don't look like they're maturing the right way. The series against the Mavs underlined that to me, they were clowning and getting dirty against a team that should have no business to compete with them. They are very immature and insecure. So when they face these challenges, they usually melt. And this from the mental standpoint, because we then have that horrible basketball, where they inevitably degenerate into taking turns going one on one. Let's not even bring their defense or lack thereof.

If last night wasn't an aberration and they are knocked out without much resistance... things will be interesting. It will tell us a lot about Durant how he handles the losses and his free agency.

If they lose in 6 or fewer games and get blown out one more time, I think KD is almost undoubtedly going to leave.

[Paradise]

I certainly hope that Durant understands where ever he ends up all of his "I'm underrated and overlooked" nonsense needs to stop. He's going to sacrifice a lot in order to fit in with an organization that has an elite coach and star in place whether it's Golden State, LA Clippers or even the Spurs.

[vincecarter4pres]

I certainly hope that Durant understands where ever he ends up all of his "I'm underrated and overlooked" nonsense needs to stop. He's going to sacrifice a lot in order to fit in with an organization that has an elite coach and star in place whether it's Golden State, LA Clippers or even the Spurs.

I don't even know that he wants to join a super team, or if he just wants to be on a team that still has star level players but he's the unquestionably best player on the team, but they have a better culture in place... hint hint....

I still wouldn't be shocked to see him sign here along with a Conley and Jordan Hill, or Horford along with some other move for a point guard.

You move Thad and Bogs for cap and a pick and you essentially have $58.5 mill to play with to sign 3 guys after cap holds are returned with each signing. Full max to KD, $23 million starting to Conley, leaves about $9 mill to grab a guy like Hill, or Lin or Ish Smith if Horford came.

Conley
RHJ
KD
Hill
Lopez

Or

Lin or Ish or trade
RHJ
KD
Horford
Lopez


Hmm...



Lastly, another reason I see him leaving, he knows Westbrook is as good as gone next year anyway. Why sign to play one more season with a guy you don't love playing with, but is undeniably great and so you'll miss dearly if he's replaced with nothing again, like Harden?

[Prokorov]

Yeah, this is spot on.

With the Raptors, i think its moreso a case of DeRozan being heavily reliant on FTAs to be an impact player. Much like James Harden, if you rely on multiple trips to the foul line to score 20 points or better you will be shut down in the playoffs. Its even worse for Derozan because he can't shoot from the arc.

to be fair, harden hasnt been consistently shut down in the playoffs and has made it to the NBA finals as well as the WCF as the best player on his team. i get the "they both rely on FT attempts" but hard has posted 27/8/5 for his career in the playoffs on 22 PER 59 TS%

last season 27/7/5 on 35 PER 62 TS%

derozan is nowhere near that

[Prokorov]

If they lose in 6 or fewer games and get blown out one more time, I think KD is almost undoubtedly going to leave.

i just dont see any scenario where he stays. he has nothing left to gain by being there. i mean even if they wont the title, then he would already have a title, and can move on to other opportunities.

OKC doesn give him the best talent doesnt give him the best market, doesnt give him the most exposure. westbrook to me is even more a sure thing to leave next season.

it put the chances of him staying with okc at like 0.1 %

[Dirk]

If they lose in 6 or fewer games and get blown out one more time, I think KD is almost undoubtedly going to leave.

i just dont see any scenario where he stays. he has nothing left to gain by being there. i mean even if they wont the title, then he would already have a title, and can move on to other opportunities.

OKC doesn give him the best talent doesnt give him the best market, doesnt give him the most exposure. westbrook to me is even more a sure thing to leave next season.

it put the chances of him staying with okc at like 0.1 %

I think even if they are swept aside 4-0 or 4-1, KD will sign for another year, on a 1+1 contract and then next year he'll evaluate his options. I am just curious whether there will be a big circus about it or if he'll be upfront regarding his decision.

If he left this season, where would he go? The Warriors? The Wizards because its "home"? I think he gives it another year and then makes up his mind about his long term future in 2017.

[Mkdaman1818]

If they lose in 6 or fewer games and get blown out one more time, I think KD is almost undoubtedly going to leave.

i just dont see any scenario where he stays. he has nothing left to gain by being there. i mean even if they wont the title, then he would already have a title, and can move on to other opportunities.

OKC doesn give him the best talent doesnt give him the best market, doesnt give him the most exposure. westbrook to me is even more a sure thing to leave next season.

it put the chances of him staying with okc at like 0.1 %

I think even if they are swept aside 4-0 or 4-1, KD will sign for another year, on a 1+1 contract and then next year he'll evaluate his options. I am just curious whether there will be a big circus about it or if he'll be upfront regarding his decision.

If he left this season, where would he go? The Warriors? The Wizards because its "home"? I think he gives it another year and then makes up his mind about his long term future in 2017.

This is my thinking too, but I wonder if another hard season competing in the west followed by a hard loss, along with his foot injury, would make him rethink. The long term security and relocation to the east where he'd have a much easier path to a title might be enough for him to leave this year itself. If endorsements and other off-court endeavors (hint - living in NY!) could offset that monetary gap, maybe that really convinces him.

[vincecarter4pres]

i just dont see any scenario where he stays. he has nothing left to gain by being there. i mean even if they wont the title, then he would already have a title, and can move on to other opportunities.

OKC doesn give him the best talent doesnt give him the best market, doesnt give him the most exposure. westbrook to me is even more a sure thing to leave next season.

it put the chances of him staying with okc at like 0.1 %

I think even if they are swept aside 4-0 or 4-1, KD will sign for another year, on a 1+1 contract and then next year he'll evaluate his options. I am just curious whether there will be a big circus about it or if he'll be upfront regarding his decision.

If he left this season, where would he go? The Warriors? The Wizards because its "home"? I think he gives it another year and then makes up his mind about his long term future in 2017.

This is my thinking too, but I wonder if another hard season competing in the west followed by a hard loss, along with his foot injury, would make him rethink. The long term security and relocation to the east where he'd have a much easier path to a title might be enough for him to leave this year itself. If endorsements and other off-court endeavors (hint - living in NY!) could offset that monetary gap, maybe that really convinces him.

Foot injury was my thinking as well. Think he'll sign long term wherever he goes.

[Dirk]

He can sign for one year with a player option for another year. He'd have to be in a wheelchair for teams to not give him a max contract.

So, it's all about making $25 million in salary next year. Then he opts outs and becomes eligible for a max contract under the $108 million cap (may be higher). His starting salary in 17/18? North of $35 million.

[NyCeEvO]

i just dont see any scenario where he stays. he has nothing left to gain by being there. i mean even if they wont the title, then he would already have a title, and can move on to other opportunities.

OKC doesn give him the best talent doesnt give him the best market, doesnt give him the most exposure. westbrook to me is even more a sure thing to leave next season.

it put the chances of him staying with okc at like 0.1 %

I think even if they are swept aside 4-0 or 4-1, KD will sign for another year, on a 1+1 contract and then next year he'll evaluate his options. I am just curious whether there will be a big circus about it or if he'll be upfront regarding his decision.

If he left this season, where would he go? The Warriors? The Wizards because its "home"? I think he gives it another year and then makes up his mind about his long term future in 2017.

This is my thinking too, but I wonder if another hard season competing in the west followed by a hard loss, along with his foot injury, would make him rethink. The long term security and relocation to the east where he'd have a much easier path to a title might be enough for him to leave this year itself. If endorsements and other off-court endeavors (hint - living in NY!) could offset that monetary gap, maybe that really convinces him.

Can Nike amend his contract on the basis of a re-location?

[Dirk]

Assuming I didn't make any mistakes, this his how his options look: