10/31 - POSTGAME | Oklahoma City Thunder (110) - (91) Milwaukee Bucks

[bondom34]

No, I heard you say it on one of the podcast links you were on. You said you never played organized ball, and didn't follow the NBA much until LeBron, then switched to kd because he announced his first extension (which everyone signs) via Twitter. You've since found your niche posting a bunch of stats to hide your lack of independent insight.

Again, I speak objectively. Roberson had a good defensive game vs. Giannis, which I acknowledged. What is your problem with That? Oladipo and Giannis aren't comparable talents, and he wasn't as good vs. Oladipo. Also note, and I think it's pretty obvious, that okc would've easily outscored milwaukee had Roberson not played (it ultimately didn't matter who was guarding Giannis, as okc was by far the superior team and the team defense (my point through all this) was a bigger difference maker than Roberson, who I merely mentioned did a good job (which he did).

Except I did until high school. And I was only ever on one podcast about 2.5 years ago and don't remember it that well myself. So either you remember better than I and remember incorrectly or thats made up. Extra weird since youve never said you play but are a coach who evidently doesn't scout or understand basketball much.

As for the rest, you keep using individual defense and confusing it with team impact. Using levels of players is irrelevant. 28 points is 28 points. By last standard thats bad but now its good. Consistency.

Edit. Oh and I was a Pacers fan inthe 90s.

Again, giannis and oladipo are not comparable talents. Giannis can get 28 with good defense being played on him. It's actually something it looks like he will be doing nightly for the next 10 years. Oladipo exploding on a defensive ace isn't the same, and shouldn't be as acceptable. His defense wasn't as good against oladipo. If you can't accept that, I completely understand and am not suprised.

Since you know so much about defense I assume you know that was Indiana's worst offensive game this season then. I am not surprised you don't understand team defense.

[hardenASG13]

No I get that, i really do. It's been what I've been trying to tell you guys, for some time. 1 wing defender doesn't make much of a difference, especially against the best players in the world. Do you understand team defense, having never played basketball?

i played ball in college, where did you play?

listen to what steven adams says to start this interview:

Watch on YouTube

especially we knew what we were giving up. this is the same strategy that was used against indiana with oladipo and against minny (at least, when dre was in). it's only possible to do this with decent defensive wings who know what they are doing. dre is one of the best! without him we wouldn't be defending that way at all, giannis and oladipo would have been double teamed or the screens would be switched.

you're dancing around the point of this discussion which is that your criteria for valuing defensive impact is different following this game than it was for other games.

Again, the fact you are comparing oladipo to giannis (I think) here is the problem. Giannis should be guarded differently than oladipo, as he is a different level of talent. Roberson did well in his role there. The fact he would need as much help, or not be able to contain a guy like oladipo, with minimal help, is alarming for a player with the defensive reputation he has. I will refrain from acknowledging when he does a good job in the future, if your more comfortable with that? Although as part of the blogosphere intelligentsia I'd think you would appreciate someone objectively acknowledging a point which goes against their overall opinion, as it shows understanding of the topic rather than flag pole planted homerism, which is the case with many of you regarding a few thunder players).

Played d3 college ball, coach HS freshman ball. Not bragging about it, nor am I the one who keeps bringing it up. The comments regarding both (scouting, not understanding team defense, playing player x over player y (comparing a HS frosh team to NBA)) by some posters further illustrates their distance from understanding the game of basketball and the expectations at different levels (ex. I'll say Roberson should sit, and be countered with 'So when you coach you don't play any good defenders?) It's just funny the two levels are compared.

[bondom34]

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[slick_watts]

Again, the fact you are comparing oladipo to giannis (I think) here is the problem. Giannis should be guarded differently than oladipo, as he is a different level of talent. Roberson did well in his role there. The fact he would need as much help, or not be able to contain a guy like oladipo, with minimal help, is alarming for a player with the defensive reputation he has.

dre fulfilled his role in both scenarios. leaving dre on an island and letting him get thru screens puts immense pressure on a offense, which this year has led to very high turnovers and low eFG% when he's in the game. the same strategy was employed by the team with giannis and with oladipo and with any other wing dre is going to defend. it's why counterpart #'s are not the way to judge how valuable dre is to the defense. watch the pacers game from last night and how charlotte was defending oladipo and what happened as a result.

I will refrain from acknowledging when he does a good job in the future, if your more comfortable with that? Although as part of the blogosphere intelligentsia I'd think you would appreciate someone objectively acknowledging a point which goes against their overall opinion, as it shows understanding of the topic rather than flag pole planted homerism, which is the case with many of you regarding a few thunder players).

you don't have to pine for my appreciation. is sleestak33 not enough?

your basis for your praise of dre in the milwaukee game is at odds with your criticism in the past. gussy it up however you want that's just the truth.

Played d3 college ball, coach HS freshman ball. Not bragging about it, nor am I the one who keeps bringing it up. The comments regarding both (scouting, not understanding team defense, playing player x over player y (comparing a HS frosh team to NBA)) by some posters further illustrates their distance from understanding the game of basketball and the expectations at different levels (ex. I'll say Roberson should sit, and be countered with 'So when you coach you don't play any good defenders?) It's just funny the two levels are compared.

i don't care about all this. how long you or anyone has watched basketball, or played, or whatever is immaterial. it doesn't make your thoughts more or less valuable to me. what matters is the truth. and the truth in this case is that you praised andre roberson for playing defense against giannis when giannis had a good game after criticizing andre roberson for not playing defense against oladipo when oladipo had a good game. it doesn't matter what your accolades are, you are invalidating your own argument.

[hardenASG13]

Again, the fact you are comparing oladipo to giannis (I think) here is the problem. Giannis should be guarded differently than oladipo, as he is a different level of talent. Roberson did well in his role there. The fact he would need as much help, or not be able to contain a guy like oladipo, with minimal help, is alarming for a player with the defensive reputation he has.

dre fulfilled his role in both scenarios. leaving dre on an island and letting him get thru screens puts immense pressure on a defense, which this year has led to very high turnovers and low eFG% when he's in the game. the same strategy was employed by the team with giannis and with oladipo and with any other wing dre is going to defend. it's why counterpart #'s are not the way to judge how valuable dre is to the defense. watch the pacers game from last night and how charlotte was defending oladipo and what happened as a result.

I will refrain from acknowledging when he does a good job in the future, if your more comfortable with that? Although as part of the blogosphere intelligentsia I'd think you would appreciate someone objectively acknowledging a point which goes against their overall opinion, as it shows understanding of the topic rather than flag pole planted homerism, which is the case with many of you regarding a few thunder players).

you don't have to pine for my appreciation. is sleestak33 not enough?

your basis for your praise of dre in the milwaukee game is at odds with your criticism in the past. gussy it up however you want that's just the truth.

Played d3 college ball, coach HS freshman ball. Not bragging about it, nor am I the one who keeps bringing it up. The comments regarding both (scouting, not understanding team defense, playing player x over player y (comparing a HS frosh team to NBA)) by some posters further illustrates their distance from understanding the game of basketball and the expectations at different levels (ex. I'll say Roberson should sit, and be countered with 'So when you coach you don't play any good defenders?) It's just funny the two levels are compared.

i don't care about all this. how long you or anyone has watched basketball, or played, or whatever is immaterial. it doesn't make your thoughts more or less valuable to me. what matters is the truth. and the truth in this case is that you praised andre roberson for playing defense against giannis when giannis had a good game after criticizing andre roberson for not playing defense against oladipo when oladipo had a good game. it doesn't matter what your accolades are, you are invalidating your own argument.

Ok I will continue to rip him apart for his embarrassing play, without acknowledging good play. Oladipo had 29 through 3 quarters. The milwaukee game was over early 3rd. That's reality.

[slick_watts]

Ok I will continue to rip him apart for his embarrassing play, without acknowledging good play.

he didn't do anything unusual defensively v. milwaukee that he hasn't done in the past or in this very season. you're free to have your own opinions of course, and i wouldn't be ripping yours to shreds if you weren't so combative about them.

Oladipo had 29 through 3 quarters. The milwaukee game was over early 3rd. That's reality.

you seriously don't get it.