1/4 - POSTGAME | Oklahoma City Thunder (127) - (117) LA Clippers

[Old Man Game]

Melo didn't want any of that rotating over to cut off DeAndre that's fo dam sure. There were a couple of those rolls that he had plenty of time and was just like, 'nah.' Which, I'm not sure I blame him.

[thekaoswithin]

I think Melo was 100% a problem on defence, but I don't really blame him. Just doesn't have the physical capabilities to hang with DAJ and Blake.

Not really too concerning for me in the long run as we're not going to play any team with that kind of front court size in the playoffs.

[knuckles862]

I think Melo was 100% a problem on defence, but I don't really blame him. Just doesn't have the physical capabilities to hang with DAJ and Blake.

Not really too concerning for me in the long run as we're not going to play any team with that kind of front court size in the playoffs.

You are right I think you guys would be fine come playoff time tho warriors play green at pf melo can guard him easily since he isn’t a big scorer rockets run Anderson or tucker they also will be easy to guard spurs might be the only problem but overall their team isn’t super fast so melo should be fine there too wolves play taj I think if melo puts the effort in he can box him out so you guys will be ok

[bondom34]

2 totally unrelated things.

1. Melo may be bad on defense but he's still an upgrade from Enes.

2. Lou Will was apparently being held back by Harden and Houston. Numbers got worse when he got there and better when leaving. Dude is incredible and kinda lucked out his shot was off apparently yesterday.

[NOOB77]

While Melo is a mismatch on defense versus true bigs you have to look at it on the other side those bigs can not guard him on the outside hence he was 9-12 for 22 points while it took Blake 19 shots for 24 points. Going to have a mismatch on both sides in cases like this. Plus Melo had the highest +/- in this game so can't really say the "team" fell apart when he was on the court. Sure the defense might have been a little worse that just means the offense was that much better when he was on the court

[slick_watts]

he was a liability in he first game too- difference was we had andre roberson around.

anthony is one of the worst 'bigs' right now in the league at shot contesting near the rim. he's a liability whenever he's put into that position. players are shooting 11%+ better than expected when anthony is the closest defensive player inside of six feet. in order for the defense to function the wings need to keep players out of the paint at all cost. once adams rotates anywhere, and anthony is exposed as a help defender, the possession is essentially over. may as well put points on the board.

he's overanalyzed because his fans have a history of grandiose claims about him that make no sense. do you remember when realgm was hopping with hot takes that anthony was a better offensive player than kevin durant 'because he has more moves'? this was a legitimate discussion on realgm for years, and any kind of push back was met with the same 'you're overanalyzing' nonsense.

melo is a defensive liability and has been his whole career.

edit: i was replying to a Rotten Apple post but it seems to have been deleted.

[prizm]

unless the thunder plays my team... it's the 2nd time watching a full thunders game... 2-0 when my eyes are fully on them so you're welcome...

On a serious note... pg wasn't missing and Westbrook with his classic triple double... it was a fun game to watch...

Ferguson need to get to the basket when the 3's ain't droppin... but it's really good to see the coach not pulling him out of the game and giving him 30+... are the thunders known for developing players properly?

[bondom34]

unless the thunder plays my team... it's the 2nd time watching a full thunders game... 2-0 when my eyes are fully on them so you're welcome...

On a serious note... pg wasn't missing and Westbrook with his classic triple double... it was a fun game to watch...

Ferguson need to get to the basket when the 3's ain't droppin... but it's really good to see the coach not pulling him out of the game and giving him 30+... are the thunders known for developing players properly?

They were better under Brooks than Donovan at it but their G league system still seems solid. Donovan has kind of been subpar at it though.

[ThunderBolt]

Any notice the private post game comments between Russ and Deandre?

[prizm]

unless the thunder plays my team... it's the 2nd time watching a full thunders game... 2-0 when my eyes are fully on them so you're welcome...

On a serious note... pg wasn't missing and Westbrook with his classic triple double... it was a fun game to watch...

Ferguson need to get to the basket when the 3's ain't droppin... but it's really good to see the coach not pulling him out of the game and giving him 30+... are the thunders known for developing players properly?

They were better under Brooks than Donovan at it but their G league system still seems solid. Donovan has kind of been subpar at it though.

Damn, sucks to hear that... I thought differently because Donovan kept Ferguson in the game for 30+ even with his defensive mistakes...

Obviously, when Roberson gets back he's taking that spot back but i hope t-ferg won't be buried at the bench... I'm not going to lie my interest in watching was because of t-feg but I'll still be rooting for them tho... my team is finished this season anyway...

[Pillendreher]

Any notice the private post game comments between Russ and Deandre?

Nah. What comments?

[Pillendreher]

Our hubris on the defensive end is killing me. We won't stop acting like we can switch everything and that Grant and/or Huestis can defend guards. Stop switcing every god damn poss.!!! There's no use in switching Anthony on Jordan while Adams runs around on the perimeter.

[RalphSampsonJr]

2 totally unrelated things.

1. Melo may be bad on defense but he's still an upgrade from Enes.

2. Lou Will was apparently being held back by Harden and Houston. Numbers got worse when he got there and better when leaving. Dude is incredible and kinda lucked out his shot was off apparently yesterday.

He started getting hot in the 4th!
Went on the clips feed and it seems alot of them think trading him is a good idea. Love to see Lou in a thunder uniform

[ThunderBolt]

Any notice the private post game comments between Russ and Deandre?

Nah. What comments?

They were both talking to each other with their hands deliberately covering their mouths.

[RalphSampsonJr]

he was a liability in he first game too- difference was we had andre roberson around.

anthony is one of the worst 'bigs' right now in the league at shot contesting near the rim. he's a liability whenever he's put into that position. players are shooting 11%+ better than expected when anthony is the closest defensive player inside of six feet. in order for the defense to function the wings need to keep players out of the paint at all cost. once adams rotates anywhere, and anthony is exposed as a help defender, the possession is essentially over. may as well put points on the board.

he's overanalyzed because his fans have a history of grandiose claims about him that make no sense. do you remember when realgm was hopping with hot takes that anthony was a better offensive player than kevin durant 'because he has more moves'? this was a legitimate discussion on realgm for years, and any kind of push back was met with the same 'you're overanalyzing' nonsense.

melo is a defensive liability and has been his whole career.

edit: i was replying to a Rotten Apple post but it seems to have been deleted.

I agree. I feel this was a prime example of how Melo struggles down low.
You get two good bigs on together and they will dominate us all game.
Lou would drive, blow by tferg or josh and suck in Adams for a nice dish to Jordan with Melo no where in sit to put a body on him.
Its almost like hes too "cool" to wanna do that dirty work.
Grant and 2Pat had no business trying to guard Jordan either. That short amount of time where Adams sat and Jordan was on, he destroyed us on the glass.
I missed Taj this game. We are in desperate need of a back up big that can hold his own down there