3/13 - POSTGAME | Oklahoma City Thunder (119) - (107) Atlanta Hawks

[getrichordie]

Glad you had a good time! I like Prince too, just glad they won this one, on a little streak and LA on a back to back after they have Houston Thursday.

Thanks! I had a great time. I had wonderful seats and observed some things about the team that I had never noticed before.

I sure hope they don't come out against HOU like they did versus ATL tonight. I get trying to play Dakari meaningful minutes vs. a tanking ATL, but Dakari is just not an NBA-caliber player as of current, IMO. He's just too slow for this day and age. Maybe he will work on that in the offseason and slim down and get quicker, but right now, he's just too slow and not dynamic enough.

EDIT: Bondom, read my above post about Daniel Hamilton!

I meant LA has Houston. They're on a back to back and OKC doesn't play til Friday. Couldn't watch but I'm a Dakari fan. Grant just doesn't have the size to be a center. With Steven out it really hurts because he basically has no backup, wish they coulda gotten someone.

Yeah, I mean I want Dakari to succeed. But he needs to drop at least 15-20 lbs in my opinion. He's too heavy on his feet.

[getrichordie]

By the way, I was at Lenox Mall in ATL 3 hours before tip-off. Guess who I see walking past me? Daniel **** Hamilton! I shook his hand and told him good luck tonight and that I was rooting for them. He seemed genuinely surprised that I knew who he was. I almost had a little anxiety attack as I was a bit starstruck (for the lack of a better word) because I was able to actually briefly meet one of our own. I think I was so excited that I kind of scared him.

I wouldn't have and I'm sure it made his day. First time I saw them and got my picture w/ Steven I was kinda freaking out myself lol.

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

[bondom34]

By the way, I was at Lenox Mall in ATL 3 hours before tip-off. Guess who I see walking past me? Daniel **** Hamilton! I shook his hand and told him good luck tonight and that I was rooting for them. He seemed genuinely surprised that I knew who he was. I almost had a little anxiety attack as I was a bit starstruck (for the lack of a better word) because I was able to actually briefly meet one of our own. I think I was so excited that I kind of scared him.

I wouldn't have and I'm sure it made his day. First time I saw them and got my picture w/ Steven I was kinda freaking out myself lol.

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

[getrichordie]

I wouldn't have and I'm sure it made his day. First time I saw them and got my picture w/ Steven I was kinda freaking out myself lol.

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

That's awesome. You look like a character from Ed, Edd, and Eddy

[bondom34]

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

That's awesome. You look like a character from Ed, Edd, and Eddy

Glad you had a good time! Should make it yearly, games are a blast.

And you're undefeated!

[Pillendreher]

For the love of God please stop these weird bench lineups. Play Brewer/Abrines - George/Huestis and that's it. No more Ferguson!

[dakomish23]

Read on Twitter

Boy, oh, boy. Watching this game live was a roller-coaster of emotions for me. The first time Russ went down, I literally thought I was witnessing another major injury to our squad. Then, PG went down hard. I heard his body thump the floor from the 3rd section up! I'm glad PG is okay. Melo definitely stepped up as did Westbrook. Also, at halftime, I thought I was witnessing the birth of Taurean Prince - the superstar version. That kid is going to be damn good. I also thought we might lose. But, Lord Russ, our savior pulled it out.

Wait till they add Ayton or Bagley

[ThunderBolt]

I wouldn't have and I'm sure it made his day. First time I saw them and got my picture w/ Steven I was kinda freaking out myself lol.

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

It’s always been on my bucket list to get a picture of Steven Adams while wearing a penn state hockey hoodie.

[Old Man Game]

I wouldn't have and I'm sure it made his day. First time I saw them and got my picture w/ Steven I was kinda freaking out myself lol.

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

Jeez, bro, what's up with that hair? Did you just get freed from a Cambodian prison or something? (Just kidding. Cool pic.)

[Old Man Game]

For the love of God please stop these weird bench lineups. Play Brewer/Abrines - George/Huestis and that's it. No more Ferguson!

Billdoh loves him some Ferguson on a level with how Scott Brooks used to love Fisher.

[bondom34]

What?? You got a picture with Steven? I'm jealous! At least I get memories Anyways, I hope it did make his day. I was joking with my brother about the potential of Hamilton getting excited and going to tell the rest of the guys that he got noticed in public. And honestly, I wouldn't have noticed him if it wasn't for that weird hitch in his upper back.

Yep, when he was doing his post game at the scorers table I went down (was in the lower section) and asked someone to snap one after I asked him first. I'm small and he's huge. Though this was about 2 years ago.

Jeez, bro, what's up with that hair? Did you just get freed from a Cambodian prison or something? (Just kidding. Cool pic.)

Shoulda seen me when I was in college. It was longer lol. (TBH might be now too)

[Pillendreher]

For the love of God please stop these weird bench lineups. Play Brewer/Abrines - George/Huestis and that's it. No more Ferguson!

Billdoh loves him some Ferguson on a level with how Scott Brooks used to love Fisher.

I just looked at his numbers.

Since Robes went down, we have a NetRtG of -23 with him on the court and +7 with him off the court. He''s a -92 in 205 minutes. Hezonja with the Magic is a -98 in over 500 minutes.

Over those 21 games, we're a +19. Without the Ferguson minutes, that's up to +110. Our MOV jumps from +0.9 up to +5.3.

Please. Stop. Playing. Him.

[sleestak33]

That might be the most impressive closeout of a game OKC has had this year. They just stepped on Atlanta's throat there at the end and Grant probably had his best game this year. Maybe this team is finally feeling a sense of urgency since this last stretch of games determines if they're going to even make the playoffs. I'm definitely with everybody else on here in that Donovan has to just stop playing Ferguson but they have to play somebody when Brewer is out. It's not like Huestis and Abrines are much better. It's the worst collection of shooting guards in the league Presti has put together and it's not changing anytime soon. He needs to tighten the rotation to pretty much 8 or 9 guys once the playoffs start.

[Pillendreher]

That might be the most impressive closeout of a game OKC has had this year. They just stepped on Atlanta's throat there at the end and Grant probably had his best game this year. Maybe this team is finally feeling a sense of urgency since this last stretch of games determines if they're going to even make the playoffs.

This sounds corny, but while watching the game and especially the 2nd half, it felt like this was one of the very few games this season against bad teams where they actually managed to 'flip the switch'. Basically didn't really compete in the 2nd quarter and gave up a 23 point turnround to end the half. Then come out of half-time to push the lead all the way back to 10 (22 point turnaround). Let them get close again (tied game with 5 minutes to go) and then close behind a 16-0 run to make it a double digit win. I know this sounds stupid because they've been underwhelming against bad teams all season long, but this one felt like they were spanking them when they wanted to to.

I'm definitely with everybody else on here in that Donovan has to just stop playing Ferguson but they have to play somebody when Brewer is out. It's not like Huestis and Abrines are much better.

For whatever reason, basically every lineup Huestis plays in works. He doesn't have a single negative two-man-lineup and has the 2nd best NetRtG on the team after Andre Roberson. With Russ on the floor (which inclues George and Adams most of the time), the team has a +10 NetRtG. With Russ off the floor (basically bench lineups), the team still has a +2.4 NetRtG (both in over 400 minutes, so the sample size is big enough)
And Abrines can at least make shots (38 % from 3 since Robes went down). His defensive effort has also improved over the last couple of weeks.

[Bergmaniac]

Abrines looked the best I've ever seen him defensively in this game. It helped him that the refs were letting both teams get away with more contact than usual but he moved his feet better than usual too and his rotations were on point.

[getrichordie]

For the love of God please stop these weird bench lineups. Play Brewer/Abrines - George/Huestis and that's it. No more Ferguson!

Billdoh loves him some Ferguson on a level with how Scott Brooks used to love Fisher.

I just looked at his numbers.

Since Robes went down, we have a NetRtG of -23 with him on the court and +7 with him off the court. He''s a -92 in 205 minutes. Hezonja with the Magic is a -98 in over 500 minutes.

Over those 21 games, we're a +19. Without the Ferguson minutes, that's up to +110. Our MOV jumps from +0.9 up to +5.3.

Please. Stop. Playing. Him.

It wouldn’t surprise me if they are trying to squeeze some minutes in for Ferguson in an attempt to raise his trade value. That would be a very Prestian thing to do as I fully expect us to trade Ferguson, if George re-signs, for a more established veteran guard.


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[getrichordie]

That might be the most impressive closeout of a game OKC has had this year. They just stepped on Atlanta's throat there at the end and Grant probably had his best game this year. Maybe this team is finally feeling a sense of urgency since this last stretch of games determines if they're going to even make the playoffs.

This sounds corny, but while watching the game and especially the 2nd half, it felt like this was one of the very few games this season against bad teams where they actually managed to 'flip the switch'. Basically didn't really compete in the 2nd quarter and gave up a 23 point turnround to end the half. Then come out of half-time to push the lead all the way back to 10 (22 point turnaround). Let them get close again (tied game with 5 minutes to go) and then close behind a 16-0 run to make it a double digit win. I know this sounds stupid because they've been underwhelming against bad teams all season long, but this one felt like they were spanking them when they wanted to to.

I'm definitely with everybody else on here in that Donovan has to just stop playing Ferguson but they have to play somebody when Brewer is out. It's not like Huestis and Abrines are much better.

For whatever reason, basically every lineup Huestis plays in works. He doesn't have a single negative two-man-lineup and has the 2nd best NetRtG on the team after Andre Roberson. With Russ on the floor (which inclues George and Adams most of the time), the team has a +10 NetRtG. With Russ off the floor (basically bench lineups), the team still has a +2.4 NetRtG (both in over 400 minutes, so the sample size is big enough)
And Abrines can at least make shots (38 % from 3 since Robes went down). His defensive effort has also improved over the last couple of weeks.

On flipping the switch, keep in mind that was the backend of a back-to-back where they just played SAC who gave them fits since Adams only played 23 minutes. I think they were tired. It’s been an exhausting and frustrating season for them and I think they flipped the switch at the right time on purpose. They seemed to be coasting through the first couple of quarters.

I noticed Huestis’ NetRtg impact about 3-4 days ago but didn’t post anything about it because I didn’t think anyone would care because they think he sucks. But he does his job on defense. His only downfall is his shot... like Roberson.

But I think Huestis definitely provides a little more on offense than Roberson. His handles are better and he’s a better passer, in my opinion. Though, he’s not as good offensively as Brewer, I think he provides enough.

I wish we would give Huestis more minutes down the stretch. I think we are going to really need his defensive switching in the playoffs if we wish to be competitive.




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[getrichordie]

Abrines looked the best I've ever seen him defensively in this game. It helped him that the refs were letting both teams get away with more contact than usual but he moved his feet better than usual too and his rotations were on point.

Don’t be fooled. He was playing against ATL guards. Against elite competition he’s practically useless on defense. He’s just not big enough to bother anyone. His best bet is to trail them and block them from behind or force a pass.


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