10/28 | G5: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder - 6PM CST

[spearsy23]

Getting that first W. Still had some uneven moments. All in all its something to build on though (except for Diallo who won't be building anything other than to show up when coaches tell him).

Would it really shock anyone if he's completely out of the rotation now?

[ThunderBolt]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

So an 0-4 team that has proven nothing has the right to just quit caring during the course of a game that they think they have won? That’s precisely the problem with this team.

[Old Man Game]

lots of mid-range shooting by pg. making them, but poor shot selection. he's not good enough for his mid-range volume. especially off the dribble. gets no separation.

i can't believe deonte burton is getting nba minutes. lol.

It is so strange. As a 2 way guy he can only be with the NBA team for something like 45 days in the season. Billy's going to burn 'em all up front.

[Dn4sty]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

The negatives are that I’m not sure how the Russ/Schroder pairing on the court at the same time is going to look. If they play another point guard with Russ I want him to be able to shoot).

I also don’t understand Jerami Grant at all. Acquiring a PF who can be a rotation player seems to be just as big of a need as shooters.

[Old Man Game]

Getting that first W. Still had some uneven moments. All in all its something to build on though (except for Diallo who won't be building anything other than to show up when coaches tell him).

Would it really shock anyone if he's completely out of the rotation now?

No. I had the exact same thought. Wouldn't be surprised if Donovan ends up benching him for several games over this. The only thing he's got working in his favor is that apparently TLC and Nadar are both worse than a guy on a 2 way contract behind Diallo.

[Old Man Game]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

So an 0-4 team that has proven nothing has the right to just quit caring during the course of a game that they think they have won? That’s precisely the problem with this team.

They certainly played poorly enough that they probably lose to a decent team. Still, sometimes just getting that W is the most important thing. Stops the free fall. Get's people to relax a bit. Hopefully the second, and 3rd wins coming a lot sooner than the first.

[spearsy23]

lots of mid-range shooting by pg. making them, but poor shot selection. he's not good enough for his mid-range volume. especially off the dribble. gets no separation.

i can't believe deonte burton is getting nba minutes. lol.

It is so strange. As a 2 way guy he can only be with the NBA team for something like 45 days in the season. Billy's going to burn 'em all up front.

That's 45 literal days though, as long as Presti has him on the roster it doesn't matter if he's active and playing or on the bench in a suit.

[slick_watts]

i'm not worried about the comeback either.

[Old Man Game]

lots of mid-range shooting by pg. making them, but poor shot selection. he's not good enough for his mid-range volume. especially off the dribble. gets no separation.

i can't believe deonte burton is getting nba minutes. lol.

It is so strange. As a 2 way guy he can only be with the NBA team for something like 45 days in the season. Billy's going to burn 'em all up front.

That's 45 literal days though, as long as Presti has him on the roster it doesn't matter if he's active and playing or on the bench in a suit.

Yeah but my point is its odd to have a guy as a rotation piece that you literally know won't be available at some point in the season if you keep playing him. You'd think they'd want to give Nader or TLC those minutes. Giving them to Burton seems essentially pointless.

[spearsy23]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

So an 0-4 team that has proven nothing has the right to just quit caring during the course of a game that they think they have won? That’s precisely the problem with this team.

This isn't is specific, every NBA team lets up at the end of games with huge leads. Even then it was like a 18 point game with 4 minutes left when we pulled Russ and went schroder/Alex/Ferg/Grant/Pat. Still 14 points with a minute and a half left when Nader/Burton came in.

[Dn4sty]

i'm not worried about the comeback either.

We disagree almost all the time, but not here.

[Dn4sty]

It is so strange. As a 2 way guy he can only be with the NBA team for something like 45 days in the season. Billy's going to burn 'em all up front.

That's 45 literal days though, as long as Presti has him on the roster it doesn't matter if he's active and playing or on the bench in a suit.

Yeah but my point is its odd to have a guy as a rotation piece that you literally know won't be available at some point in the season if you keep playing him. You'd think they'd want to give Nader or TLC those minutes. Giving them to Burton seems essentially pointless.

I think the easiest solution is giving Burton the 15th roster spot. I believe this is the plan but it’s cheaper to wait till the 45 days are up.

Further I could see a trade happening beforehand

[Dn4sty]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

So an 0-4 team that has proven nothing has the right to just quit caring during the course of a game that they think they have won? That’s precisely the problem with this team.

This isn't is specific, every NBA team lets up at the end of games with huge leads. Even then it was like a 18 point game with 4 minutes left when we pulled Russ and went schroder/Alex/Ferg/Grant/Pat. Still 14 points with a minute and a half left when Nader/Burton came in.

To further this idea, you’ll never develop a bench and young guys unless they play. Letting them play sometimes results in this. I would much rather see something like this happen AND figure out what OKC has at the back end of the roster, while giving the second unit some time to figure things out, than not having the chance.

[Dn4sty]

I watched the whole thing and I guess I’m not near as upset as many of you guys.

Nerlens played well, 2Pat played well

I know Phoenix made a big run, but no one on OKC cared.

There are still a bunch of issues, but I don’t think this game means the season is over/finished.

So an 0-4 team that has proven nothing has the right to just quit caring during the course of a game that they think they have won? That’s precisely the problem with this team.

This isn't is specific, every NBA team lets up at the end of games with huge leads. Even then it was like a 18 point game with 4 minutes left when we pulled Russ and went schroder/Alex/Ferg/Grant/Pat. Still 14 points with a minute and a half left when Nader/Burton came in.

To further this idea, you’ll never develop a bench and young guys unless they play. Letting them play sometimes results in this. I would much rather see something like this happen AND figure out what OKC has at the back end of the roster, while giving the second unit some time to figure things out, than not having the chance.

[Dn4sty]

My biggest question is this performance an outlier for Noel, or can he become much more than just a minimum contract lottery pick that has washed out.

Ayton and Chandler aren’t Gobert and Favors but Noel still looked superb

[bondom34]

Oh and mostly my main concern with the comeback was the losing by 18+ thing. I find that an amazing stat

[Old Man Game]

My biggest question is this performance an outlier for Noel, or can he become much more than just a minimum contract lottery pick that has washed out.

Ayton and Chandler aren’t Gobert and Favors but Noel still looked superb

I don't know about 20 and 15, but yes, Noel has plenty of talent to stay in the league beyond this current deal.

[spearsy23]

It is so strange. As a 2 way guy he can only be with the NBA team for something like 45 days in the season. Billy's going to burn 'em all up front.

That's 45 literal days though, as long as Presti has him on the roster it doesn't matter if he's active and playing or on the bench in a suit.

Yeah but my point is its odd to have a guy as a rotation piece that you literally know won't be available at some point in the season if you keep playing him. You'd think they'd want to give Nader or TLC those minutes. Giving them to Burton seems essentially pointless.

Wouldn't be surprised if he's using the first 45 to get a lot at Burton while giving Nader/TLC more time to get comfortable with the system (and Nader get healthy) then they both get shots on the court and see which of the three has the most success.

[Kizz Fastfists]

Yeah but my point is its odd to have a guy as a rotation piece that you literally know won't be available at some point in the season if you keep playing him. You'd think they'd want to give Nader or TLC those minutes. Giving them to Burton seems essentially pointless.

It is the way Donovan has been coaching. If you look at what he has done with previous injuries, and even Roberson until Brewer was brought in, he plugs in a bench guy and keeps his bench pretty much the same. Diallo and Ferguson aren't really rotation pieces to him they are just fill in until Roberson comes back. Check the lineup data. I'm 99% certain that Diallo and Ferguson have not been on the court together.

It is why he can't bring himself to start Abrines despite that being the best option. He just sees Abrines as an off the bench player and he would rather sacrifice the starting spot instead of adjust his pre-determined rotations. If Roberson doesn't come back as quality NBA player Donovan will be completely lost on what to do with his wing rotation.

[spearsy23]

Yeah but my point is its odd to have a guy as a rotation piece that you literally know won't be available at some point in the season if you keep playing him. You'd think they'd want to give Nader or TLC those minutes. Giving them to Burton seems essentially pointless.

. Check the lineup data. I'm 99% certain that Diallo and Ferguson have not been on the court together.

Haven't checked the lineup data, but having watched the games I'm 95% sure they've played some minutes together.

1 minute! They've played 1 minute together