2018-2019 OKC Thunder Regular Season Pt 1: A Renewed Hope

[Old Man Game]

so the defense is 2.5pp100 better than #2 boston after taking strength of opponent into account.

if this continues, billy deserves >a lot< of credit imo. with 'dre out, losing adrian griffin, bringing in an incompetent to replace him... it would be a scott brooks, post-ron adams like achievement only x100 if this hold the rest of the year.

LMAO. Dude. Why doesn't the said incompetent deserve credit as well? Maybe it turns out he just wasn't incompetent.

need more evidence. bob beyer has a looooooong history of ineffectiveness in this role, taking credit from guys like steve clifford. not impossible he could have turned the corner. terry stotts was a horrible HC until this stint with portland. but i'm curious why there's no writing from thunder media on beyer so far this year with the defense playing so well.

It's fair to wonder that. Generally I assume it's because thunder media isn't very good when a question like that comes up.

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[spearsy23]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

[getrichordie]

LMAO. Dude. Why doesn't the said incompetent deserve credit as well? Maybe it turns out he just wasn't incompetent.

need more evidence. bob beyer has a looooooong history of ineffectiveness in this role, taking credit from guys like steve clifford. not impossible he could have turned the corner. terry stotts was a horrible HC until this stint with portland. but i'm curious why there's no writing from thunder media on beyer so far this year with the defense playing so well.

It's fair to wonder that. Generally I assume it's because thunder media isn't very good when a question like that comes up.

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Wait, wasn’t the defense good last year even with Melo in? Are we really not going to pretend that Ferguson has improved or that Schroder is a better defender than Felton or that Noel doesn’t make a difference? I think some of you are over-shooting this. It’s literally as simple as this:

- melo
- felton
- roberson (injury)
- grant as back up 5
- brewer

+ tferg’s improvement
+ grant playing more 4 (plus progression)
+ schroder replacing old man felton
+ noel replacing grant’s minutes at back up 5
+ diallo
+ westbrook’s improved defensive effort
+ adams’ progression

= better defense


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[getrichordie]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

People are saying that? Weird. I just think he should continue to get some of Patterson’s minutes if Patterson keeps playing like doo doo.


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[slick_watts]

LMAO. Dude. Why doesn't the said incompetent deserve credit as well? Maybe it turns out he just wasn't incompetent.

need more evidence. bob beyer has a looooooong history of ineffectiveness in this role, taking credit from guys like steve clifford. not impossible he could have turned the corner. terry stotts was a horrible HC until this stint with portland. but i'm curious why there's no writing from thunder media on beyer so far this year with the defense playing so well.

It's fair to wonder that. Generally I assume it's because thunder media isn't very good when a question like that comes up.

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i really wish they would, and i think it'd be a story they'd love to run with. after renowned defensive assistant leaves for toronto, embattled assistant bob beyer helps revive thunder defense? sounds like a perfect oklahoma story.

[Old Man Game]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

True. Also, I don't understand people thinking he can take over Patterson's minutes. The guy is listed at 6'5" but looks closer to 6'3". Can't see him as a full time 4.

[spearsy23]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

People are saying that? Weird. I just think he should continue to get some of Patterson’s minutes if Patterson keeps playing like doo doo.


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Look up thread a little bit. And I don't know where you play him, I agree he should get some minutes but do you do so at the expense of Hami or Ferg? He isn't tall enough to play the 4 unless the other team is playing ultra small, he's going to struggle with some threes even.

[getrichordie]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

True. Also, I don't understand people thinking he can take over Patterson's minutes. The guy is listed at 6'5" but looks closer to 6'3". Can't see him as a full time 4.

He looks like the spitting image of PJ Tucker to me. Don’t see why he would struggle on second unit. Same tools. Burton has been solid on defensive side. Moreso than Patterson. A number of guys can defend really well despite their height. Just ask Marcus Smart, Chris Paul, and Tony Allen (vs Durant in playoffs). I’m sure there’s a few more I’m not remembering.

FWIW, I’m fine with Billy using Patterson and Burton as back up 4s by committee. If Patterson continues to show he is in decline, Burton should get all of his minutes and Patterson should be traded to PHX for Bender so we can kick the tires on him.

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[getrichordie]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

People are saying that? Weird. I just think he should continue to get some of Patterson’s minutes if Patterson keeps playing like doo doo.


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Look up thread a little bit. And I don't know where you play him, I agree he should get some minutes but do you do so at the expense of Hami or Ferg? He isn't tall enough to play the 4 unless the other team is playing ultra small, he's going to struggle with some threes even.

You give him some of Patterson’s minutes until Patterson can show some level of competency on the offensive end. He’s shown he can do everything on defensive end just as well (if not better) as Patterson in my opinion. Burton can at least get to the rim and finish. That much we know.

As far as his fit, he’ll be fine playing the 4 on second unit for the most part. Sure, he will be mismatched here and there but I don’t think it will be super often. You can also give him minutes at the 3 if a Diallo or Ferguson is out or if you just feel the need bring him off the bench as a spark when needed.

[Dn4sty]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

People are saying that? Weird. I just think he should continue to get some of Patterson’s minutes if Patterson keeps playing like doo doo.


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Look up thread a little bit. And I don't know where you play him, I agree he should get some minutes but do you do so at the expense of Hami or Ferg? He isn't tall enough to play the 4 unless the other team is playing ultra small, he's going to struggle with some threes even.

Burton is 6-5/250 and has a 7-0 wingspan. I’m not saying he has Draymond skill set but Draymond is 6-6/230 with a 7-1 wingspan.

To say he can’t play the 4 is a bit strange.

[Dn4sty]

The overreaction to Burton is hilarious. I like the guy, but talking about him as better than abrines is so laughable, let alone Roberson.

True. Also, I don't understand people thinking he can take over Patterson's minutes. The guy is listed at 6'5" but looks closer to 6'3". Can't see him as a full time 4.

He looks like the spitting image of PJ Tucker to me. Don’t see why he would struggle on second unit. Same tools. Burton has been solid on defensive side. Moreso than Patterson. A number of guys can defend really well despite their height. Just ask Marcus Smart, Chris Paul, and Tony Allen (vs Durant in playoffs). I’m sure there’s a few more I’m not remembering.

FWIW, I’m fine with Billy using Patterson and Burton as back up 4s by committee. If Patterson continues to show he is in decline, Burton should get all of his minutes and Patterson should be traded to PHX for Bender so we can kick the tires on him.

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You had better get something else from Phoenix is you move 2Pat for only Bender

[Dn4sty]

Read on Twitter

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[spearsy23]

People are saying that? Weird. I just think he should continue to get some of Patterson’s minutes if Patterson keeps playing like doo doo.


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Look up thread a little bit. And I don't know where you play him, I agree he should get some minutes but do you do so at the expense of Hami or Ferg? He isn't tall enough to play the 4 unless the other team is playing ultra small, he's going to struggle with some threes even.

Burton is 6-5/250 and has a 7-0 wingspan. I’m not saying he has Draymond skill set but Draymond is 6-6/230 with a 7-1 wingspan.

To say he can’t play the 4 is a bit strange.

Green is 2 inches taller than Burton, and Burton's wingspan is described as 'near' seven feet

[Pillendreher]

I'm glad people are thirsty for my takes, so of course I'll deliver. Right now Patterson is getting Morrowed into oblivion. Tough to watch.

[Dn4sty]

I'm glad people are thirsty for my takes, so of course I'll deliver. Right now Patterson is getting Morrowed into oblivion. Tough to watch.

By Morrowed into oblivion you mean?

[Pillendreher]

I'm glad people are thirsty for my takes, so of course I'll deliver. Right now Patterson is getting Morrowed into oblivion. Tough to watch.

By Morrowed into oblivion you mean?

Morrow too started missing shots constantly and then for whatever reason started to go inside more. Patterson has not been getting the same kind of 3s he got to start the seasons. He was not making all of them either, but those were different shots, more in rhythm. Now he's back to this weird "in between" game that does not account for his specific skill set. They ran this thing with Abrines multiple times near the perimeter which always had Patterson posting up as an option. What's the point of that?

[Dn4sty]

Read on Twitter

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Read on Twitter

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[CROklahoma]

Damn, those are some good signs. Get to 100% health soon Dre, we're gonna be a terror with him in the lineup.

[Dn4sty]

Damn, those are some good signs. Get to 100% health soon Dre, we're gonna be a terror with him in the lineup.

Absolutely, especially now that Dre is a 75% FT shooter and 35% 3 point shooter

[getrichordie]

Weird. Hearing from 3 different Raptors fans that the word in Toronto was Patterson had a cocaine problem.

Anybody else hear of this?


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