12/5 | G23: Oklahoma City Thunder at Brooklyn Nets - 6:30PM CST

[RalphSampsonJr]

Not even mad, but don't you ever get tired of/embarrassed by flipping out every time they have a bad stretch in a game? They've been one of the best teams in the league, and maybe the most watchable thunder team since the first year they had Kmart. Chill out, they're good.

Dont you get embarrassed jumping on here after the game and try make people look silly who are just expressing their feelings during real time?!

Anyone can come on here and talk crap after the fact.

It's almost literally a major over reaction, any bad stretch, usually in games the team wins. Game after game. Take a look at the game threads. Almost nothing positive ever pointed out, massive overreactions to anything but perfect play. Would think he'd learn his lesson, eventually.

They gave up 60+ in a half to the Nets when they are spose to be the no1 defense in the league. There was definitely cause for concern.

This team hasnt exactly been known to make huge comebavks after the last two seasons either.. it will take time to adjust to this new style of actually performing in the last 24 minutes

[Old Man Game]

Awesome win.

Ferguson is really, really good on defense. His combination of length and quickness/agility is amazing.

it's not all between the ears. maybe that comes, who knows. his frame allows him to slip through screens in an odd way.

He sidesteps them so well. Reminds me of Royal Ivey back in the day when he got to play for a hot minute there.

[spearsy23]

Awesome win.

Ferguson is really, really good on defense. His combination of length and quickness/agility is amazing.

Totally. Give this guy another season or so in the league to get more seasoning and more respect from refs and he's going to be exceptional defensively. Not Roberson good because he doesn't have the frame to guard as many positions but still really good. And not a complete zero offensively. That shot isn't anywhere near as broken as Roberson's.

I don't think he's going to be Roberson good, but I don't think frame is necessarily that big of a deterrent. So much of what Roberson does is done early, it's getting a hand in a passing Lane to make the offense hesitate, cutting off a driving Lane before the guy starts downhill, faking a closeout then recovering before the ball is even passed, etc. Roberson is rare in that he's not necessarily a lock down guy in isolation, he greatly effects the entire team defense from the perimeter. Ferguson doesn't have to be Robes's size to do all that, he just has to have almost preternatural instincts.

[hardenASG13]

Awesome win.

Ferguson is really, really good on defense. His combination of length and quickness/agility is amazing.

Totally. Give this guy another season or so in the league to get more seasoning and more respect from refs and he's going to be exceptional defensively. Not Roberson good because he doesn't have the frame to guard as many positions but still really good. And not a complete zero offensively. That shot isn't anywhere near as broken as Roberson's.

It’s almost like Ferguson provides something on offense that Roberson doesn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

Yea defenses close out to him, and he can dribble in the halfcourt. It's not a joke, Roberson doesn't check either box.

[slick_watts]

Awesome win.

Ferguson is really, really good on defense. His combination of length and quickness/agility is amazing.

Totally. Give this guy another season or so in the league to get more seasoning and more respect from refs and he's going to be exceptional defensively. Not Roberson good because he doesn't have the frame to guard as many positions but still really good. And not a complete zero offensively. That shot isn't anywhere near as broken as Roberson's.

It’s almost like Ferguson provides something on offense that Roberson doesn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

do we have to go through this every time ferguson picks his nose successfully? ferg is nowhere near robes on either side. even if he can make threes at 33% or whatever, he'll be worse than robes offensively because robes was really good at other things.

[hardenASG13]

Dont you get embarrassed jumping on here after the game and try make people look silly who are just expressing their feelings during real time?!

Anyone can come on here and talk crap after the fact.

It's almost literally a major over reaction, any bad stretch, usually in games the team wins. Game after game. Take a look at the game threads. Almost nothing positive ever pointed out, massive overreactions to anything but perfect play. Would think he'd learn his lesson, eventually.

They gave up 60+ in a half to the Nets when they are spose to be the no1 defense in the league. There was definitely cause for concern.

This team hasnt exactly been known to make huge comebavks after the last two seasons either.. it will take time to adjust to this new style of actually performing in the last 24 minutes

They sure did. Like I said this isn't about this game, he does it every game they trail at all basically. I'm not on here telling him to chill after every game, this is literally the first time I've quoted him all year. Good try tho, continue to express those emotions! Just dont understand how he completely bashed them game after game, when they've been one of the best teams in the league.

[alessandrux]

Another thing about our defense that amazes me, we don't posses glaring matchup-weaknesses.
Russ is super strong and can defend well in the post, even against big guys. George can defend anyone. Adams is decent enough to switch on smaller/faster guys without getting exploted too much. Ferguson is very good at fighting over screens and his length allows him to mitigate possible lobs. Grant is able to provide some rim-protecton if Adams is on the perimter and is mobile to stay in front of almost anyone, he only struggles a bit against the really strong guys (I did not understand why Detroit wasn't switching Drummond on him more often, when they did it worked pretty well).


Our offense still is bad, I did not see one(!) play that worked on which we could rely (except you call George-isoing a practised play).

[Old Man Game]

Awesome win.

Ferguson is really, really good on defense. His combination of length and quickness/agility is amazing.

Totally. Give this guy another season or so in the league to get more seasoning and more respect from refs and he's going to be exceptional defensively. Not Roberson good because he doesn't have the frame to guard as many positions but still really good. And not a complete zero offensively. That shot isn't anywhere near as broken as Roberson's.

I don't think he's going to be Roberson good, but I don't think frame is necessarily that big of a deterrent. So much of what Roberson does is done early, it's getting a hand in a passing Lane to make the offense hesitate, cutting off a driving Lane before the guy starts downhill, faking a closeout then recovering before the ball is even passed, etc. Roberson is rare in that he's not necessarily a lock down guy in isolation, he greatly effects the entire team defense from the perimeter. Ferguson doesn't have to be Robes's size to do all that, he just has to have almost preternatural instincts.

That's true and those are all good points but Ferg could develop all those attributes mentally and I still don't think he'd be on Roberson's level because I don't think he'll ever be as effective when switched onto bigger players. Robes is strong enough and has enough length that he does a decent job even when bigger guys try to post him up. I don't know that Ferg will ever be that solid in that aspect of the game.

[bondom34]

Is it the 25% 3 point shooting or the extra turnovers that make Ferguson better is all I wonder. Lower TS and PER? Lower assist %? Worse OBPM? I don't know.

[Old Man Game]

Totally. Give this guy another season or so in the league to get more seasoning and more respect from refs and he's going to be exceptional defensively. Not Roberson good because he doesn't have the frame to guard as many positions but still really good. And not a complete zero offensively. That shot isn't anywhere near as broken as Roberson's.

It’s almost like Ferguson provides something on offense that Roberson doesn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

do we have to go through this every time ferguson picks his nose successfully? ferg is nowhere near robes on either side. even if he can make threes at 33% or whatever, he'll be worse than robes offensively because robes was really good at other things.

Right now, yes. But the point I was trying to make is the building blocks are there for him to develop into a semi-competent offensive player. Certainly better than Roberson at some point (no guarantees, obviously, just think its entirely possible given what we've seen so far).

[Mattv]

So, discuss whatever, but the bench being a collective -39 and still getting a win is a major credit to the starters.

No doubt!!But how did our bench not including Schroder only get 12 shot attempts?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

Stil think they should have sat PG Westbrook and Adams or nah.

Yes!! I would have been good with it.The first 3 quaters where terrible did you watch? Did you not just see where i just said the bench not including Schroder only shot 12 shots thats ridiculous.How are they going to build any confidence like that?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

[NaturalThunder]

Over the last 15 games, our offense is ranked 9th in the league. Over that same span, we have the best NetRtg in the league @ 11.8. 2nd place is the Raptors @ 7.3...

Please keep in mind we’ve had players out and Westbrook (1 our 2 most important offensive players) is just getting his legs back under him.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

Let me preface by saying I feel a lot better about this year's team than last year's team. We're good. I'm not saying we're not.

However, during that 15 game stretch our schedule has featured a lot of bad opponents.

[slick_watts]

Is it the 25% 3 point shooting or the extra turnovers that make Ferguson better is all I wonder. Lower TS and PER? Lower assist %? Worse OBPM? I don't know.

lets also keep in mind that while ferg may be serviceable defensively he is doing it in a very different way than dre, who would not only defend the opponent's best offensive player from lillard to lebron but also fly around helping around the court. ferg has had the benefit of usually defending the #2 and george the #1.

i don't want to pile on ferg because i like some of the progress he's making on defense which perhaps justifies continuing with this experiment awhile longer. the comparisons to dre, literally one of the top wing defenders in the last five season, cheapens what ferg has been doing.

[bondom34]

No doubt!!But how did our bench not including Schroder only get 12 shot attempts?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

Stil think they should have sat PG Westbrook and Adams or nah.

Yes!! I would have been good with it.The first 3 quaters where terrible did you watch? Did you not just see where i just said the bench not including Schroder only shot 12 shots thats ridiculous.How are they going to build any confidence like that?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

You're not going to build any confidence losing by 40.

[ThunderBolt]

No doubt!!But how did our bench not including Schroder only get 12 shot attempts?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

Stil think they should have sat PG Westbrook and Adams or nah.

Yes!! I would have been good with it.The first 3 quaters where terrible did you watch? Did you not just see where i just said the bench not including Schroder only shot 12 shots thats ridiculous.How are they going to build any confidence like that?

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

They could try building confidence by not sucking when they get opportunities against non starters.

[Dn4sty]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[Old Man Game]

Is it the 25% 3 point shooting or the extra turnovers that make Ferguson better is all I wonder. Lower TS and PER? Lower assist %? Worse OBPM? I don't know.

lets also keep in mind that while ferg may be serviceable defensively he is doing it in a very different way than dre, who would not only defend the opponent's best offensive player from lillard to lebron but also fly around helping around the court. ferg has had the benefit of usually defending the #2 and george the #1.

i don't want to pile on ferg because i like some of the progress he's making on defense which perhaps justifies continuing with this experiment awhile longer. the comparisons to dre, literally one of the top wing defenders in the last five season, cheapens what ferg has been doing.

Roberson is the proverbial elephant in the room when you discuss any Thunder wing defender right now. You have to address him so people don't get carried away with what you're trying to convey when you praise Ferguson's defense.

[slick_watts]

Is it the 25% 3 point shooting or the extra turnovers that make Ferguson better is all I wonder. Lower TS and PER? Lower assist %? Worse OBPM? I don't know.

lets also keep in mind that while ferg may be serviceable defensively he is doing it in a very different way than dre, who would not only defend the opponent's best offensive player from lillard to lebron but also fly around helping around the court. ferg has had the benefit of usually defending the #2 and george the #1.

i don't want to pile on ferg because i like some of the progress he's making on defense which perhaps justifies continuing with this experiment awhile longer. the comparisons to dre, literally one of the top wing defenders in the last five season, cheapens what ferg has been doing.

Roberson is the proverbial elephant in the room when you discuss any Thunder wing defender right now. You have to address him so people don't get carried away with what you're trying to convey when you praise Ferguson's defense.

i don't think you even need to relate his performance to dre at all to comment on ferg's defense. i doubt anyone would challenge the idea that he's improving defensively and has looked decent at times. a comparison to dre turns the conversation into a nonstarter.

anyway, there are definitely things he's doing well and with his frame and length it's obvious they hope he can fill that role to a certain extent.

the guy who has turned up defense to 11 is paul george. as much as we are praising ferg, it's george who has kinda taken on that roberson mantle defensively.

[Old Man Game]

lets also keep in mind that while ferg may be serviceable defensively he is doing it in a very different way than dre, who would not only defend the opponent's best offensive player from lillard to lebron but also fly around helping around the court. ferg has had the benefit of usually defending the #2 and george the #1.

i don't want to pile on ferg because i like some of the progress he's making on defense which perhaps justifies continuing with this experiment awhile longer. the comparisons to dre, literally one of the top wing defenders in the last five season, cheapens what ferg has been doing.

Roberson is the proverbial elephant in the room when you discuss any Thunder wing defender right now. You have to address him so people don't get carried away with what you're trying to convey when you praise Ferguson's defense.

i don't think you even need to relate his performance to dre at all to comment on ferg's defense. i doubt anyone would challenge the idea that he's improving defensively and has looked decent at times. a comparison to dre turns the conversation into a nonstarter.

anyway, there are definitely things he's doing well and with his frame and length it's obvious they hope he can fill that role to a certain extent.

the guy who has turned up defense to 11 is paul george. as much as we are praising ferg, it's george who has kinda taken on that roberson mantle defensively.

Oh no doubt. George is ridiculous right now. Such a luxury to have a guy who is that good on both sides of the ball.

[bondom34]

lets also keep in mind that while ferg may be serviceable defensively he is doing it in a very different way than dre, who would not only defend the opponent's best offensive player from lillard to lebron but also fly around helping around the court. ferg has had the benefit of usually defending the #2 and george the #1.

i don't want to pile on ferg because i like some of the progress he's making on defense which perhaps justifies continuing with this experiment awhile longer. the comparisons to dre, literally one of the top wing defenders in the last five season, cheapens what ferg has been doing.

Roberson is the proverbial elephant in the room when you discuss any Thunder wing defender right now. You have to address him so people don't get carried away with what you're trying to convey when you praise Ferguson's defense.

i don't think you even need to relate his performance to dre at all to comment on ferg's defense. i doubt anyone would challenge the idea that he's improving defensively and has looked decent at times. a comparison to dre turns the conversation into a nonstarter.

anyway, there are definitely things he's doing well and with his frame and length it's obvious they hope he can fill that role to a certain extent.

the guy who has turned up defense to 11 is paul george. as much as we are praising ferg, it's george who has kinda taken on that roberson mantle defensively.

Agree but I think Adams has a bit too.