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bisme37 wrote:If there were magnets in basketballs so strong they changed the path of the ball as it flew through the air, wouldn't the ball then stick magnetically to the rim when it got there?
ThunderBolt wrote:We have some players I like but I’m so sick of Presti’s roster construction.
ThunderBolt wrote:We have some players I like but I’m so sick of Presti’s roster construction.
ThunderBolt wrote:What happened to all of this credit we were supposed to give Dononvan for the improved defense? We give up 40 point quarters virtually every game.
Steven Adams was a strong presence inside, finishing with 17-13 (6 offensive), and Markieff Morris continued his acclimation with 10 points in 22 minutes, their individual success is undermined by the team’s continued lack of focus at key points in the game. While we can point fingers at a number of players, to me this loss (and the last one) is mostly about coaching.
Knowing that they would be without Paul George, it was incumbent on Billy Donovan to construct a game plan that would play to OKC’s strengths and help them bridge the gap left by the injured NBA’s February player of the month. Instead, we saw very little game plan at all, unless their game plan was predicated on taking early-shot clock contested jumpers by Westbrook and Schroder. Donovan has grown in his coaching this year, but these are true tests — when the team is missing its most important player, the coach has to show his team how they can still win.
Oddly enough, this loss makes me think back to the loss to the Pelicans before ASW. A loss as inexcusable as any, since Anthony Davis had checked out and they were 2 steps away from going into tank mode. Yet OKC was outplayed on both ends of the court despite advantages at nearly every position and facing a team in disarray. Subsequently, OKC’s defense has fallen apart, and were it not for a picturesque game-winning floater against the Jazz, the Thunder would be looking at a 6 game losing streak.
I agree with JA (and both Aoman & Mags have good points too)
instead of just pointing out Russ, Adams, Nader etc problems over and over again … its really still up to Billy to install their identity.
Hes the Head Coach.
Theres no way we should be falling apart like this with PG missing.
All teams have injuries, key players too … yet OKC falls apart when PGs out!
If Adams has been run into the ground, thats on Billy (and Presti for lack in roster).
If Russ is shooting unneccessary 3’s etc … thats still on Billy for not developing a good enuff offensive system that could still run efficiently without Russ, PG etc and its on him for not holding players more accountable.
Same with our Defense.
It should still be able to run efficient enuff if Adams etc is declining or injured.
He had a better game today (tho he still looked tired) … but our Defense was still terrible.
Im almost positive they havent rested him all year, because they know theirs no one left to battle the boards (starters), set screens, etc.
U cant build ur schemes around individuals so much, that if they sit out or dont perform ur systems almost collapses. i.e. PG, Russ, Adams.
Both offense and defense systems should be built around the TEAM.
With PG out, where was our offense?
Russ esp overworks when he sees our offense is stuttering.
But Billy was suppose to bring in Offense, so that burden wouldnt fall on Russ.
I like JA believed Billy had improved this year … but u still have to ask
Whats happened to our Defense?
Whats happend to our Offense, surely it cant be all PG … can it?
Thats no different than when KD was here and he + Russ was OKC’s offense.
Posted by Sammy1 on Mar 3, 2019 | 12:58 AM
bisme37 wrote:If there were magnets in basketballs so strong they changed the path of the ball as it flew through the air, wouldn't the ball then stick magnetically to the rim when it got there?
Dn4sty wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:We have some players I like but I’m so sick of Presti’s roster construction.
There is no one on the roster except PG that is a reliable knockdown consistent shooter. I think Ferg can get there and Grant has made strides, but it’s a massive issue. With that being the case, defense has to swarm and be amazing. When it’s not, you get garbage games.
But I do wonder what realistic changes are possible in the offseason.
bisme37 wrote:If there were magnets in basketballs so strong they changed the path of the ball as it flew through the air, wouldn't the ball then stick magnetically to the rim when it got there?
TheGreatSatan wrote:As much as it hurts me to say, i mean i really like the guy, but i think this off season Presti should explore some trades for Adams. He's just not a factor anymore as he used to be. He's constantly getting outplayed by any decent big outhere. Gobert, Capela, Jokic, Adridge...and lately it seems like he can't even take advantage of lesser players and no namers like it was the case in Philly game. Maybe it's really time to part ways...
bisme37 wrote:If there were magnets in basketballs so strong they changed the path of the ball as it flew through the air, wouldn't the ball then stick magnetically to the rim when it got there?
ThunderBolt wrote:[
I would love to see how he can do under appropriate load management.
TheGreatSatan wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:[
I would love to see how he can do under appropriate load management.
I see that this is being mentioned alot, but is 33 minutes a night really that much for a guy this young? He's playing 1.5 minutes more then Jokic, 5 minutes per game more then 50 years old Al Horford, 1 minute more then Aldridge and even less then 34 years old Marc Gasol, same as Drummond while Clint Capela is playing even more...
ThunderBolt wrote:Dn4sty wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:We have some players I like but I’m so sick of Presti’s roster construction.
There is no one on the roster except PG that is a reliable knockdown consistent shooter. I think Ferg can get there and Grant has made strides, but it’s a massive issue. With that being the case, defense has to swarm and be amazing. When it’s not, you get garbage games.
But I do wonder what realistic changes are possible in the offseason.
Look at the amount of shooting Phily needs to counteract Ben Simmons shooting issues. Redick, Ilyasova, Bellineli, Butler, Harris, Scott, etc. Also, they play a big that actually has some range and Simmons isn't jacking 5 threes a game. Ferguson and Grant are both shooting really well this year and its been a big part of the team's success so far. But I don't think anyone has the confidence that they are the type of guys that can just eat you alive from three like Redick or Belineli. Even if we hadn't lost Abrines for whatever reason, we still needed more shooting.
acheema0 wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:Dn4sty wrote:
There is no one on the roster except PG that is a reliable knockdown consistent shooter. I think Ferg can get there and Grant has made strides, but it’s a massive issue. With that being the case, defense has to swarm and be amazing. When it’s not, you get garbage games.
But I do wonder what realistic changes are possible in the offseason.
Look at the amount of shooting Phily needs to counteract Ben Simmons shooting issues. Redick, Ilyasova, Bellineli, Butler, Harris, Scott, etc. Also, they play a big that actually has some range and Simmons isn't jacking 5 threes a game. Ferguson and Grant are both shooting really well this year and its been a big part of the team's success so far. But I don't think anyone has the confidence that they are the type of guys that can just eat you alive from three like Redick or Belineli. Even if we hadn't lost Abrines for whatever reason, we still needed more shooting.
I can't agree with this more. Look at Milwaukee as well. Almost every rotation player they have around Giannis is at least a league average 3 point shooter if not better, and they continue to add more shooting. Some of their guys like Mirotic and Lopez regularly stand 3-4 feet behind the 3 point line and add even more space. On the other hand, we have Presti who seemingly refuses to add shooting and instead tries to buck the trend every year with something new, whether it's stacking up on big men, or whatever "controlled chaos" he was preaching this summer. Sucks that Russ's prime is nearing it's end, and we have yet to see him on a team with adequate spacing.
Dn4sty wrote:acheema0 wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:
Look at the amount of shooting Phily needs to counteract Ben Simmons shooting issues. Redick, Ilyasova, Bellineli, Butler, Harris, Scott, etc. Also, they play a big that actually has some range and Simmons isn't jacking 5 threes a game. Ferguson and Grant are both shooting really well this year and its been a big part of the team's success so far. But I don't think anyone has the confidence that they are the type of guys that can just eat you alive from three like Redick or Belineli. Even if we hadn't lost Abrines for whatever reason, we still needed more shooting.
I can't agree with this more. Look at Milwaukee as well. Almost every rotation player they have around Giannis is at least a league average 3 point shooter if not better, and they continue to add more shooting. Some of their guys like Mirotic and Lopez regularly stand 3-4 feet behind the 3 point line and add even more space. On the other hand, we have Presti who seemingly refuses to add shooting and instead tries to buck the trend every year with something new, whether it's stacking up on big men, or whatever "controlled chaos" he was preaching this summer. Sucks that Russ's prime is nearing it's end, and we have yet to see him on a team with adequate spacing.
I don’t necessarily think we can say 100% for sure that Presti hasn’t tried to address shooting. At some point it’s true that players have just decided to go play elsewhere. I do think he’s made mistakes drafting certain players (Huestis, McGary, etc...)
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