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

[Dadouv47]

That pass should happen. But I'm just as surprised about the pass down to Adams as the pass out from Adams. He's not a willing passer, he literally had to get quadruple teamed to make that pass.

Again with the lies.

You ever fault Adams for anything? Or is he the best center in the league?

You ever give credit to Adams for something? Or he's worst than Kanter?

[SecondTake]

Again with the lies.

You ever fault Adams for anything? Or is he the best center in the league?

You ever give credit to Adams for something? Or he's worst than Kanter?

I was Adams biggest fan at the start of the season, calling him untouchable in a trade. But guy keeps burning out during the second half of the season, season after season. As good as he is at offensive rebounding, setting screens and hustle plays, are we seriously going to act like he's a good passer out of the post? It's like some people think Adams has no fault. I've listed Adams strengths - are you willing to list any of his faults? Saying "Billy wont let him develop" is not listing a fault in Adams game. That's just blaming Billy.

[Pillendreher]

That pass should happen. But I'm just as surprised about the pass down to Adams as the pass out from Adams. He's not a willing passer, he literally had to get quadruple teamed to make that pass.

Again with the lies.

You ever fault Adams for anything? Or is he the best center in the league?

This strawman does nothing for me.

[RalphSampsonJr]

You ever fault Adams for anything? Or is he the best center in the league?

You ever give credit to Adams for something? Or he's worst than Kanter?

I was Adams biggest fan at the start of the season, calling him untouchable in a trade. But guy keeps burning out during the second half of the season, season after season. As good as he is at offensive rebounding, setting screens and hustle plays, are we seriously going to act like he's a good passer out of the post? It's like some people think Adams has no fault. I've listed Adams strengths - are you willing to list any of his faults? Saying "Billy wont let him develop" is not listing a fault in Adams game. That's just blaming Billy.

Adams has many faults.

Hes not nearly aggressive enough around the rim

His free throw shooting has never improved.

He is too worried about fouling when challenging drives to the rim.

He has very limited range.

I think Pills point is that Billy should be able to make the most out of Adams despite these faults.

Look at Capela. He too has zero range. In fact Adams is a far better shooter from 3-10 feet than both Capela and Gobert.
This doesnt stop the rox or the jazz from using their bigs and getting the most out of them.

Remember when Adams was getting alot more FGAs and everyone didnt have anything bad to say? There was even allstar buzz around him although we all knew it was very unlikely.

Adams has the highest fg% in the team since the allstar break. OKC is LAST in eFG% since the all star break. Does it not make sense to give him more shots??

His defense took a dive for about a month. The hate was fully warranted during reports of him having ankle issues. He has been far better at keeping with driving guards of late.

Pill has posted great examples of some Adams and Russ two man game that is and has been very effective. It makes sense to use it to draw in defenders to get the shooters better looks too as the thunder should be using Grant to spread the floor not crowd the lane.

[Pillendreher]

So grant is at fault for trying to make plays?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platitude

Do you want Westbrook and George to create every single shot? With the starters, only those 2 and grant are capable of creating, he's become alot better spotting up at the 3 pt line, and driving. Even when guarded by a "great and strong defender". Should everyone in the starting 5 just stand there or do simple rolls the basket and play off Russ and George all the time? Isn't that what the team and Donovan are constantly criticised for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

When a guy drives at a big man, and the bigs defender helps, it's on the big man to aggressively create a passing angle, if they want the ball. Adams stands there passively, or hides behind defenders if he isn't in his sweet spot. Enough with the circus shot bs. Grants versatility on offense has been much needed this season, he's the best young player on OKC.

It's not adams job to create space for anyone's drives, of course. Nobody said it was. It's his job to create the passing angle if he truly wants the ball though(honestly, do u understand this? It's not quantifiable by a stat, just common sense in basketball). But to suggest guys shouldn't drive, because adams is standing near the rim, and blame the guy actually driving and creating a play is is just mind boggling. Maybe it's why the ability of bigs to step out of the lane is a premium league wide, since basically every teams offense is predicated on shooting 3s, driving, and pick and rolls? OKC, and apparently you, still think this team needs to build to beat the 2010 lakers.

Your inability to grasp basic team building concepts is astonishing. Role players complement each other. Adams can't take long jumpers, Grant can. Adams can fight opposing players physically and play directly under the rim even under tight coverage, Grant can't. When Adams stands directly under the rim, Grant has no business whatsoever suddenly running at Adams, trying to make a contested running layup over multiple defenders. Opposing defenders know he won't pass in that situation. And just like he did in this instance, he's just going to attempt to make the shot, even though he can't. If your teammate needs to run away from his designated spot because you break the spacing and just try go get yours, it's not your teammate's fault. It's yours.

[JustOneFix]

So, would you rather play the Rockets in the first rn and Denver in second, or the Blazers in first and GSW in second?

[Dadouv47]

So, would you rather play the Rockets in the first rn and Denver in second, or the Blazers in first and GSW in second?

If we play the Rockets we won't advance to the 2nd round, so definitely the Blazers even if it's going to be a tough series and then our chances to go to the WCF are close to 0.
It's sad to say this but I'm fine by beating the Blazers and losing against Gs in 5 or 6 games.

[Dadouv47]

Still think upsetting Denver in the first round would be the best case scenario (then playing against Houston in the second round)

[hardenASG13]

So grant is at fault for trying to make plays?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platitude

Do you want Westbrook and George to create every single shot? With the starters, only those 2 and grant are capable of creating, he's become alot better spotting up at the 3 pt line, and driving. Even when guarded by a "great and strong defender". Should everyone in the starting 5 just stand there or do simple rolls the basket and play off Russ and George all the time? Isn't that what the team and Donovan are constantly criticised for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

When a guy drives at a big man, and the bigs defender helps, it's on the big man to aggressively create a passing angle, if they want the ball. Adams stands there passively, or hides behind defenders if he isn't in his sweet spot. Enough with the circus shot bs. Grants versatility on offense has been much needed this season, he's the best young player on OKC.

It's not adams job to create space for anyone's drives, of course. Nobody said it was. It's his job to create the passing angle if he truly wants the ball though(honestly, do u understand this? It's not quantifiable by a stat, just common sense in basketball). But to suggest guys shouldn't drive, because adams is standing near the rim, and blame the guy actually driving and creating a play is is just mind boggling. Maybe it's why the ability of bigs to step out of the lane is a premium league wide, since basically every teams offense is predicated on shooting 3s, driving, and pick and rolls? OKC, and apparently you, still think this team needs to build to beat the 2010 lakers.

Your inability to grasp basic team building concepts is astonishing. Role players complement each other. Adams can't take long jumpers, Grant can. Adams can fight opposing players physically and play directly under the rim even under tight coverage, Grant can't. When Adams stands directly under the rim, Grant has no business whatsoever suddenly running at Adams, trying to make a contested running layup over multiple defenders. Opposing defenders know he won't pass in that situation. And just like he did in this instance, he's just going to attempt to make the shot, even though he can't. If your teammate needs to run away from his designated spot because you break the spacing and just try go get yours, it's not your teammate's fault. It's yours.

I see youve yourself to just saying things like straw man when u can't counter. Your idea of basketball is amusing. Why do you think most NBA teams don't stand their center directly under the basket, and emphasis on a face up or outside shooting ability is alot more prevalent? To suggest a guy shouldn't drive because adams is standing under the rim is just embarrassing. Maybe that's why patterson was a better fit than grant, he never drove.

This is pretty bad......so you do indeed think Westbrook and George should be the only ones making or attempting to make a play every possession with the starters? Because adams and Ferguson don't do it at all. Isn't that what you and others criticise the team for, being too star centeic/iso orientated? Is that a strawman?

[acheema0]

Per Royce on the Hoop Collective, Robes will almost certainly not play in this regular season, and most likely not in the first round either. Said they could see him for a "few minutes" here or there if they advance past the first round. Also said he thinks that the Thunder could look to move on from Roberson this summer as they like what Ferg has given them. He also mentioned that he doesn't see Schroder finishing his contract on the Thunder and they traded for him bc they saw him as a retradeable asset. Also, (I'm sure my friend Pillendreher will appreciate this), he does not think the Thunder would fire Billy Donovan even if they lost in the first round this year, and that they view Billy as part of their "core" moving forward (whatever that means).

[Dadouv47]

Per Royce on the Hoop Collective, Robes will almost certainly not play in this regular season, and most likely not in the first round either. Said they could see him for a "few minutes" here or there if they advance past the first round. Also said he thinks that the Thunder could look to move on from Roberson this summer as they like what Ferg has given them. He also mentioned that he doesn't see Schroder finishing his contract on the Thunder and they traded for him bc they saw him as a retradeable asset. Also, (I'm sure my friend Pillendreher will appreciate this), he does not think the Thunder would fire Billy Donovan even if they lost in the first round this year, and that they view Billy as part of their "core" moving forward (whatever that means).

Good luck to find some value in return by trading Roberson and Schroeder

[Kizz Fastfists]

Good luck to find some value in return by trading Roberson and Schroeder

I didn't read anywhere in that they were looking for value. They were able to retrade Melo. They can move on from Roberson by giving up a 1st to a team that couldn't use their cap space. They can possibly trade Schroder to a team by taking back another bad contract that is less AAV and attaching assets just like they did with flipping Melo. Maybe they could do Roberson and Schroder for Batum or Schroder for Dieng or Schroder and a 1st for Mozgov or Roberson for Mahinmi. Those might be possible options. Dieng would replace Noel. Batum would give them a decent wing off the bench. Mozgov and Mahnmi are expirings, granted Roberson is an expiring also, but he hasn't played in over a year and no team is going to give anything for him until he does and even them the trade market for him is thin and the teams that would appreciate him don't likely have the contracts to send back.

[ThunderBolt]

Whats the highest pick we can get if we lose out?

[Kizz Fastfists]

Whats the highest pick we can get if we lose out?

17th? Maybe 16th. They aren't missing the playoffs even if they lose out so the lottery is out of the question. Sacramento would have to finish 7-2 with OKC losing out for them to be in the lottery and neither of those will happen.

[Dn4sty]

The Clippers intentionally gutted their team at the deadline to have assets available this summer. Tobias Harris was jettionsed and they are better than OKC

[CROklahoma]

Per Royce on the Hoop Collective, Robes will almost certainly not play in this regular season, and most likely not in the first round either. Said they could see him for a "few minutes" here or there if they advance past the first round. Also said he thinks that the Thunder could look to move on from Roberson this summer as they like what Ferg has given them. He also mentioned that he doesn't see Schroder finishing his contract on the Thunder and they traded for him bc they saw him as a retradeable asset. Also, (I'm sure my friend Pillendreher will appreciate this), he does not think the Thunder would fire Billy Donovan even if they lost in the first round this year, and that they view Billy as part of their "core" moving forward (whatever that means).

Good luck to find some value in return by trading Roberson and Schroeder

Good luck to find someone watching this team with Dumbo coaching again.

[Pillendreher]

Also, (I'm sure my friend Pillendreher will appreciate this), he does not think the Thunder would fire Billy Donovan even if they lost in the first round this year, and that they view Billy as part of their "core" moving forward (whatever that means).

Of course they do. Presti is all about that sustainability, even if it's just being consistently disappointing.

[ThunderBolt]

The Clippers intentionally gutted their team at the deadline to have assets available this summer. Tobias Harris was jettionsed and they are better than OKC

You could day the same thing with Memphis and Gasol. Memphis didn’t even have the equivalent of Gallinari, the clippers best player last night because Conley was out.

[Pillendreher]

[ThunderBolt]

I’m just over it all. I’m not going to jump on another teams bandwagon or refuse to watch them. I watched last nights game but turned the sound down and watched YouTube videos at the same time for my vacation. It’s more interesting to follow the team on here than to watch them.

It’s time for a level of change we haven’t seen thus far in okc. That’s the only thing that will get me excited. I don’t care if they traded Raymond Felton for Bradley Beal. More is needed and I’m not buying in to this core anymore.