2019-20 OKC Thunder Regular Season Thread

[slick_watts]

paul-schroder-sga-gallinari-adams +29.4pp100

paul-ferguson-sga-gallinari-adams -3.0pp100

paul-dort-sga-gallinari-adams -14.9pp100

we seem to be going in the opposite direction.

[ThunderBolt]

In his four games since returning from him absence, Terrance Ferguson has played 69 minutes, taken five shots and scored one point

[slick_watts]

In his four games since returning from him absence, Terrance Ferguson has played 69 minutes, taken five shots and scored one point

his invisibility is frustrating and he has been terrible but he doesn't make nearly as many outright negative plays on offense as the rest of our young wings e.g. dort, diallo, bazley and nader. ferguson knows his limitations.

he legitimately might be the best option among that group. the dort starters are getting murdered.

[ThunderBolt]

In his four games since returning from him absence, Terrance Ferguson has played 69 minutes, taken five shots and scored one point

his invisibility is frustrating and he has been terrible but he doesn't make nearly as many outright negative plays on offense as the rest of our young wings e.g. dort, diallo, bazley and nader. ferguson knows his limitations.

he legitimately might be the best option among that group. the dort starters are getting murdered.

With Dort and Bazley I can at least tell myself they are getting valuable experience and could improve. Ferguson is in year 3 so the hope is dwindling.

[Old Man Game]

Yeah, Dort's offense has fallen off a cliff and he's not getting the benefit of any calls at all. I think they could be better off going back to Ferg. The fact that they aren't sort of makes me wonder if they haven't already made the long term decision on Ferg and he'll be gonzo this summer. Traded along with cash considerations for a protected second round pick or something.

[getrichordie]

Dort had some beginner’s luck.

Also, Daily Thunder had this to say and I don’t disagree.

The Thunder have a backup wing problem. I know it. You know it. Sam Presti knows it. I can’t blame Presti for not using any assets to buy one at the trade deadline as he doesn’t want to hamper the future for a present playoff run, as fun as it may be. But it will be fascinating to see if OKC signs any buyout players, as there are plenty shooting guards and small forwards who would be an improvement over the Thunder’s current backup wings. Some may shudder to hear the name, but a Dion Waiters would’ve really helped the bench unit tonight.

[Thunder Up]

Another great offensive night for Clarke

[Great]

[*]Until Bazley returns, Isaiah Roby and Kevin Hervey or Kadeem Jack can pick up the slack.

[Thunder Up]

Until Bazley returns, Isaiah Roby and Kevin Hervey can pick up the slack.

I'd rather not watch another game than watch Hervey get NBA minutes

[Great]

The lack of shooting provided by Dort, Burton, and Diallo plus Ferguson's funk is an issue.

They can solve their wing problems in-house.
Waive Roberson, Abdel Nadar or Burton.

Sign Devon Hall, Vincent Edwards, and DeVaughn Akoon Purcell.

Improving the free throw and 3 point shooting can get them that 4th spot in the West.

[Pillendreher]

In his four games since returning from him absence, Terrance Ferguson has played 69 minutes, taken five shots and scored one point

He is leading the league in fewest touches per game (filtered for at least 25 mp) in back to back years: 16.7 last season (2nd fewest Danuel House at 25.7) and 16.3 this season (2nd fewest Galloway at 26.5). That can't be a coincidence. Are they just passing to him to bomb away from 3 and that's it?

[jambalaya]

Have been in favor of an NBA look for DeVaughn Akoon Purcell for months. Edwards sounds worth one too.


I'd prefer at least 5 plus new faces on next season's roster. (Under right deals it could be 10 for me.) It will probably be 2-4.

[ThunderBolt]

How common are shooting coaches in the nba? Do most organizations have them or is that part of the responsibilities of all coaches?

[ThunderBolt]

In his four games since returning from him absence, Terrance Ferguson has played 69 minutes, taken five shots and scored one point

He is leading the league in fewest touches per game (filtered for at least 25 mp) in back to back years: 16.7 last season (2nd fewest Danuel House at 25.7) and 16.3 this season (2nd fewest Galloway at 26.5). That can't be a coincidence. Are they just passing to him to bomb away from 3 and that's it?

Early on it looked like he was still adjusting to fitting in with CP3 and not having Russ look for him in his spots. CP3 and others have continued to share the ball with him but more often than not he parks himself in one spot. If he gets an open look, he takes it. If its not wide open he then passes it very quickly. He's had a few times where he's tried to drive to the basket and gotten an offensive foul or made a bad pass. He just has no confidence right now and he hasn't done anything that should cause him to have it. I honestly can't blame anyone but Ferguson for what he is right now, that includes Billy.

[Kizz Fastfists]

How common are shooting coaches in the nba? Do most organizations have them or is that part of the responsibilities of all coaches?

Shooting coaches are rare. To be specific GOOD ones are rare. They are generally on the player. A coach might suggest a motion change, but a shooting coach will spend hours a day with ONE player forcing repetition to relearn the muscle memory. Take Dirk as an example. He was always a good shooter, but as he aged he had to adjust his motion due to less lift, weaker legs, etc. He had his own shooting coach that he worked with everyday and he would make minor changes that Dirk would work on everyday until it became his new shot. It is why you rarely see a player fix a broken shot. It takes months to remake a shooting motion. You can't just do one little adjustment and suddenly Russ can shoot. You have to break down from the toes to the fingertips and the player has to learn the motion then repeat it perfectly tens of thousands of times before it overtakes the old muscle memory completely. A subtle change, like spreading the fingers more or adjusting the release point from your knees starting to go is simple enough, a few weeks of hard work, but that is an age adjustment to an already good shot not taking someone like Diallo and trying to completely teach him new foot position, push, arm angle, hand positioning, release point, follow through, etc., etc.

It is the same reason you rarely see a pitch get their pitching motion fixed even when you know their current motion will end up destroying their shoulder or elbow. The same goes for QBs and their throwing motion/mechanics.

[getrichordie]

Our three-man lineups of Noel, Bazley, and Diallo have solid defensive ratings. Small sample size, but I can see why defensive ratings are what they are.

[spearsy23]

Our three-man lineups of Noel, Bazley, and Diallo have solid defensive ratings. Small sample size, but I can see why defensive ratings are what they are.

Me too.

[Galloisdaman]

Our three-man lineups of Noel, Bazley, and Diallo have solid defensive ratings. Small sample size, but I can see why defensive ratings are what they are.

Do those ratings take in to account when those 3 play together they are usually against other teams backups?

[getrichordie]

Our three-man lineups of Noel, Bazley, and Diallo have solid defensive ratings. Small sample size, but I can see why defensive ratings are what they are.

Do those ratings take in to account when those 3 play together they are usually against other teams backups?

No, they do not. Regardless, the DRtg is solid.

[Galloisdaman]

Our three-man lineups of Noel, Bazley, and Diallo have solid defensive ratings. Small sample size, but I can see why defensive ratings are what they are.

Do those ratings take in to account when those 3 play together they are usually against other teams backups?

No, they do not. Regardless, the DRtg is solid.

If the player is only going against backups isnt his Drtg likely to be higher than going against the best starters in the NBA?