Oklahoma City Thunder Regular Season '15-'16 Part III

[Zagor]

8-10 shooting and 2-4 shooting for 18 points

When can we actually give Huestis a chance with the bench?

Donovan should try him on power forward position with bench. It sounds crazy but we know what Nick can offer, he doesn't need time of adaption, he knows everything about this team.
So, why not try Huestis who can help team with his defense and athleticism. Defense is where Thunder will win a battle with Spurs and GSW.
This team was always about length, speed and power. They will not become all-round team as Spurs with this roster, they don't have Diaw,West or Manu. But they have speed, power,length, young legs and energy.
I see Huestis as a player who should at least get a chance to show something.

[OkcMagic]

8-10 shooting and 2-4 shooting for 18 points

When can we actually give Huestis a chance with the bench?

Donovan should try him on power forward position with bench. It sounds crazy but we know what Nick can offer, he doesn't need time of adaption, he knows everything about this team.
So, why not try Huestis who can help team with his defense and athleticism. Defense is where Thunder will win a battle with Spurs and GSW.
This team was always about length, speed and power. They will not become all-round team as Spurs with this roster, they don't have Diaw,West or Manu. But they have speed, power,length, young legs and energy.
I see Huestis as a player who should at least get a chance to show something.

Imagine if Huestis becomes another Roberson but for the bench squad? With a better shot

[Old Man Game]

8-10 shooting and 2-4 shooting for 18 points

When can we actually give Huestis a chance with the bench?

Donovan should try him on power forward position with bench. It sounds crazy but we know what Nick can offer, he doesn't need time of adaption, he knows everything about this team.
So, why not try Huestis who can help team with his defense and athleticism. Defense is where Thunder will win a battle with Spurs and GSW.
This team was always about length, speed and power. They will not become all-round team as Spurs with this roster, they don't have Diaw,West or Manu. But they have speed, power,length, young legs and energy.
I see Huestis as a player who should at least get a chance to show something.

I wouldn't play Huestis over any other wing on the roster. If he's playing we've got problems.

[kd 35]

I'm interested to see what we have in Huestis. I'd still love for him to develop into a 3&D guy for us.

But -- his shooting percentages are pretty low this season. Through 14 games:
38.9 FG%
27.7 3P%
46.3 FT%

[Zagor]

I wouldn't play Huestis over any other wing on the roster. If he's playing we've got problems.

But we have only Singler as true back-up wing. And I didn't suggest to play Huestis as wing, but as PF in the bench lineup, just to try him in different places.
I think he could offer more in defense than Nick. With Cam,Kanter and Waiters bench doesn't need points but help defense.

Cam,Waiters,Singler,Huestis and Kanter as all bench lineup.
Or if he is 35-37% 3FG he could play in different lineups. Coaching staff seems to value Roberson, but I don't see what is difference between him and Huestis. In matter of facts, Huestis seems stronger and more powerful.

But I understand Donovan intention to get some consistency with lineups. But we can conclude that DJ is out, probably Morrow as well if Singler continue to play solid, next on the cut list need to be Nick. Very simple.

[Old Man Game]

I wouldn't play Huestis over any other wing on the roster. If he's playing we've got problems.

But we have only Singler as true back-up wing. And I didn't suggest to play Huestis as wing, but as PF in the bench lineup, just to try him in different places.
I think he could offer more in defense than Nick. With Cam,Kanter and Waiters bench doesn't need points but help defense.

Cam,Waiters,Singler,Huestis and Kanter as all bench lineup.
Or if he is 35-37% 3FG he could play in different lineups. Coaching staff seems to value Roberson, but I don't see what is difference between him and Huestis. In matter of facts, Huestis seems stronger and more powerful.

But I understand Donovan intention to get some consistency with lineups. But we can conclude that DJ is out, probably Morrow as well if Singler continue to play solid, next on the cut list need to be Nick. Very simple.

We'll see. I could be wrong but I don't think he's an NBA rotation caliber player. Basically the only thing he has going for him is physical tools.

[Old Man Game]

I'm interested to see what we have in Huestis. I'd still love for him to develop into a 3&D guy for us.

But -- his shooting percentages are pretty low this season. Through 14 games:
38.9 FG%
27.7 3P%
46.3 FT%

And take a look at his percentages from last season. Through 44 games in 14-15 season
.372 FG%
.316 3pt.%
.657 FT%

Take a look at the advanced stats:
For the career so far through 58 games, 1900+ minutes played he's carrying a .481 TS%. There's just not much to hang your hat on with this kid.

[getrichordie]

I'm interested to see what we have in Huestis. I'd still love for him to develop into a 3&D guy for us.

But -- his shooting percentages are pretty low this season. Through 14 games:
38.9 FG%
27.7 3P%
46.3 FT%

And take a look at his percentages from last season. Through 44 games in 14-15 season
.372 FG%
.316 3pt.%
.657 FT%

Take a look at the advanced stats:
For the career so far through 58 games, 1900+ minutes played he's carrying a .481 TS%. There's just not much to hang your hat on with this kid.

That's why he is a developmental prospect, albeit, a bit older than I'd like. He just turned 24 on December 19th, but he's showing promise and improvement, however slight.

FG% | 3P% | Pts (36) | OReb (36) | DReb (36) | Stls (36) | Blks (36) | TOV (36)

.304 | .020 | 11.8 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.0
.323 | .280 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1
.536 | .320 | 19.7 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4

Still has a long way to go as well. A lot of his good games are against bad teams and we need him to develop faster, honestly. Who did we pass up on by taking Huestis?

Damien Inglis (20 years old)
K.J. McDaniels (22 years old)
Jarnell Stokes (22 years old)

With the exception of Inglis, I think Huestis was the best pick to be made. His defensive prowess and athleticism and BBIQ was too much to pass up for Presti and co., but Inglis would have been nice. Four years younger, but we needed a wing to develop behind KD.

[Old Man Game]

I'm interested to see what we have in Huestis. I'd still love for him to develop into a 3&D guy for us.

But -- his shooting percentages are pretty low this season. Through 14 games:
38.9 FG%
27.7 3P%
46.3 FT%

And take a look at his percentages from last season. Through 44 games in 14-15 season
.372 FG%
.316 3pt.%
.657 FT%

Take a look at the advanced stats:
For the career so far through 58 games, 1900+ minutes played he's carrying a .481 TS%. There's just not much to hang your hat on with this kid.

That's why he is a developmental prospect, albeit, a bit older than I'd like. He just turned 24 on December 19th, but he's showing promise and improvement, however slight.

FG% | 3P% | Pts (36) | OReb (36) | DReb (36) | Stls (36) | Blks (36) | TOV (36)

.304 | .020 | 11.8 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.0
.323 | .280 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1
.536 | .320 | 19.7 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4

Still has a long way to go as well. A lot of his good games are against bad teams and we need him to develop faster, honestly. Who did we pass up on by taking Huestis?

Damien Inglis (20 years old)
K.J. McDaniels (22 years old)
Jarnell Stokes (22 years old)

With the exception of Inglis, I think Huestis was the best pick to be made. His defensive prowess and athleticism and BBIQ was too much to pass up for Presti and co., but Inglis would have been nice. Four years younger, but we needed a wing to develop behind KD.

There's several players that were better prospects at the time and are already showing more at the professional level. Jokic, Clarkson, Kyle Anderson, McDaniels just to name a few. I'd have even taken his Stanford team mate Dwight Powell over Huestis.

[getrichordie]

And take a look at his percentages from last season. Through 44 games in 14-15 season
.372 FG%
.316 3pt.%
.657 FT%

Take a look at the advanced stats:
For the career so far through 58 games, 1900+ minutes played he's carrying a .481 TS%. There's just not much to hang your hat on with this kid.

That's why he is a developmental prospect, albeit, a bit older than I'd like. He just turned 24 on December 19th, but he's showing promise and improvement, however slight.

FG% | 3P% | Pts (36) | OReb (36) | DReb (36) | Stls (36) | Blks (36) | TOV (36)

.304 | .020 | 11.8 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.0
.323 | .280 | 10.7 | 1.2 | 4.6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 2.1
.536 | .320 | 19.7 | 1.9 | 4.7 | 0.6 | 1.4 | 1.4

Still has a long way to go as well. A lot of his good games are against bad teams and we need him to develop faster, honestly. Who did we pass up on by taking Huestis?

Damien Inglis (20 years old)
K.J. McDaniels (22 years old)
Jarnell Stokes (22 years old)

With the exception of Inglis, I think Huestis was the best pick to be made. His defensive prowess and athleticism and BBIQ was too much to pass up for Presti and co., but Inglis would have been nice. Four years younger, but we needed a wing to develop behind KD.

There's several players that were better prospects at the time and are already showing more at the professional level. Jokic, Clarkson, Kyle Anderson, McDaniels just to name a few. I'd have even taken his Stanford team mate Dwight Powell over Huestis.

I don't know about Jokic as I've never seen him play but I would argue that Huestis' BBIQ and defensive prowess trumps everyone you just named. Also, he is on par with everyone on this list, athletically speaking, if not better.

[KD35Brah]

The Thunder are currently riding a seven game winning streak, their longest of the season, and Payne's insertion into the rotation has played a big part in that. In these last seven games the Thunder's bench has outscored their opponents 274 to 254, in the last 5 games they have blistered their 2nd team counterparts at a 201-169 clip, and in the last 3 games that included playing a suddenly hot Denver team and sixth seeded Dallas team on the road, the Payne-led reserves outpaced the opposing team's bench, 123-114.

http://www.welcometoloudcity.com/2016/1/24/10819830/thunder-cameron-payne-where-is-his-ceiling

[Old Man Game]

I don't know about Jokic as I've never seen him play but I would argue that Huestis' BBIQ and defensive prowess trumps everyone you just named. Also, he is on par with everyone on this list, athletically speaking, if not better.

http://bkref.com/tiny/Cn5v8

Hey, I could be wrong. Just don't see much there. I think Huestis is headed for the Grant Jerrett, Robert Vaden, Lazar Hayward role of being salary ballast in a future trade as opposed to ever being a rotation player here.

[bondom34]

Yeah I don't see it w/ Huestis either, he has occasional good D league games, but he's been maybe the 4th best guy on the Blue. Maybe. Beaten out by Zanna seems like a bad sign.

[getrichordie]

Only time will tell. I hope it tells us sooner rather than later.

[NaturalThunder]

Not the greatest of starts. No Adams = Lopez abusing us and, as always, Ibaka is having some issues with Thaddeus Young.

[getrichordie]

Is Adams not playing or is he just bringing him off the bench for this game?

[NaturalThunder]

Brooklyn already has 11 second chance points. 11 of their 15 points have come off second chances. Lopez is abusing us because Collison is too small to guard him, and we aren't defensive rebounding.

Down 15-12 midway through the 1st quarter.

[KD35Brah]

Still can't grab a rebound.

Durant overpassing, could've of just dunked it.

[bondom34]

Weird to say, but Kanter should be in. Collison can't keep up, and they should just push the pace.

[NaturalThunder]

And a busted play leads to Brooklyn nailing another three. Young is abusing Ibaka. He abused Ibaka in OKC earlier in the year, too.