HOT ROD
05-16-2013, 05:47 PM
First off, congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a wonderful season. Our team has shown consistent improvement season by season and it was a great year to be a fan from the Pac NW. OKC is my favourite major league team and I ordered NBA LeaguePass just so I could see EVERY OKC game, even DVRing them to ensure I could watch when live wasn't an option.
Now, here is some criticism that I hope will be received as constructive. Again, I watched most of OKC's games live and all eventually and I have some strong opinions on the team and why we were knocked out rather quickly.
1) obviously, this team was built around Russell Westbrook. He is my most favourite NBA player and I absolutely hate Skip Bayless or whatever his name is and other pundits who claimed Russell should have taken a back seat and let KD shine. Honestly, KD is a superstar but that doesn't make him the #1 person on the team. Russell is and these playoffs proved it. Russell is not a backup to KD, instead, Russell IS OKC. OKC proved it could win without KD but it proved just now that it can NOT win without Russell. Take that Skip!
2) while I like Scott Brooks, most other elite teams out coach him. He reacts way too slow (calling time outs after OKC blows leads and gets behind by double digits) and he pulls people who are shooting/defending well way too quickly. These are game-time aspects which I absolutely hated took place, this along with his persistence to play Kendrick Perkins who was always a constant net-negative to the team. I have more to say about Brooks and the coaching but I will save it for another point as this point should stand by itself in my opinion.
3) James Harden trade was a bust. I am not one of those bandwagon people who are just now seeing this was not a good deal for OKC, I said it all along and was shocked that OKC traded him but kept Kendrick Perkins. I'll get to Perkins in another point. Clearly, if OKC still had Harden then the three way tandem could have been retained. What OKC should have done was write plays specifically for Harden and get him in off the bench early; having Harden at the 1, Westbrook at the 2, Durant at the 3, Ibaka at the 4, and Collison/Thabeet at the 5. Playing that lineup for consistent minutes after starting would be unstoppable because you have playmakers at every position (provided you also work with Collison and Thabeet on how to post up and dunk) and you have arguably the #1 NBA players at the 1, 2, and 3. I personally do not think coaches did anything good for Harden which is why he had to create on his own when they subbed him for Westbrook AND Durant mostly during the 4th quarter. Yes Harden shined but that was due to his athletic ability and not because of him being an integral component of the team. What a miss, which was surely highlighted during these playoffs and earlier.
4) OKC should have gotten rid of Perkins and use some of that money to pay (and keep) Harden. Perkins is a net negative for OKC, he does nothing for the team positive. The guy can't rebound, he cant low post, he can't jump shoot, he can't even dunk the ball much less hold on to it if you pass it to him. Not to mention the constant hard passing and turnovers he causes because of that, it's like the guy is another player for the other team (6 to 4). This was also proven during the Mem-OKC series which was supposedly when Perkins would show his worth to the team. We saw his worth - NOTHING as OKC did better when he was warming the bench. I understand why he was acquired initially and back then we needed him instead of Jeff Green. But that was then and this is now, the guy does nothing now to help the team. We should have given him only a two year contract and got rid of him and got a cheaper center who is willing to play for a champion contender. Perkins has got to go, the man is not worth $9-million.
5) lack of coaching and preparation. This was proven almost every OKC game when we played an elite team or a team with an elite player (Cleveland), OKC showed up not prepared. This is the fault of coaching who didn't have OKC ready to play. Take for instance the Memphis games, there was no analysis on how to stop Zbo and Gasshaul, yet "Inside the NBA" broke them down quite nicely and effectively after the series was over. Why was Ibaka and Perkins falling for Zbo's backing down to the right (when he would then spin left to his shooting hand and lay the ball in since that would be open)? Why not back him right and force him to shoot right? Why were they letting Gasshaul shoot the mid-range jumpers (which he never missed)? Why not make him take shots right in the paint where he is less effective? Why were OKC players double-teaming, leaving one of those guards open for threes (which they hit)? Why does OKC not have a Zone defense? Why does OKC coaches only rely on 'shots falling' to win games but no plays developed to move players around so somebody could even be open for a shot to fall - particularly an inside shot. Speaking of that, why was OKC ONLY taking outside shots to begin with? why did it take OKC the 3rd quarter of Game 5 to finally get inside pass and lay-in between Durant and Collison? None of that was due to coaching, it was just things OKC figured out on the fly, and you can't blame that on Westbrook but all of the blame should be on Scott Brooks and the coaching staff. They should have been scouting teams before they play and should have developed defense to stop a team and offenses to exploit THEIR weaknesses.
Honestly, even without Westbrook there is no reason OKC should have lost that series. The games were within a few points either way and OKC should have had the composure to close out the games. It is very clear OKC had no idea what they were doing, despite having some time (during breaks in scheduling) to scout teams they would play. OKC coaches depend too much on OKC's athleticism, which IS the best in the NBA. But other teams know this and their coaches scout - ala Memphis, they knew exactly what OKC players do, where they would be and how to defend every last player save Westbrook. Memphis's coaching staff won that series and OKC's coaching staff let us down. Seriously, I give Scott Brooks one more year to figure this out, if he comes back with "well, our shots just weren't falling" or "so and so had an off night" instead of "I got out-coached, but I will be prepared next time.... " then I think it is time to send him into the sunset and go get Byron Scott or somebody who knows how to draw up plays that exploit the opponent.
6) KD. I like him and he is a superstar, but this playoffs proved why he should NOT have been the MVP and that HE was riding Westbrook's coattails and not the other way around. Why was KD constantly trying to shoot jumpers when he should have been trying to take it to the hole (as in the last play of the season, which likely would have given us a chance at least to win the game)? KD shines when the team/Westbrook is doing well, but he fails when the team does not do well (or when Westbrook is out, as we see). For him to get to the next level, he needs to grow up and learn how to vary his shots, not just keep chunking up prayers hoping they will go in.
7) team immaturity. OKC is still very immature. If OKC scores a point, they get so excited yet forget to defend (and Memphis runs down a fastbreak counter score AND one). If OKC (as in KD, Perkins, Ibaka) tries to score but doesn't, there is POUTING and staredowns while the other team runs a fastbreak for an uncontested. This crap has got to stop! I understand the refs did give Memphis preferential treatment during game 4 and other times, but if OKC just cuts out half of our mistakes we would win inspite of the refs or Memphis's two big guys. Can OKC please grow up and stop pouting so much, get back on defense when a score does or does not take place - other teams get back on OKC, it is no excuse since OKC is most athletic of all.
8) Why the heck did OKC not retain DFish? Why did we resign him so late? Why did we let him go in the first place? This guy brings championship leadership to OKC in a way that Perkins could NEVER. I was so upset when Brooks sat DFish in game 4 after he almost single handedly brought the team out of the dolldroms, only for OKC to then blow the lead in the 3rd quarter and then he calls on a now COLD DFish (or KMart). Trump this up to coaching again, we need some consistency and I'd like to see DFish signed for an entire year to get us to the level we need to be.
9) Coaching (again). I remembered one more point which I think needs its own number. 3rd quarter blows. Teams know that regardless of how much OKC is up, that they can catch up in the 3rd quarter because Scott Brooks will send out K Perkins to significant minutes and the team can watch film of the first half to make adjustments and exploit Perk. I am so sick of that. Why not do something different? Why be so predictable and gullible? Too many times OKC blew leads due to coach bringing out the obvious who cant move, cant jump, cant rebound, cant jumpshoot, cant dunk, cant pass, and cant catch a pass without losing it. I mean, damn; Perkins and Coach Brooks lost OKC this series - plain and simple. This is something that needs to be corrected, otherwise I'd like to see Brooks escorted out of OKC as the head coach at least, and bring in somebody with some ba**s who knows how to adapt to situations QUICKLY and draw up plays that exploit the other team.
OK, sorry for the rant but I had to get this off my chest. I hope people will not be homers with this "well, at least we got to the playoffs 2nd round, we improved over last year, blah blah". OKC has what it takes to at least have made it past Memphis and given SA a good series WITHOUT Westbrook. Yet if you look at the coaching (or lack thereof) AND Perkins, as well as some dumb moves by Durant and Ibaka's lack of low post - this is why OKC barely lost the series, yes barely!
We have to fix these mistakes, otherwise, this will be the end result regardless of Westbrook's return; because teams now know how to take OKC out of their game since there is no variation and OKC shows up unprepared for them!
Now, here is some criticism that I hope will be received as constructive. Again, I watched most of OKC's games live and all eventually and I have some strong opinions on the team and why we were knocked out rather quickly.
1) obviously, this team was built around Russell Westbrook. He is my most favourite NBA player and I absolutely hate Skip Bayless or whatever his name is and other pundits who claimed Russell should have taken a back seat and let KD shine. Honestly, KD is a superstar but that doesn't make him the #1 person on the team. Russell is and these playoffs proved it. Russell is not a backup to KD, instead, Russell IS OKC. OKC proved it could win without KD but it proved just now that it can NOT win without Russell. Take that Skip!
2) while I like Scott Brooks, most other elite teams out coach him. He reacts way too slow (calling time outs after OKC blows leads and gets behind by double digits) and he pulls people who are shooting/defending well way too quickly. These are game-time aspects which I absolutely hated took place, this along with his persistence to play Kendrick Perkins who was always a constant net-negative to the team. I have more to say about Brooks and the coaching but I will save it for another point as this point should stand by itself in my opinion.
3) James Harden trade was a bust. I am not one of those bandwagon people who are just now seeing this was not a good deal for OKC, I said it all along and was shocked that OKC traded him but kept Kendrick Perkins. I'll get to Perkins in another point. Clearly, if OKC still had Harden then the three way tandem could have been retained. What OKC should have done was write plays specifically for Harden and get him in off the bench early; having Harden at the 1, Westbrook at the 2, Durant at the 3, Ibaka at the 4, and Collison/Thabeet at the 5. Playing that lineup for consistent minutes after starting would be unstoppable because you have playmakers at every position (provided you also work with Collison and Thabeet on how to post up and dunk) and you have arguably the #1 NBA players at the 1, 2, and 3. I personally do not think coaches did anything good for Harden which is why he had to create on his own when they subbed him for Westbrook AND Durant mostly during the 4th quarter. Yes Harden shined but that was due to his athletic ability and not because of him being an integral component of the team. What a miss, which was surely highlighted during these playoffs and earlier.
4) OKC should have gotten rid of Perkins and use some of that money to pay (and keep) Harden. Perkins is a net negative for OKC, he does nothing for the team positive. The guy can't rebound, he cant low post, he can't jump shoot, he can't even dunk the ball much less hold on to it if you pass it to him. Not to mention the constant hard passing and turnovers he causes because of that, it's like the guy is another player for the other team (6 to 4). This was also proven during the Mem-OKC series which was supposedly when Perkins would show his worth to the team. We saw his worth - NOTHING as OKC did better when he was warming the bench. I understand why he was acquired initially and back then we needed him instead of Jeff Green. But that was then and this is now, the guy does nothing now to help the team. We should have given him only a two year contract and got rid of him and got a cheaper center who is willing to play for a champion contender. Perkins has got to go, the man is not worth $9-million.
5) lack of coaching and preparation. This was proven almost every OKC game when we played an elite team or a team with an elite player (Cleveland), OKC showed up not prepared. This is the fault of coaching who didn't have OKC ready to play. Take for instance the Memphis games, there was no analysis on how to stop Zbo and Gasshaul, yet "Inside the NBA" broke them down quite nicely and effectively after the series was over. Why was Ibaka and Perkins falling for Zbo's backing down to the right (when he would then spin left to his shooting hand and lay the ball in since that would be open)? Why not back him right and force him to shoot right? Why were they letting Gasshaul shoot the mid-range jumpers (which he never missed)? Why not make him take shots right in the paint where he is less effective? Why were OKC players double-teaming, leaving one of those guards open for threes (which they hit)? Why does OKC not have a Zone defense? Why does OKC coaches only rely on 'shots falling' to win games but no plays developed to move players around so somebody could even be open for a shot to fall - particularly an inside shot. Speaking of that, why was OKC ONLY taking outside shots to begin with? why did it take OKC the 3rd quarter of Game 5 to finally get inside pass and lay-in between Durant and Collison? None of that was due to coaching, it was just things OKC figured out on the fly, and you can't blame that on Westbrook but all of the blame should be on Scott Brooks and the coaching staff. They should have been scouting teams before they play and should have developed defense to stop a team and offenses to exploit THEIR weaknesses.
Honestly, even without Westbrook there is no reason OKC should have lost that series. The games were within a few points either way and OKC should have had the composure to close out the games. It is very clear OKC had no idea what they were doing, despite having some time (during breaks in scheduling) to scout teams they would play. OKC coaches depend too much on OKC's athleticism, which IS the best in the NBA. But other teams know this and their coaches scout - ala Memphis, they knew exactly what OKC players do, where they would be and how to defend every last player save Westbrook. Memphis's coaching staff won that series and OKC's coaching staff let us down. Seriously, I give Scott Brooks one more year to figure this out, if he comes back with "well, our shots just weren't falling" or "so and so had an off night" instead of "I got out-coached, but I will be prepared next time.... " then I think it is time to send him into the sunset and go get Byron Scott or somebody who knows how to draw up plays that exploit the opponent.
6) KD. I like him and he is a superstar, but this playoffs proved why he should NOT have been the MVP and that HE was riding Westbrook's coattails and not the other way around. Why was KD constantly trying to shoot jumpers when he should have been trying to take it to the hole (as in the last play of the season, which likely would have given us a chance at least to win the game)? KD shines when the team/Westbrook is doing well, but he fails when the team does not do well (or when Westbrook is out, as we see). For him to get to the next level, he needs to grow up and learn how to vary his shots, not just keep chunking up prayers hoping they will go in.
7) team immaturity. OKC is still very immature. If OKC scores a point, they get so excited yet forget to defend (and Memphis runs down a fastbreak counter score AND one). If OKC (as in KD, Perkins, Ibaka) tries to score but doesn't, there is POUTING and staredowns while the other team runs a fastbreak for an uncontested. This crap has got to stop! I understand the refs did give Memphis preferential treatment during game 4 and other times, but if OKC just cuts out half of our mistakes we would win inspite of the refs or Memphis's two big guys. Can OKC please grow up and stop pouting so much, get back on defense when a score does or does not take place - other teams get back on OKC, it is no excuse since OKC is most athletic of all.
8) Why the heck did OKC not retain DFish? Why did we resign him so late? Why did we let him go in the first place? This guy brings championship leadership to OKC in a way that Perkins could NEVER. I was so upset when Brooks sat DFish in game 4 after he almost single handedly brought the team out of the dolldroms, only for OKC to then blow the lead in the 3rd quarter and then he calls on a now COLD DFish (or KMart). Trump this up to coaching again, we need some consistency and I'd like to see DFish signed for an entire year to get us to the level we need to be.
9) Coaching (again). I remembered one more point which I think needs its own number. 3rd quarter blows. Teams know that regardless of how much OKC is up, that they can catch up in the 3rd quarter because Scott Brooks will send out K Perkins to significant minutes and the team can watch film of the first half to make adjustments and exploit Perk. I am so sick of that. Why not do something different? Why be so predictable and gullible? Too many times OKC blew leads due to coach bringing out the obvious who cant move, cant jump, cant rebound, cant jumpshoot, cant dunk, cant pass, and cant catch a pass without losing it. I mean, damn; Perkins and Coach Brooks lost OKC this series - plain and simple. This is something that needs to be corrected, otherwise I'd like to see Brooks escorted out of OKC as the head coach at least, and bring in somebody with some ba**s who knows how to adapt to situations QUICKLY and draw up plays that exploit the other team.
OK, sorry for the rant but I had to get this off my chest. I hope people will not be homers with this "well, at least we got to the playoffs 2nd round, we improved over last year, blah blah". OKC has what it takes to at least have made it past Memphis and given SA a good series WITHOUT Westbrook. Yet if you look at the coaching (or lack thereof) AND Perkins, as well as some dumb moves by Durant and Ibaka's lack of low post - this is why OKC barely lost the series, yes barely!
We have to fix these mistakes, otherwise, this will be the end result regardless of Westbrook's return; because teams now know how to take OKC out of their game since there is no variation and OKC shows up unprepared for them!