View Full Version : OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014
Starting lineup is awful offensively, even with Ibaka. Ibaka can only score when someone feeds him the ball and when he has an open jumper. He's not a back to the basket kind of scorer. (if he was, it'd help a lot) Perkins obviously isn't good offensively and Sefolosha is probably the worst offensive SG I have ever seen. The starting 5 basically has 2.5 people who can score.
This needs to be fixed this offseason. If this team can have a top 10 offense with 2 offensive liabilities in the starting lineup, imagine if all 5 players could make some shots.
ljbab728 05-25-2014, 01:04 AM This doesn't win anyone any games but it's fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWY3wt5UBXs
Laramie 05-25-2014, 02:44 PM Ibaka going down and forcing someone else to start does not = adjustments. If anything, Jones should be starting for Ibaka, he is the closest replacement.
Brooks set us up for this disaster by not playing Lamb, Jones, Adams (hell even Roberson) in any regular season meaningful minutes. Lamb had that random spurt of games where he got minutes, then stopped knocking down shots. Brooks removed him and never gave him another chance.
Brooks only makes a change when someone was hurt, that's why guys this season got minutes. Not because Brooks wanted to build these players to shine on the big stage.
Look @ Green for the Spurs. That is our Lamb. From scrub to star, but not under Brook's watch.
Let's look at this situation from another perspective.
When someone goes down, whatever replacement you make is an adjustment; as to whether or not it is effective is another question. Would someone like to make a suggestion? Why would you make changes when you're successful with what works?
Development of players like Lamb depends on Lamb who needs to continue to improve to earn those minutes. Scott Brooks has done a good job with what he has. How many teams lose a key player like Ibaka and open the conference finals on the road against a veteran (full roster) team like the Spurs with success?
Some of the players acquired by the Spurs occurred when Sam Presti was on their staff. Small market teams build primarily through the draft. It's takes time for small markets like OKC to build through the draft and acquire an occasional pick up (Caron Butler); you can't turn a player like Lamb into a Danny Green (4-year veteran) overnight and come anywhere close to a 60 win season.
Starting lineup is awful offensively, even with Ibaka. Ibaka can only score when someone feeds him the ball and when he has an open jumper. He's not a back to the basket kind of scorer. (if he was, it'd help a lot) Perkins obviously isn't good offensively and Sefolosha is probably the worst offensive SG I have ever seen. The starting 5 basically has 2.5 people who can score.
This needs to be fixed this offseason. If this team can have a top 10 offense with 2 offensive liabilities in the starting lineup, imagine if all 5 players could make some shots.
They do need to explore some future strategy to give them some offensive fire power for next season.
Our lineup is venerable at this stage because despite beating the Spurs four straight in the regular season; Coach Popovich has tweaked his lineup and focused the pressure on Durant and Westbrook; they know we have nothing else to offer from our starting five. They (Spurs) have exploited the loss of Ibaka whether Popovich wants to admit it or not.
Our bench has been competitive; two scorers among the starters are not going to beat the weapon-laced Spurs team.
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
Coach has got to dial in to this team. We have played them twice and it's time for a change. Pops knows how to play us. Time for Brooks to do some changing.
Dustin 05-25-2014, 07:42 PM Serge is back and is perfect so far!
4/4
ljbab728 05-25-2014, 10:07 PM A ray of sunshine for the Thunder tonight which will put a little doubt in the minds of the Spurs.
Back in business!
Different team with Ibaka.
If we can win the next one, I really like our chances.
I was unable to watch the game. Was Ibaka really the difference, or did the Spurs just happen to have an off-night (or the Thunder just happen to have an on-night) while Serge was on the court?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ljbab728 05-25-2014, 10:52 PM I was unable to watch the game. Was Ibaka really the difference, or did the Spurs just happen to have an off-night (or the Thunder just happen to have an on-night) while Serge was on the court?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Serge wasn't totally THE difference but he had a major affect on the outcome. The Thunder caused the Spurs to have an off-night just like they have for eight games in a row at the Peak.
DavidD_NorthOKC 05-25-2014, 11:04 PM I think Popovich telling the Spurs "you know Serge is coming" in a time out huddle says a lot about Ibaka's impact.
Laramie 05-25-2014, 11:06 PM Welcome back,
Serge Ibaka!!!
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - May 25, 2014 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400558956)
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
Serge wasn't totally THE difference but he had a major affect on the outcome. The Thunder caused the Spurs to have an off-night just like they have for eight games in a row at the Peak.
Awesome. Thank you for the feedback.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
soonerguru 05-25-2014, 11:22 PM I was unable to watch the game. Was Ibaka really the difference, or did the Spurs just happen to have an off-night (or the Thunder just happen to have an on-night) while Serge was on the court?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Without him, we probably would have lost, so yes. We need his presence in the paint and his deadeye shooting inside the arc.
Just the facts 05-25-2014, 11:36 PM I was unable to watch the game. Was Ibaka really the difference, or did the Spurs just happen to have an off-night (or the Thunder just happen to have an on-night) while Serge was on the court?
Serge was 100% the difference. Durant and Westbrook were turnover machines with no offence in the first quarter, while Ibaka was nailing down jumpers, rebounding, blocking shots, and getting lose balls. At one point RW was 1-8 and Ibaka was 5-5.
BrettM2 05-25-2014, 11:41 PM We are now 1-0 when I return for a game. #you'rewelcomeOKC
Thanks for the info everyone. I don't get TNT at my work.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ljbab728 05-25-2014, 11:53 PM Serge was 100% the difference. Durant and Westbrook were turnover machines with no offence in the first quarter, while Ibaka was nailing down jumpers, rebounding, blocking shots, and getting lose balls. At one point RW was 1-8 and Ibaka was 5-5.
I'm certainly not downplaying the impact of Serge but he was not 100% of the difference. There are a few other players on the team besides KD and Russell that stepped up big time tonight.
soonerguru 05-25-2014, 11:59 PM I'm certainly not downplaying the impact of Serge but he was not 100% of the difference. There are a few other players on the team besides KD and Russell that stepped up big time tonight.
OK, so he was probably 87.4% of the difference.
:)
Just the facts 05-26-2014, 12:12 AM ...and all those 'other' players were in the previous 2 games as well.
ljbab728 05-26-2014, 12:32 AM ...and all those 'other' players were in the previous 2 games as well.
What is your point, Kerry? That has nothing to do with what I said. And I'm not the only person who appreciates Serge and don't think he was the only reason they won.
Serge Ibaka's heroics complemented by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook | News OK (http://newsok.com/serge-ibakas-heroics-complemented-by-durant-and-westbrook/article/4851143)
Yet on a night that Ibaka was the headliner, the Thunder wouldn’t have defeated the Spurs 106-97 and breathed life back into its playoff hopes without its superstars.
dankrutka 05-26-2014, 01:01 AM Reggie and Adams both played great games also. But, yes, Serge was fantastic.
Easy180 05-26-2014, 07:09 AM I was unable to watch the game. Was Ibaka really the difference, or did the Spurs just happen to have an off-night (or the Thunder just happen to have an on-night) while Serge was on the court?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Too lazy to Google it but I think we are now 5-0 against the Spurs this year with Ibaka and 0-2 without.
Urbanized 05-26-2014, 08:08 AM I'm probably as big a Serge fan as you will find. Within a few weeks of his arrival in OKC, I was telling people he would eventually be a star (and received blank stares for my effort), and for some time now I have professed that he is my favorite player on the team.
That said, although he probably had the most individual impact last night, the biggest overall change went virtually unnoticed by casual fans in all of the Serge hubbub. The biggest difference was the fact that Sefalosha never saw the floor. Brooks started Jackson in place of Sef and put in Lamb for meaningful minutes in which he shined.
Brooks sold out defensive ability for offensive threats (and of course Serge's return helped on both ends), spread the floor and gave Russ and KD more to work with offensively. Even as they struggled there were other scorers to pick up the slack. The team stepped up by showing more defensive intensity AND by moving without the ball. He did a similar thing - substituting Caron for Thabo - during the Grizzlies series with the same success. Why it took him so long to do it in this series is troubling. It was fundamental change that a Pee Wee coach should have seen the need to make two games ago.
Jim Kyle 05-26-2014, 09:54 AM ...and all those 'other' players were in the previous 2 games as well.They were? I don't remember seeing Jeremy Lamb on the floor in either game down Texas way, but he certainly had some impact last night...
Laramie 05-26-2014, 11:28 AM Scott Brooks really put this game in the hands of the whole team; my compliments to the coaching staff for their trust in the players. The players for their team effort and hustle which showed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZjSV1Ahfy8&feature=player_embedded
Ibaka is the Spurs' Kryptonite.
It was refreshing to see our Oklahoma City Thunder disrupt the Spurs' confidence, then take them to task.
Duplicate our efforts for the next home game, we can take this back to San Antonio and the Spurs will be thinking 'Déjà vu' from 2012.
Manu Ginobili had a stellar game for the Spurs.
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
OSUMom 05-26-2014, 12:18 PM Serge had a huge impact, but I do have to say in the first two games, and especially that stinker of a game 2, the rest of the team just gave up. And not giving up going down the stretch, they gave up, in game 2 at least, in the 2nd quarter. The play that stands out to me, and made my mind almost explode, was at one point Thabo stole the ball. Ran down the court and ended up all by himself with the entire spurs team. Then the camera panned over just a bit to where our team was coming. Walking. WALKING. Some were maybe jogging. Thabo had no one to pass to so he finally tried to get to the basket by himself. Didn't work. That wasn't Ibaka not being there that caused that. It was them not trying. I call BS on the thought that the rest of the team (including the MVP) can't work up the energy to run on a fast break unless Ibaka is there. If they TRY we got a chance to win this series, even though they dug themselves this hole. If they had TRIED maybe we could have eked out a steal of one of the first games.
I have been reading up a bit on Ibaka's background. The man knows how to overcome adversity. The Spurs have a little bit of a jinx at the 'peake too. The crowd looked great in those blur t-shirts and the energy from the arena flowed through the broadcast. I know my Wife and I screamed and jumped and fist bumped through the whole thing.
Anonymous. 05-27-2014, 11:58 AM Just got back to internet and TV world.
Sounds like Brooks made some adjustments and Ibaka's return was obviously huge. The feel is very 2012-esque. We have to take care of business tonight, though. Spurs will be on the ropes in game 5 if we take this 2-2.
Thunder UP!
DavidD_NorthOKC 05-27-2014, 09:09 PM Best line of Game 4 so far - "We needed slow motion to see what Westbrook did" (TNT announcer after one of Russ' steals)
jn1780 05-27-2014, 10:39 PM Tied up! Whole new series now! Amazing how one man coming back can rejuvenate the whole team.
Laramie 05-27-2014, 11:27 PM Tied up! Whole new series now! Amazing how one man coming back can rejuvenate the whole team.
Great overall team effort by the Thunder.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - May 27, 2014 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400558957)
Good mix combination of players to counter the Spurs by Scott Brooks and coaches. Outstanding defensive play by the Thunder on the veteran Spurs. Wish Reggie Jackson a speedy recovery. Now with Ibaka back in the line-up; we can shake the Spurs for game 5 in San Antonio.
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
How cool is this photo? The clouds are so ominous, and the top of Devon slightly fades into them. Coming down from the clouds is the word "Thunder." I love it.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/417235374963528?view=permalink&id=761847323835663
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just the facts 05-28-2014, 07:29 AM One thing we know for sure, having 2 bigs protecting the paint is a huge problem for the Spurs. It takes away their threat to drive for an easy basket or kick it out for a 3. With protection in the paint the other defenders can guard against the 3.
I also wasn't happy to see a 27 point lead evaporate with the Spurs bench vs. the OKC starters.
SoonerDave 05-28-2014, 08:35 AM One thing we know for sure, having 2 bigs protecting the paint is a huge problem for the Spurs. It takes away their threat to drive for an easy basket or kick it out for a 3. With protection in the paint the other defenders can guard against the 3.
I also wasn't happy to see a 27 point lead evaporate with the Spurs bench vs. the OKC starters.
Agreed, it was even more tense-making sitting there watching it happen. I mean, not "oh, no, we're going to lose," but more of "uhm, they're getting a little bit close, guys..."
That said, however, the Thunder were playing at this incredible level that you just knew they couldn't possibly maintain. When Popovich put in the bench, I think that led to an inevitable "relaxation" on the part of the Thunder who saw it as a white flag of sorts. What I did like, however, was that even when those bench guys made the run, and even when you could tell the Thunder offense was just about out of gas late in the 4th, they still executed a pretty decent half-court offense, kept things under control without going dormant, and never let SA get closer than 12 while RW hit his freethrows. Late going, there, you could tell KD's shot just had almost nothing on it.
Gotta *love* their chances going into SA Thursday night. if they pull that out, the Peake will be rockin' and rollin' Saturday night with a chance to win the series. Amazing.
Great game. No huge basketball expert here, but that game last night was something to behold. When Westbrook is on, he is an amazing athlete. SA had nothing even remotely resembling an answer for him offensively or defensively.
betts 05-28-2014, 08:51 AM Tied up! Whole new series now! Amazing how one man coming back can rejuvenate the whole team.
It's not only what he brings to the team but the psychic lift it gave the players I believe.
SoonerDave 05-28-2014, 09:05 AM When SA's bench came in and caught the Thunder coming off that huge roll, cutting the lead to 12, the guy sitting next to me pointed out it would be a great time for Popovich to put his starters back in. Think there's a decent case to be made it would have been worth a try - a rested SA bench might have come in and really pushed the issue down the stretch. Thankful he didn't :)
Cool shot from last night from Bellaboo:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/thunder1a1.jpg
Laramie 05-28-2014, 09:57 AM When SA's bench came in and caught the Thunder coming off that huge roll, cutting the lead to 12, the guy sitting next to me pointed out it would be a great time for Popovich to put his starters back in. Think there's a decent case to be made it would have been worth a try - a rested SA bench might have come in and really pushed the issue down the stretch. Thankful he didn't :)
Coach Popovich is methodical; he knew it wasn't worth the risk. His starters did not have the energy to finish off the Thunder; once he sets them, they are through for the night. Pops knew that if he attempted to take this game with reinserting his starters that he would be taking a risk--a failed attempt would doom their chances of a win in game five.
Give Coach Popovich credit; he knows his team's weaknesses and limitations.
The Thunder have the Spurs on the ropes; let's finish them off and put them down...
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
SoonerDave 05-28-2014, 10:08 AM Coach Popovich is methodical; he knew it wasn't worth the risk. His starters did not have the energy to finish off the Thunder; once he sets them, they are through for the night. Pops knew that if he attempted to take this game with reinserting his starters that he would be taking a risk--a failed attempt would doom their chances of a win in game five.
Give Coach Popovich credit; he knows his team's weaknesses and limitations.
The Thunder have the Spurs on the ropes; let's finish them off and put them down...
Oh, yeah, I figured that was the "mental calculation" he was making - if he put them back in, and the Thunder got a second wind and won anyway (which, in all honesty, was pretty likely), you've taken that many minutes off the tank for Thursday. Think it also goes to show, as you point out, how he knows his team's limits. And it also, to an extent, shows just how "on the edge" SA is as a team in terms of living beyond its age - they have to rely on their system, their discipline, their ball movement, all of that, so as not to allow issues of fatigue and comparative athleticism to become an issue unless they can control that tempo.
The normally controlled Duncan getting into it with Popovich was really telling. It was like, "okay, coach, we hear you, but it isn't working." Kinda like he had as much of the "coaching" he could take under the circumstances and he'd just had enough.
Thunder have an awesome opportunity to get a win down there Thursday. If they get that done, I have to believe they close it out Sat.
Stan Silliman 05-28-2014, 12:47 PM Oh, yeah, I figured that was the "mental calculation" he was making - if he put them back in, and the Thunder got a second wind and won anyway (which, in all honesty, was pretty likely), you've taken that many minutes off the tank for Thursday. Think it also goes to show, as you point out, how he knows his team's limits. And it also, to an extent, shows just how "on the edge" SA is as a team in terms of living beyond its age - they have to rely on their system, their discipline, their ball movement, all of that, so as not to allow issues of fatigue and comparative athleticism to become an issue unless they can control that tempo.
The normally controlled Duncan getting into it with Popovich was really telling. It was like, "okay, coach, we hear you, but it isn't working." Kinda like he had as much of the "coaching" he could take under the circumstances and he'd just had enough.
Very cool Popovich story from the NY Times:
Spurs-leader-remembers-his-california-roots (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/26/sports/basketball/revered-in-nba-spurs-leader-remembers-his-california-roots.html?ref=basketball&_r=0)
ljbab728 05-28-2014, 10:23 PM It was certainly nice of Indiana to beat the Heat tonight to force a game seven. At least the Heat won't get as much rest as they hoped for before the finals. :)
Snowman 05-28-2014, 10:26 PM It was certainly nice of Indiana to beat the Heat tonight to force a game seven. At least the Heat won't get as much rest as they hoped for before the finals. :)
Is Miami just conceding game six that was to be played on Friday.
ljbab728 05-28-2014, 10:34 PM Is Miami just conceding game six that was to be played on Friday.
I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. If Miami had won tonight that series would have been over and Miami could have rested for a week until the finals start.
dankrutka 05-28-2014, 11:37 PM I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. If Miami had won tonight that series would have been over and Miami could have rested for a week until the finals start.
The Pacers forced a game 6, not a game 7.
ljbab728 05-28-2014, 11:56 PM The Pacers forced a game 6, not a game 7.
I totally understand that and it has no bearing on what I said. My post was referring to the fact that if the Pacers had won tonight Miami would get more rest before the finals. It was a tongue in check reference to the fact that I still think Miami will win but it will take them a little longer. (hence the smiley face)
OKCisOK4me 05-29-2014, 12:55 PM I went out on a limb and picked the Pacers to beat Miami so I was happy with last night's outcome.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5
dankrutka 05-29-2014, 01:19 PM Good Zach Lowe article on the Thunder "choosing" Ibaka over Harden: Ibaka?s Return Fuels More ?What If? Questions About James Harden « (http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ibakas-return-fuels-more-what-if-questions-about-james-harden/)
I've been saying basically the same thing since the trade. We could have kept both. I think we'd be the heavy title favorites, instead of one of many contenders, if we had... But anyway, that's probably a better discussion for the offseason. Enormous game tonight.
Just the facts 05-29-2014, 01:40 PM When SA's bench came in and caught the Thunder coming off that huge roll, cutting the lead to 12, the guy sitting next to me pointed out it would be a great time for Popovich to put his starters back in. Think there's a decent case to be made it would have been worth a try - a rested SA bench might have come in and really pushed the issue down the stretch. Thankful he didn't :)
Personally I think Popovich screwed that up. With 5 minutes to go he should have put the starters back in. OKC was out of gas and we would have had to play our second string against their first string for 5 hard minutes. When OKC built the big league and SA put in all the reserves the announcers asked, where is the SA scoring going to come from, and then SA went on to outscore OKC by about 15 over the next few minutes.
Urbanized 05-29-2014, 02:24 PM Good Zach Lowe article on the Thunder "choosing" Ibaka over Harden: Ibaka?s Return Fuels More ?What If? Questions About James Harden « (http://grantland.com/the-triangle/ibakas-return-fuels-more-what-if-questions-about-james-harden/)
I've been saying basically the same thing since the trade. We could have kept both. I think we'd be the heavy title favorites, instead of one of many contenders, if we had... But anyway, that's probably a better discussion for the offseason. Enormous game tonight.
Great article. It's mind-blowing how fast the cap is escalating, but hindsight is 20/20. He makes great points about 4 stars and a bare cupboard vs. 3 stars and a roster full of promise.
dankrutka 05-29-2014, 03:32 PM Great article. It's mind-blowing how fast the cap is escalating, but hindsight is 20/20. He makes great points about 4 stars and a bare cupboard vs. 3 stars and a roster full of promise.
Yep. There's no definitive answer. I take the 4 stars and little financial flexibility over 3 stars with flexibility because I think veterans who are chasing titles (see Ray Allen) would play for the Thunder particularly if we had ANOTHER star. Anyway, that's just my guess.
My hope for next season is that we can get a veteran like Paul Pierce to play for the minimum in the hopes of getting a title. He'd basically replace Caron Butler, we could promise him a nice role, and he'd be reunited with Perk.
Stan Silliman 05-29-2014, 03:54 PM Yep. There's no definitive answer. I take the 4 stars and little financial flexibility over 3 stars with flexibility because I think veterans who are chasing titles (see Ray Allen) would play for the Thunder particularly if we had ANOTHER star. Anyway, that's just my guess.
My hope for next season is that we can get a veteran like Paul Pierce to play for the minimum in the hopes of getting a title. He'd basically replace Caron Butler, we could promise him a nice role, and he'd be reunited with Perk.
In college, did Paul Pierce ever play with Nick Collison, or did their times at Kansas not coincide?
dankrutka 05-29-2014, 04:30 PM In college, did Paul Pierce ever play with Nick Collison, or did their times at Kansas not coincide?
Pierce left KU in 1998, Collison arrived in 1999. So, there was one season between their KU careers.
Prunepicker 05-30-2014, 02:13 AM I watched an entire Thunder game last month with some friends.
Since then I've subscribed to MLB.tv. I don't believe I'll ever watch
another basketball game.
Urbanized 05-30-2014, 07:25 AM Congrats! Does that mean you'll stop posting in basketball threads too?
jn1780 05-30-2014, 07:31 AM I watched an entire Thunder game last month with some friends.
Since then I've subscribed to MLB.tv. I don't believe I'll ever watch
another basketball game.
That's cool. Basketball can be too exciting to some people. :P
Anonymous. 05-30-2014, 09:06 AM Couldn't get it done last night. Team looked awful on defense. Bench stayed in OKC.
Hopefully we can at least win tomorrow and take a shot that the Spurs don't shoot complete fire in game 7.
OKCisOK4me 05-30-2014, 12:55 PM Do or die tomorrow night.
Don't forget that the game tips at 7:30pm!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5
Laramie 05-30-2014, 04:46 PM The Spurs were hitting on all cylinders last night; especially from the three-point line. They were home, the Spurs took care of business. We've got to do the same come Saturday.
San Antonio was 13 of 26 (50%) on three point shots:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs - Box Score - May 29, 2014 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400558958)
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif
OKCJapan 05-31-2014, 04:10 AM I hope for a miracle Game 7 like Dallas pulled off at San Antonio in 2006. With that being said. I watched the post game interviews of the Heat. Every question posed seemed to puff them up for getting to the finals 4 straight years. I was hoping that one person would have had some guts to ask them a question related to their easy road to the finals. Spolstra even said after the Charlotte Series that our team needs to be challenged or hit a little bit. While I did not watch every game. but from the highlights, The Heat were not challenged, except for a couple of games from David West. Vogal said that the reason why got beat 3 series in a row is because they are Playing Jordan and the Bulls of the modern era. He further said that they are not able to play up to the Heat's level yet. I would say the most likely reason is because the EC does not have enough quality talent to match. And it will continue to be so as long as the 3 stay in Miami, or CP3, Griffin and Howard, etc. get tired of being eliminated every year in the playoffs and want an easier rode to get a shot at the finals.
So, As much as I hope the Thunder can win a game 7, If they cannot, then as much as I am on the opposite side against the Spurs. I will root for them against the Heat.
I'm sure this has probably already been discussed, but it sure would be nice to see James Harden starting tonight for the Thunder. Makes ya wonder.
|
|