I hate to say this because I am the biggest OKC Thunder fan in the Seattle area - BUT

I am almost postive that Westbrook will leave OKC after next year. OKC just doens't have the caliber of talent up and down for a superstar to be successful let alone happy and compete. I am sure this is really why KD left and now that he is gone it is MORE than clear that OKC has huge cultural issues with regard to how the org is run and that is translating in the players.

Case in point - take Dion Waiters, even Reggie Jackson. These guys while on OKC were unreliable and more or less flops who despite trying to get minutes vs. KD/Westbrook/Ibaka they'd fail more than not when they were on the floor. Most of the time, it would be clear the players were not motivated or didn't know what to do. Take a look at those same players now; Dion is leading Miami and Jackson is tremendously better than he was.

OKC keeps "STARTING???" Andre Roberson who has NO offensive talent or interest. Oladipo (a top draft from Orlando) can't hit a shot in OKC and is horribly inconsistent and IMO way under-performing to his capabilities. Also S Adams (still no go-to shot). And Kanter. Well, I want to give him a pass so bad BUT he was the 2nd wheel and took himself out of the equation for 6 weeks. .... Sabonis (first year, yes - but. .. Inconsistent). Grant (immature, inconsistent but fun to watch). Morrow (who?). Also, these guys make $$ millions and can't hit free throws or play defense (if you're gonna foul, at least make sure he doesn't get an 'add one'). To me it is frustrating to see the opponent 'get it' against OKC but we make the same mistakes game after game. Why every game, 3rd qu has a shooting slump. ...

Singler - I try try try to like this guy and occasionally he does have a good game (ie, don't just go foul the opponent, play some defense and hit a shot or two). But I feel he is mostly dead weight - is this JUST an OKC thing?. In fact - Is this an OKC THEME?? Under-perform, get traded then rise to perfection (in OKC's face)?

I don't know but I feel after the past few games that OKC front office needs to make some cultural changes, quick. Otherwise, OKC will surely lose Westbrook to Los Angeles Lakers (hey, they suck too but at least you're in LA); then unfortunately that might be the end of OKC being an elite/markee franchise.

One bright spot is - despite the loses and ridiculous team chemistry (and weird, singular culture) of OKC, the media hasn't given up and still sees OKC as an elite or at least still markee team. They are chalking it up to OKC being young, while I agree with that - there seems to be deeper issues in that this OKC team isn't really different from the others except this time no KD and Ibaka (and therefore the loses really hurt and are more frequent). ...

Any thoughts? I so want the culture to change (please be more like Memphis or even Milwaukee, somebody other than just westbrook rise up on a given night .....). - nervous - - -

+1

Dion Waiters with a 9 game win streak and Reggie Jackson who might be better but it wouldn't show cause the Pistons can't make it into the playoffs. Both of which are currently under 500. Excellent

Whether a combination of incredibly bad coincidences, culture, personality clashes, or just poor management decisions, I think some are already starting to look over the brief history of the Thunder and look back at just how much talent has - for whatever reason - passed through the doors, and right back out. Let's face it - not one GM in the league would purposely try to assemble the non-Russ cast this team has. I think we tend to try and rationalize the idea of how *this* piece or *that* piece is designed to fit together, but the reality is it *doesn't* fit together. I'm trying to decide if Presti has even created a framework for how this team is going to be rebuilt around Russ - and right now, it seems like the wheels are just spinning around Russ' triple-doubles.

I think there's a lot of wisdom around the idea that Russ, no matter how much he likes OKC, will eventually start to question how the broader organization plans to construct this team in the post-KD era. I'm not sure Presti knows how yet. If there's a hint that there's a vacuum in the leadership of the team in a management era, I'm not sure Russ would have much of a choice but to look elsewhere.

For the anti-Robes crowd (I know he's struggling), I wanted to share this tweet:


@dtdpodcast: Westbrook, Roberson, Abrines, Kanter and Adams seems to be their best 5 man lineup, at least by the numbers.

Best AST/TO, Net Rating, ORTG

So, the most successful lineup the Thunder have put on the floor this season includes Roberson. He's in many of the top lineups... and the reason is his defense. My point isn't to say Roberson is great, he's not. He's particularly struggling right now and may not be as good of a fit for this team without KD (I'll take Wilson Chandler!). But he legitimately brings a lot when he's shooting even 30% from three, slashing a bit, getting out on fast breaks, and serving as the Thunder's best perimeter defender by a very large margin. I'm only trying to dispel the misperception that he's just terrible or not an NBA player. There's a reason the numbers don't support that...

Have to keep Roberson on the bench more and play the better offensive guys more with Kanter down. Bring Roberson on to help protect a lead but have to have the better offensive players play more minutes. Payne is really bad all the way around right now. I mean someone breaths on him and he flops. Chistion needs to be in there instead of Payne. I doubt any team will give much for Payne right now so really no reason to showcase his bad play. Morrow will get his touch back if he gets more minutes IMO. He is one of the better scorers this team has and needs to play.

For the anti-Robes crowd (I know he's struggling), I wanted to share this tweet:



So, the most successful lineup the Thunder have put on the floor this season includes Roberson. He's in many of the top lineups... and the reason is his defense. My point isn't to say Roberson is great, he's not. He's particularly struggling right now and may not be as good of a fit for this team without KD (I'll take Wilson Chandler!). But he legitimately brings a lot when he's shooting even 30% from three, slashing a bit, getting out on fast breaks, and serving as the Thunder's best perimeter defender by a very large margin. I'm only trying to dispel the misperception that he's just terrible or not an NBA player. There's a reason the numbers don't support that...

I don't think anyone here disagrees with you. Roberson is a fantastic defender who certainly deserves a spot in the NBA. He's just lacks the very thing the Thunder need more than anything right now... The ability to score. He has to find ways to score that work for him like the rest of the elite defenders in the NBA do. Not everyone can hit the 3, and that's ok! But there is never a reason to miss a wide open layup (which he does consistently). He just needs to figure out what works for him. If he can do that he will be indispensable for us. It's doable!

Just glad this team didn't give up like some in this thread...;) Soid win against a steaking Grizzlies team.

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Oklahoma City Thunder 114 - Memphis Grizzlies 102

http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2017/0204/1139389_11916441.PNG&cquality=80

Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400900155

Westbrook recorded his 38th career Triple-double & 25th this season.

Here is my problem with Donavans current lineup. He is going to make OKC hate Sabonis, just like he made them hate Singler. Remember last season? He kept playing and playing and playing Singler. People here don't dislike him personally. And most wouldn't even dislike him because he isn't the greatest player. It's because Donovan kept playing him. And I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen to Sabonis. Really good potential. Started the season decent, but his vulnerabilities as a rookie are starting to show. He shouldn't be in the starting line up.

Here is my problem with Donavans current lineup. He is going to make OKC hate Sabonis, just like he made them hate Singler. Remember last season? He kept playing and playing and playing Singler. People here don't dislike him personally. And most wouldn't even dislike him because he isn't the greatest player. It's because Donovan kept playing him. And I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen to Sabonis. Really good potential. Started the season decent, but his vulnerabilities as a rookie are starting to show. He shouldn't be in the starting line up.


I agree he should be playing against other teams backups right now. I think he would gain more confidence playing against those lesser players and it would benefit him and the team over the long haul. Ease him in against the starters.

Here is my problem with Donavans current lineup. He is going to make OKC hate Sabonis, just like he made them hate Singler. Remember last season? He kept playing and playing and playing Singler. People here don't dislike him personally. And most wouldn't even dislike him because he isn't the greatest player. It's because Donovan kept playing him. And I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen to Sabonis. Really good potential. Started the season decent, but his vulnerabilities as a rookie are starting to show. He shouldn't be in the starting line up.

Big difference: Singler is a veteran who is terrible at basketball and Sabonis is a rookie who is not terrible at basketball. While Sabonis could and will be a better player, he's a good fit with the starters because he's a decent shooter who can stretch the floor, which is desperately needed in the starting lineup, and he plays smart defensively. Right now, Sabonis is an average defender for a starter (which is really good for a rookie) and a below average offensive player. Donovan could start Jerami Grant, but I am not sure he can handle the physicality of guarding 4s night in and out. Lauvergne and Collison are poor fits next to Adams. Kanter could conceivably start, but those Kanter-Adams frontcourts will only work against some teams. So, if not Sabonis, who would you have starting?

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Oklahoma City Thunder 105 - Portland Trailblazers 99

Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400900172

I have to give it up to Roberson. The game he had against Portland yesrday was his best performance as a Thunder player IMO. And he only took 1 3 point attempt I think. He is at his best driving to the basket and shooting layups or dunks. He is a great athlete and he can use his skills around the bucket much better than setting up for threes IMO. Lets hope this continues.

I have to give it up to Roberson. The game he had against Portland yesrday was his best performance as a Thunder player IMO. And he only took 1 3 point attempt I think. He is at his best driving to the basket and shooting layups or dunks. He is a great athlete and he can use his skills around the bucket much better than setting up for threes IMO. Lets hope this continues.

Agreed. He seems like he's really been putting in the work.

Someone told me today that they were giving out T-Shirts with Cupcakes printed of the front for this Saturday against GS. I have looked online trying to find anything confirming this but I don't see anything. Has any one on here heard about this?

Someone told me today that they were giving out T-Shirts with Cupcakes printed of the front for this Saturday against GS. I have looked online trying to find anything confirming this but I don't see anything. Has any one on here heard about this?

Who is "They"?

Yeah, there is zero chance the Thunder are handing out cupcake shirts. The Thunder are the most depressingly bland organization in the NBA. There's zero chance they'd do that. No team probably would.

Pretty sure if they did, Silver would smack them with a pretty heinous fine. You don't outright disrespect players in the NBA...especially a Top 5 player.

Eh I'd doubt it. Having people burn jerseys in off season

had Cowherd on the radio this afternoon, he said LeBron and co are going to rest tonight to stick it to TNT, i am not sure if this is true though, lol.

Who is "They"?

Not sure who "They" are as I didn't ask. I did hear Davorcheck saying something about this today on the radio. I assume it will be someone selling T-Shirts unless Russ and some of the players pooled together privately for a give away.

had Cowherd on the radio this afternoon, he said LeBron and co are going to rest tonight to stick it to TNT, i am not sure if this is true though, lol.


I just heard on radio that they are playing.

I just heard on radio that they are playing.

I read they are resting their top 3, LBJ, Kyrie and Love. Shumpert was hurt 2 games ago and is out also.

I read they are resting their top 3, LBJ, Kyrie and Love. Shumpert was hurt 2 games ago and is out also.

Last report from Cleveland's coach, he's leaving that up to those 3 player if any want to sit out. All 3 indicated that they will play.

Cleveland's little scheme about resting their big 3 backfired; thought they were going to psyche the Thunder.


Oklahoma City Thunder 118 - Cleveland Cavaliers 109

Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400900201

Westbrook recorded his 26th Triple-double of the season.

Here you go for those that want a shirt:

https://opolisclothing.com/collections/okc

Here you go for those that want a shirt:

https://opolisclothing.com/collections/okc

I really like the "Mr. Unr3liabl5" tees. :-)

Here you go for those that want a shirt:

https://opolisclothing.com/collections/okc

Those don't look like giveaways to me.

This crowd! Holy F#ck

This crowd! Holy F#ck

It was insane. Most fun I've had a game in a while. And I always have fun at the games.

Loudest crowd I've ever heard at the Peake. Had to leave at halftime (watched the rest on TV), the crowd was so loud & ecstatic my ears were popping.

With everybody standing it looked like max capacity, which I havent seen in awhile. Come half time though it looked like that when everybody was standing. I'm kind of surprised that there wasn't a video tribute.

^^You're being sarcastic about the tribute, right? That is for a retirement tour.

Anyways the game was awesome. It was easily the loudest since Klay Thompson changed our franchise forever last year.

My vocal chords are still recovering! To kind of add to dankrutka's point about the supportiveness of the crowd. If you didn't see an "F KD" variation of clothing, the only other option was a "F yea! Russ!" clothing. The amount of heart and support that OKC has put into Russ has actually gotten me to start honestly thinking... This dude could stay here forever.

The way Andre got in KD's grill. Kanter coming over as the hype-man to Russ after the timeout trashtalk with KD... This whole thing is like a movie, the most entertaining blowout game in NBA history. KD may have left the team to the darkside, but the comradery with the guys and the fans coming together is really special.

I know 'super cool and chill' Steph and Dray traded their warmups to a couple fans wearing cupcake shirts. And like I am sure the team bust's KD's balls about the whole thing and they joke around. Which kind of ruins the entire cupcake insult... But I think we all know this cupcake insult along with Russ ignoring KD's desperate attempts to banter with him this season... There is noway in hell that it's not getting under KD's skin. Casual fans (read: Warriors) who don't follow the NBA very closely are seriously the only ones I've seen defending KD's move. The only thing more pathetic than KD's decision is the way the mainstream media has taken a pro-KD mantra. Anyone who knows anything about the Association know it was the weakest move in professional sports history. I am sure Warriors fans would help Steph pack if after last year's finals, Steph went to the Cavs... smh

With everybody standing it looked like max capacity, which I havent seen in awhile. Come half time though it looked like that when everybody was standing. I'm kind of surprised that there wasn't a video tribute.

The Thunder don't do video tributes and if they did, the fans would have booed the entire time over it. Perhaps in 10 years, the fans will be ready for that.

I thought Perkins got one and read a headline that Serge did. Everybody else ends up leaving here salty.

13552

Lol he can say whatever he wants but it won't make people here or elsewhere respect him any more (not sure he cares). Unfortunately I'm away at school and couldn't go to this game, but based on what I've heard from people who were there it sounds like this might have been the loudest we've ever booed a guy, ahead of Draymond, Ron Artest, and Patrick Beverly respectively.

Gotta love that civic pride and the way the city has rallied around the guys who stayed.

I thought Perkins got one and read a headline that Serge did. Everybody else ends up leaving here salty.

Reggie, James, and KD have left with a little animosity. About 50 other everybody else's have pretty much all left on good terms and spoke well of their time in OKC.

I thought Perkins got one and read a headline that Serge did. Everybody else ends up leaving here salty.

No. Again, the Thunder don't do tribute videos.

Perkins was shown on the big screen during a timeout and got a standing ovation, but no tribute video. Ibaka got cheers.

When Harden came back, there was a mixture of boos and cheers, with more cheers than boos during introductions. The crowd only turned heavily against him once he got into a spat with Hasheem Thabeet under the basket. That was then. Now, he gets a nice smattering of cheers during intros.

No. Again, the Thunder don't do tribute videos.

Perkins was shown on the big screen during a timeout and got a standing ovation, but no tribute video. Ibaka got cheers.

When Harden came back, there was a mixture of boos and cheers, with more cheers than boos during introductions. The crowd only turned heavily against him once he got into a spat with Hasheem Thabeet under the basket. That was then. Now, he gets a nice smattering of cheers during intros.

It is that desire for Harden to come back and team up with Russ to take down the league's juggernaut Warriors in 2020. OKC fans playing the long-game.

Another big game tonight as the Thunder are playing a red-hot Wizards team. You have to give it to Brooks, he has turned the Wizards around and they've been playing like a top 5 team. After tonight's game the schedule finally eases up and maybe the Thunder could make a move in the standings.

Wizards are a good team. hopefully, no let down from this weekend's emotional game.

The Thunder look terrible tonight in D.C. Time to get Westbrook some rest.

Thunder may have the worst collection of shooters overall that I have ever seen on an NBA TEAM. Presti is not getting it done and time for him to take some heat. The Thunder has never had any really good knock down 3 point shooters. Other teams find them but Presti can't seen to do it.

This Wizards game is going to make the fans freak out big time. To be fair, this second half is a total dumpster fire. It looks like no one wants to be there. Even Donovan is sitting down basically the entire game.

Thunder may have the worst collection of shooters overall that I have ever seen on an NBA TEAM. Presti is not getting it done and time for him to take some heat. The Thunder has never had any really good knock down 3 point shooters. Other teams find them but Presti can't seen to do it.

Hard to argue this, lack of any 3 point shooting has been a constant knock on this franchise. We've never had it. Even more glaring this year when we need it the most. Hard to imagine how much easier it would make it on Russ to drive to the basket if someone had to even remotely care about us making a shot from the outside.

Presti is playing the long game. This team isn't going deep in the playoffs even with another three point shooter. That's why Presti traded an established shooter in Ilyasova for a young prospect like Grant.

It's an 82 game season. Games like this happen to all teams. It even happened to Golden State who was destroyed by a Denver team that didn't play its starters. Saturday's game obviously took its toll.

This board reacts to the NBA's 82 game schedule like it's college football's 12 game schedule. The Thunder just beat the Cavs four days ago. The season isn't over.

And, of course, I agree OKC could be better by adding a shooter, but what's the trade? Who is OKC giving up for who? It's easy to say, "get a shooter," but it's not as easy to do. Every team would love another good shooter.

It also doesn't help that Morrow, a career 40+% three point shooter, is shooting 29%.

I am not even talking about last night or last week. Presti has failed to bring in some good 3 point shooters. There's no two ways about it he has failed. Just about every team in the NBA has a couple of sharp shooters. Not the Thunder. But the way they shoot 3s you would think they have some of the best around. The Thunder should have kept Waiters.

I am not even talking about last night or last week. Presti has failed to bring in some good 3 point shooters. There's no two ways about it he has failed. Just about every team in the NBA has a couple of sharp shooters. Not the Thunder. But the way they shoot 3s you would think they have some of the best around. The Thunder should have kept Waiters.

I agree on some level, but the Thunder did lose two elite shooters in Ibaka and Cupcake. Shooters are highly coveted and don't always pan out. I think the Thunder believe the market for shooters is over oversaturated with suitors. At least that's been my guess. Having said that, Abrines does project as a good shooter, but he's an inconsistent rookie. But, yeah, shooting is a problem for this team.

Sabonis also seems like he could be a pretty good shooter in the long run. His technique looks pretty solid overall, he's just stopped sinking them since Christmas. But he's also a rookie and of course subject to both inconsistency and better scouting as the season goes on.

We need to remind posters that 20 year old Domantas Sabonis would be entering his junior year in college if he were still with Gonzaga.

If you were to compare this to life, Sabonis is an NBA player who hasn't reached the legal smoking (18) or drinking age (21); he's still a kid barely past adolescence.

As we rapidly approach the trade deadline, what are everyone's predictions as to what Sam Presti does?

as we rapidly approach the trade deadline, what are everyone's predictions as to what sam presti does?


Nothing


Unless a team is ready to give up a star to implode in order to increase their chances in the 2017 Draft; Thunder doesn't possess the scraps to pawn off at this point.

Don't think that OKC can package together some scraps from the chopping block like Singler, Payne & Christian for the worst imploding team to pick up--there are too many team that could offer better scrap packages than the Thunder.

As we rapidly approach the trade deadline, what are everyone's predictions as to what Sam Presti does?

Little to nothing. If I had to guess, the only major piece we have that's moving between now and 2018 is Enes Kanter.

Payne being injured really took the wind out of Presti's sails this year, because a package of him+Kanter was our best bargaining chip, but Payne is going to need to show some more over the next 30(+) games to build his trade value.

If anything happens, it will be Roberson for something.

As we rapidly approach the trade deadline, what are everyone's predictions as to what Sam Presti does?

I'm going to guess that Roberson gets moved with his contract coming up, but I have very little confidence in this prediction. In a perfect world, it's part of a deal for Wilson Chandler.

As we rapidly approach the trade deadline, what are everyone's predictions as to what Sam Presti does?

Agree with Laramie: Nothing. To trade implies you've got something to give up, and the best we've got to give up are sporting a cast and haven't escaped their post-injury...funk?

This has been a...challenging year for Thunder fans. Sadly. Every turn has been off a cliff.

This has been a...challenging year for Thunder fans. Sadly. Every turn has been off a cliff.

I've really enjoyed this team, this season has been a blast thus far, and I think the future looks good. Why the gloom?

great game

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Oklahoma City Thunder 116 - New York Knicks 105

Box score: http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400900251