OKC Thunder 2013 - 2014

[OKCisOK4me]

Adams got 30 minutes last night, Perk got 16....Perk didn't score either.

If Adams sets picks like Perk is infamous for then the controversy will grow even larger...

[Laramie]

If Adams sets picks like Perk is infamous for then the controversy will grow even larger...

Keep hearing about Perkins setting a good pick. What does it take to set a pick?

My support for Perkins has been fading as his production on offense has been stagnant. He does yeoman work on defense. Adams is quickly learning how to challenge the opponent's offensive sets and picks. Steven knows how to catch and finish...

Steven Adams' development is ahead of Kendrick Perkins who has been with the Thunder since 2011.

Adams is tough; did you notice how that elbow he took from Vince Carter in the Mavericks' loss to the Thunder didn't appear to phase him(?):



Vince Carter has been suspended one game without pay for throwing an elbow to the head of Thunder center, Steven Adams.

[ThomPaine]

I have to admit, I am VERY pleasantly surprised by Adams' production up to this point. He always seemed to have decent body control he just always looked like he was a little slow or out of position (in college), but that has not been the case up to now.

As for Harden's defense, it was never any secret that D wasn't his strongest attribute on the court.

So far, in five games in the NBA, he's topped his career college highs:

Scored a career-high 16 points along with 10 rebounds against Bethune Cookman

From his NBA bio.

[Mel]

Our bench is starting to look pretty good. After the All Star Games we are going to have a serious run at the Championship.

[Teo9969]

If Lamb and Adams continue to make steady improvement in their own games throughout this season, coupled with a squad that is only going to gel more as the season goes on, then this team could be scary good. It looks as though Lamb, Reggie, and Adams all have the talent to start for a lot of teams in the NBA (to be sure, they all need some polishing).

I have a sort of nervous anticipation about this team. If they can really be as good as I think they can, then this is potentially a squad that could be as good as anything we ever envisioned with Harden, and a squad that is far more sustainable with a lot less drama than this team would have been with Harden.

Something to keep in mind, Serge and Sefolosha have both struggled early in this season and they will get locked in at some point…so we still haven't seen anything close to the best OKC has to offer.

All that being said…it's easy to be excited about the potential with new offensive pieces in the mix, but it really won't matter if these guys don't commit to the defensive side of the ball. Adams, Lamb, and Reggie all need to focus heavily on their defense…because if that doesn't develop then their offensive contributions aren't going to matter in May and hopefully June.

[ljbab728]

I agree. I not giddy with excitement but I see reasons to be very optimistic.

[Praedura]

Wizards later tonight.

I would say easy win, except.... the Wizards are a little bit better this year, and we have a habit the last couple of seasons of not playing well against them.

Anyway, I'm still looking to improve to 5-1 after this game.

[Praedura]

Oh, and the OKC ballet is totally pumped as well:

[Laramie]

Some highlights of Steven Adams development in such a short time:



Forgive me, for saying this: "Perkins' development remains the same; it's like a mosquito pushing a train."

Adams has progressed toward a stature of a herculean profile rookie center who has barely tapped his potential. Let's hope he continues to develop and improve surrounded by the Thunder's seasoned gym rats like Collison, Durant, Jacksoon, Sefolosha & Westbrook.

Really don't want to get too excited because the season is still young. Presti appears to be a real genius with his draft picks. The 12th pick of the 2013 NBA Draft (Steven Adams) could become a real gem. Many of us posters were skeptical of this Pitt freshman who could have followed the channel of Byron Mullens and Cole Aldrich.

[Laramie]

The greatest challenge for successful small market franchises in NBA is to look at the Utah Jazz:

They were not able to hold on to some impact players:

Deron Williams
Andrei Kirilenke
Kyle Korver
C. J. Miles
Devin Harris
Paul Millsap

The Utah Jazz have lost their first seven games including a home opener to the Thunder. Presti will continue to build this team through the draft with an ever recurring eye on some potential trades.

The big markets like New York,Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Boston & Philadelphia will be coming after this young man (Adams).

Now is the time to win some NBA championship and mirror the small market San Antonio Spurs as this young Thunder team does get back into the conversation among NBA championship caliber teams.



Let's Go Thunder! O-K-C, O-K-C...

[Mel]

Referee explains new delay of game rule enforcement | ProBasketballTalk I still do not like this new rule.

[adaniel]

Steven Adams' development is ahead of Kendrick Perkins who has been with the Thunder since 2011.

Adams is tough; did you notice how that elbow he took from Vince Carter in the Mavericks' loss to the Thunder didn't appear to phase him(?):

Doesn't surprise me. Kid is half Maori (Pacific Islander) and played rugby through his youth. He's one tough SOB.

[Mel]

Wowza! What a squeaker.

[Pete]

Yep, we were way behind late in that game and managed to pull it out in OT.

Great win!!

[Laramie]

Presto!

Thunder pulls a rabbit from the hat. Outstanding determination by our

[OKCisOK4me]

Referee explains new delay of game rule enforcement | ProBasketballTalk I still do not like this new rule.

Agreed. Let's blow the whistle to give a "warning" to the players that if they do it again that there will be a technical and free throw...which delays the game even longer. Stupid!

[Teo9969]

I think it's less meant to be about Delay of Game and more like impeding the progress of the game. If you touch it as a team who just made a basket and the touching in anyway makes it such that your team can get back more easily than they otherwise would, then that's when I see the call being made.

It will lessen as the season goes on, so it's really not worth worrying about. But when things like the Westbrook one happen, they really ought to let it slide. If the ball finds them, you can't really do much about that.

[OSUMom]

I think it's less meant to be about Delay of Game and more like impeding the progress of the game. If you touch it as a team who just made a basket and the touching in anyway makes it such that your team can get back more easily than they otherwise would, then that's when I see the call being made.

It will lessen as the season goes on, so it's really not worth worrying about. But when things like the Westbrook one happen, they really ought to let it slide. If the ball finds them, you can't really do much about that.

The funny thing is, if the ball hits you, your only recourse is to lift your hands and show you aren't intentionally touching the ball. But what happens is you still hit the ball, but you do nothing to get it back to the ref or the other team faster. Therefore doing the very delay the rule is against.

[Laramie]

Westbrook incident with Nene:

Nene has taken his game to a new level; one of intimidation and bullying. Westbrook apparently had enougn of Nene's nonsense.



This backfired on the Washington Wizards. It was after this incident in which the Thunder clawed its way back into the game with an eventual win in overtime.

[OKCisOK4me]

Yeah it definitely worked in favor of OKC. I thought it was the catalyst of our come back. That and the seconds ticking off the game clock!

[Praedura]

Notice how Harrington basically grabs Westbrook's leg, causing him to lose his balance. Nene then seals the deal by coming over and pushing him down. It's like a damn tag team.

Then afterward, Nene and Harrington are smiling/laughing and head slapping each other. "Good job, bro... we took him down!"

And if that wasn't enough, Ariza then has to walk over and talk some trash to Russell.

PUNKS

Here's to hoping that the Wizards remain the cellar dwellers this season that they so richly deserve to be.

[OKCisOK4me]

Notice how Harrington basically grabs Westbrook's leg, causing him to lose his balance. Nene then seals the deal by coming over and pushing him down. It's like a damn tag team.

Then afterward, Nene and Harrington are smiling/laughing and head slapping each other. "Good job, bro... we took him down!"

And if that wasn't enough, Ariza then has to walk over and talk some trash to Russell.

PUNKS

Here's to hoping that the Wizards remain the cellar dwellers this season that they so richly deserve to be.

This post is going to prove I'm not a homer. If you saw the replay, Harrington is down on the ground with Westbrook standing over him. An opposing team member is not suppose to stand over a player when that player is down. Had the situation been reversed, we'd all be pissed if it were KD on the ground and, say, Artest, was violating his personal space. I saw Harrington raise his arm up trying to assess what the ref was going to call. Initially, I thought he was giving Westbrook a love tap to the crotch, but alas, I think he was just wondering why they weren't calling Westbrook for standing over him. That's when Nene came in--who virtually bugs the crap out of everyone (even when he was with the Nuggets)--and got involved. Westbrook snapped (like he did that one time on the bench with his baby fit all hitting the bench chairs and whining about who knows what) and shoved Nene, which thankfully, Ibaka stepped in and backed him up (to halfcourt) away from the situation. Nene scoffed at the double ejection because, yes, as a PUNK, he was happy that he got Westbrook out of the game. Thankfully, our team stepped up and I found it more of a catalyst to our victory than a speed bump.

Unfortunately, this was the Wizards and there are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better teams that we need to be focused on which means that Westbrook, AS A LEADER, needs to carry himself with more composure and class on the court. His emotion gets in the way sometimes and it will lose a game for us one of these days. That game could also be one that we can't ill afford to lose.

[Praedura]

This post is going to prove I'm not a homer. If you saw the replay, Harrington is down on the ground with Westbrook standing over him. An opposing team member is not suppose to stand over a player when that player is down. Had the situation been reversed, we'd all be pissed if it were KD on the ground and, say, Artest, was violating his personal space. I saw Harrington raise his arm up trying to assess what the ref was going to call. Initially, I thought he was giving Westbrook a love tap to the crotch, but alas, I think he was just wondering why they weren't calling Westbrook for standing over him. That's when Nene came in--who virtually bugs the crap out of everyone (even when he was with the Nuggets)--and got involved. Westbrook snapped (like he did that one time on the bench with his baby fit all hitting the bench chairs and whining about who knows what) and shoved Nene, which thankfully, Ibaka stepped in and backed him up (to halfcourt) away from the situation. Nene scoffed at the double ejection because, yes, as a PUNK, he was happy that he got Westbrook out of the game. Thankfully, our team stepped up and I found it more of a catalyst to our victory than a speed bump.

Unfortunately, this was the Wizards and there are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better teams that we need to be focused on which means that Westbrook, AS A LEADER, needs to carry himself with more composure and class on the court. His emotion gets in the way sometimes and it will lose a game for us one of these days. That game could also be one that we can't ill afford to lose.

"Harrington is down on the ground with Westbrook standing over him. An opposing team member is not suppose to stand over a player when that player is down."

Absolutely nothing Westbrook could do about the initial positioning. That's just where they both landed when the play ended. Russell IMMEDIATELY tried to step over and away from Harrington but couldn't because HARRINGTON GRABBED WESTBROOK'S LEG AND HELD ON. Had he not done that, Russell would have been away from him in one second. But he couldn't because he was being held. Which also caused him to lose balance and allowed Nene to come over and push him down.

That could have been an injury right there. Russell could have twisted an ankle or even landed wrong and injured a knee. Not cool.

You're glad that the team used this to fire themselves up and win the game? So am I. But it might not have happened that way. Russell might have been injured, been out again for weeks or even months, and the game lost anyway. How does that scenario grab you?

[Just the facts]

You can't blame Westbrook for not falling down. If he had been Harden he could have flopped into the second row.

[Bellaboo]

This post is going to prove I'm not a homer. If you saw the replay, Harrington is down on the ground with Westbrook standing over him. An opposing team member is not suppose to stand over a player when that player is down. Had the situation been reversed, we'd all be pissed if it were KD on the ground and, say, Artest, was violating his personal space. I saw Harrington raise his arm up trying to assess what the ref was going to call. Initially, I thought he was giving Westbrook a love tap to the crotch, but alas, I think he was just wondering why they weren't calling Westbrook for standing over him. That's when Nene came in--who virtually bugs the crap out of everyone (even when he was with the Nuggets)--and got involved. Westbrook snapped (like he did that one time on the bench with his baby fit all hitting the bench chairs and whining about who knows what) and shoved Nene, which thankfully, Ibaka stepped in and backed him up (to halfcourt) away from the situation. Nene scoffed at the double ejection because, yes, as a PUNK, he was happy that he got Westbrook out of the game. Thankfully, our team stepped up and I found it more of a catalyst to our victory than a speed bump.

Unfortunately, this was the Wizards and there are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better teams that we need to be focused on which means that Westbrook, AS A LEADER, needs to carry himself with more composure and class on the court. His emotion gets in the way sometimes and it will lose a game for us one of these days. That game could also be one that we can't ill afford to lose.

Nene got involved by pushing Westbrook first. It's very common for players who get tangled up to stop and separate. In my eyes, after seeing Nene laugh about it, I think he should get a fine for player endangerment. That's how my homer eye saw it.....