OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[catcherinthewry]

But with how the Thunder are playing on offense, It seems that Scott Brooks is just an average coach.

When did Brooks improve to average?

[Laramie]

Really don't feel that Scott Brooks is the problem. Sure, it appears he botched some decisions that could have given us a better chance of winning a few of those close games; many teams would take a direct hit w/o their team's two top scorers; who were also among the NBA's top ten scorers were sidelined.

It takes time to bring in players and build the continuity that's going to take them to the next level. I understand all this 'hoopla' about the Thunder's excuses. We survived the Westbrook injury debacle last season; there just wasn't enough fire power to overcome that long term.

Mitch McGary, a promising piece goes down; Perry Jones steps up his game and goes down. Once we get injured players back--should we make the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed, the two top seeds in the Western Conference are going to have their hands full. Last season, the series with L. A. Clippers took its toll when Ibaka went down right before the W. C. finals against San Antonio.

Truly believe that Scott Brooks' coaching style fits the Thunder. When you have a situation where a coach makes $2 to $15 million less than many of his key players, the young players today are not going to put up with that 'in-your-face' old school screaming coach like Popovich whose players are acclimated to his coaching style.

[catcherinthewry]

Brooks has done a great job of getting the most out of a piece-meal roster this year. The Thunder were in almost every game this year even many of those that they shouldn't have been if you just looked at the match up on paper. He got this team to play hard and to play good team defense and even though they've only won four games I can't really fault Brooks on the bad record. Any team would struggle if they lost 50% of their offensive production.

That being said, during the play-offs every team plays hard and turns up the D. That's where Brooks' unimaginative offense and lack of in game adjustments hurts this team. Any current coach in the NBA could get a team this talented to the play-offs, I want one that can win us a championship.

[Bellaboo]

Westbrook is playing tonight.

And about Brooks, the last time I looked, he didn't break any bones in any players bodies..... any team will struggle with this many players in and out.

[Jake]

Westbrook is playing tonight.

And about Brooks, the last time I looked, he didn't break any bones in any players bodies..... any team will struggle with this many players in and out.

Good point. I don't think Brooks is a genius of coaching by any means, but not having your best two players and having Lance Thomas get serious playing time will hurt any team.

[ljbab728]

Well with Russ probably done for the night with over 30 points and over a 30 point lead for the Thunder with 5 minutes left in the game, I think we can safely say he hasn't lost anything during his time off. Welcome back and now it's time for the other teams to start worrying again.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder 105 . . . New York Knicks 78


Return of Russell Westbrook & Grant Jerrett

A taste of Thunder, a prelude of things to come...

Perry Jones III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kevin Durant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . & Mitch McGary

[ljbab728]

An interesting perspective by ESPN.

NBA: Russell Westbrook provides immediate uplift - ESPN

It wasn't just Westbrook making a clear public proclamation that he's back, but it was more about the refreshed energy in the arena. The feel was different. The team was reborn. In a lot of ways, this felt like opening night for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the first game of an all-new season.
Westbrook made it pretty clear he is back, and the Thunder might just be as well.

[dankrutka]

If we can get past the Pellies in NOLA then we have a few very winnable games coming up. We could conceivably, *knock on wood*, be on a 6 game winning streak and up to 9-12 going into the Cavs game. That would be awesome, but that New Orleans game is the toughest one.

[Laramie]

If we can get past the Pellies in NOLA then we have a few very winnable games coming up. We could conceivably, *knock on wood*, be on a 6 game winning streak and up to 9-12 going into the Cavs game. That would be awesome, but that New Orleans game is the toughest one.

Hate to get excited but we could eclipse .500 when we meet the Kings in SacTown on December 16.

[dankrutka]

Hate to get excited but we could eclipse .500 when we meet the Kings in SacTown on December 16.

Wait. Would we have to undefeated to do that?!? We need to take a step back. We might not win on Tuesday. 😉

It would be ideal to get a big winning streak going right off the bat against this weak schedule though...

[Laramie]

Wait. Would we have to undefeated to do that?!? We need to take a step back. We might not win on Tuesday. ��

It would be ideal to get a big winning streak going right off the bat against this weak schedule though...

Why not?

If we can have a 6 game losing streak; surely we can begin a 7-12 game winning streak. We've been playing with back-ups since Russell went out. New Orleans are losing right now (3 game losing streak) with Omer Asik & Erick Gordon on the injury list; we owe Detroit. Thunder will pick up steam as the time nears for Durant to return.

Westbrook was at his best, a real beast on the court.

[Teo9969]

We'll see how things go, but all will be okay. Remember, though we're 5 - 12, It is very likely that Durant will have been out for a full 1/4 of the season and that Westbrook has had a good portion of the last 24 months off. These guys have very fresh legs to go along with players who have become accustomed to larger work loads and will now be able to focus more in less time as Durant and Westbrook will consume 50 - 70 minutes combined every game.

OKC will still have a few WTF losses this season, just like every NBA team does, but I think it's very reasonable to think that OKC could be at the 8-seed spot by the end of January.

[dankrutka]

Why not?

If we can have a 6 game losing streak; surely we can begin a 7-12 game winning streak. We've been playing with back-ups since Russell went out. New Orleans are losing right now (3 game losing streak) with Omer Asik & Erick Gordon on the injury list; we owe Detroit. Thunder will pick up steam as the time nears for Durant to return.

Westbrook was at his best, a real beast on the court.

The longest winning streak in OKC history is 12. I'd love to think our guys will come back and be better than they've ever been, but I'm trying to be pragmatic about it. We're still not sure whether KD is playing against the Pellies. But... I sure hope you're right. A quick winning streak would take a ton of pressure off the team.

The good news is the Suns are sitting in that 8th spot at only 10-8. All we have to do is get in...

[Bellaboo]

It wouldn't surprise me to see Durant start tomorrow at NOLA. I'm sure he's on limited minutes, but the report from todays practice is that he fully participated and looked good. Hope he's ready.

[dankrutka]

Hey, Thunderheads. I wanted to give a belated #SmallBusinessSaturday shout out to OKCTalk poster, and my buddy, John Knight's t-shirt company. He sells a Thunder tanks, shirts, & sweaters among other things: MENT Apparel He'd never post this himself so I thought I'd drop it here. Anyway, back to healing prayers for Kevin Durant...

[Laramie]

Doubt if you will see Durant in tonight's lineup against the Pelicans. Durant will make his debut against Milwaukee, December 9.

[Mississippi Blues]

Doubt if you will see Durant in tonight's lineup against the Pelicans. Durant will make his debut against Milwaukee, December 9.

All media reports indicate Durant will be back tonight against the Pelicans. Royce Young tweeted about 30 minutes ago that Durant is back and quoted Scott Brooks as saying that he will play around 30 minutes.

[Bellaboo]

Doubt if you will see Durant in tonight's lineup against the Pelicans. Durant will make his debut against Milwaukee, December 9.

Just announced - KD is playing tonight ! He is on a 30 minute restriction for this first game though.

[ljbab728]

Kevin Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder to return from fractured foot vs. New Orleans Pelicans - ESPN

[Throckmorton]

Is Coach Brooks aware that OKCTalk's resident basketball expert Laramie has already said that Durant wouldn't be returning for another week?

[dankrutka]

Here we go! Also, McGary looks like he is available tonight too. Good chance he doesn't play right off the bat though.

We seem to be in a good spot as both Westbrook and KD came back on the earlier sides of their timetables AND there only look to be 7 really good teams in the West right now. It's important that the Suns (only 10-8 with a bad loss at home) and Pelicans (7-8) haven't stepped up as this can really take some pressure off the team (Although Denver is really playing well right now having won 6 of their last 7 to get to 9-8). Anyway, If the Thunder can get a nice winning streak early then they can just solidify that playoff spot and everything after that is gravy.

[Laramie]

Remove this doubt...

Durant & McGary in uniform & line-up tonight, Great!

[dankrutka]

Actually, McGary was a late scratch.

Down by almost 20 at the half to a mediocre Pelicans team (although Anthony Davis might be the 3rd best player in the NBA already... definitely the best player so far tonight). That's why we can't just start talking about 10-20 game winning streaks. Let's hope we've got an amazing comeback ready for the second half...

[Jake]

Losing to the Pelicans would be the most "Thunder" thing the Thunder could do right now.