2015-16 OKC Thunder

[Pete]

Not a bad start for a first-time NBA coach.

That was a fun one to watch and as usual, the Thunder showed a lot of scrappiness.

[Urbanized]

What encouraged me was getting a win against a scary-deep championship-caliber team despite Leonard having a career night and KD's off night shooting. The Thunder obviously wasn't close to hitting on all cylinders yet - and no question the game was a close one - but they did an excellent job of closing it out. Feeling pretty good about the season at this point.

[okatty]

I guess we shouldn't fail to mention Waiters and Kanter. Huge shots by DW down the stretch and Kanter was a monster on the boards - big double double for him in 24 minutes.

Some interesting things in my view to watch as things progress - Collison minutes and in that regard how does McGary factor in. Billy D has a challenge in terms of how he divvies up the minutes on this team. Also, Waiters was on the floor at crunch time and it sure paid off - there had been some speculation of how much he'd play but looks like Coach D thinks he can get it done. And he did last night!

[Anonymous.]

Waiters with those two clutch shots was really fun. You could see and hear the astonishment in the crowd on both of those.

[Richard at Remax]

One thing I did like was down the stretch they didn't seem to panic like they used to. Everyone was calm and collected.

Unfortunately, for some players Donovan doesn't look like a "everyone is going to get their minutes" kind of coach. Seemed last night to put players in because of matchups and hot hands, which was nice to see.

[Anonymous.]

One thing I did like was down the stretch they didn't seem to panic like they used to. Everyone was calm and collected.

Unfortunately, for some players Donovan doesn't look like a "everyone is going to get their minutes" kind of coach. Seemed last night to put players in because of matchups and hot hands, which was nice to see.

Yep, with Brooks, Durant easily would have been checked in for a solid 38-40 min. He played just 35 in a game that was essentially constantly tied.

[sooner88]

One thing I did like was down the stretch they didn't seem to panic like they used to. Everyone was calm and collected.

Unfortunately, for some players Donovan doesn't look like a "everyone is going to get their minutes" kind of coach. Seemed last night to put players in because of matchups and hot hands, which was nice to see.

Augustin played up until the 7-8 min mark in the 4Q with Westbrook on the bench, and continued for another minute or so with Westbrook at the 2. That is something that we never would have seen before. Being able to keep the game close with our second team and allowing our starters to close out the game fresh is going to be huge.

[Laramie]

Really impressed with the way the Thunder stayed in the game despite the super play of Leonard; especially the defensive blocks by Diaw, Duncan & Leonard.

Dion Waiters & Westbrook kept the Spurs on their heels; the weapons the Thunder threw at San Antonio confused their defense.

Durant & Ibaka looked a bit rusty. They (Spurs) put the squeeze on K.D. on many occasions as they kept him boxed all night.

Donovan's strength was his ability to adjust to the match-ups in response to the surge Popovich made. Consider the additions to the Spurs this season (Aldridge & West), San Antonio will be a beast if Pops can get them to mesh together.

Popovich, there may be a new sheriff in town.

[gopokes88]

What encouraged me was getting a win against a scary-deep championship-caliber team despite Leonard having a career night and KD's off night shooting. The Thunder obviously wasn't close to hitting on all cylinders yet - and no question the game was a close one - but they did an excellent job of closing it out. Feeling pretty good about the season at this point.

I dk if that was a career night for Leonard. He's a legit super star.

[AP]

It was. 32 is his career high

[gopokes88]

Let's not forgot we committed 19 turnovers last night, still beat the Spurs. This team is insanely deep.

[gopokes88]

It was. 32 is his career high

Fair enough, but I expect him to continue to put up mid 20s with his elite defense the rest of the year. I thought urbanized meant it more abstractly like that was a career night he normally won't be that good. Leonard will be that good this year, he's incredible.

[dankrutka]

Fair enough, but I expect him to continue to put up mid 20s with his elite defense the rest of the year. I thought urbanized meant it more abstractly like that was a career night he normally won't be that good. Leonard will be that good this year, he's incredible.

Kawhi Leonard is a fantastic player, but he averages 12 points on his career and averaged a career high of 16 last season. If Leonard averages in the 20s then he is a legit MVP candidate. While he's shown flashes of offensive potential (including in the NBA Finals), I think his offense was a bit of a surprise last night. He looked really, really good. I really hope it's an aberation because if Leonard is that good offensively, then that's not good for the Thunder.

[gopokes88]

Kawhi Leonard is a fantastic player, but he averages 12 points on his career and averaged a career high of 16 last season. If Leonard averages in the 20s then he is a legit MVP candidate. While he's shown flashes of offensive potential (including in the NBA Finals), I think his offense was a bit of a surprise last night. He looked really, really good. I really hope it's an aberation because if Leonard is that good offensively, then that's not good for the Thunder.

It's not an aberration in my opinion. He's going to be that good. I just don't think it's going to be enough for the spurs. We committed 19 turnovers last night, what if that was 12 like normal? Oh and they still have 0 answer for RW, unless they stick Leonard on him but that frees up KD. Having any combo of Ibaka, Roberson, Adams out on the floor defensively really disrupts the spurs offense. This thunder team is very very very good, Billy D gives them an edge in coaching, and at worst brings us to equal.

This team could win 67 games if they are healthy all season.

If you think I'm excited, this is from Grantland.

"
I’m so happy all the best pieces of the Thunder are healthy.

Their team is ****ing wonderful to watch and talk about and think about.

I can’t wait to watch the Spurs and Thunder play in the Western Conference finals.

It’s going to be so great.

And significant and important.

Because if the Thunder win, they’re going to win a championship and stay together (and best-case scenario, possibly become the new Spurs).

And if they lose, the team is going to explode its guts all over the NBA (and become the current Clippers)."

NBA Shootaround: And So It Begins «

[Laramie]

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - October 28, 2015 - ESPN

[okatty]

Kawhi Leonard is a fantastic player, but he averages 12 points on his career and averaged a career high of 16 last season. If Leonard averages in the 20s then he is a legit MVP candidate. While he's shown flashes of offensive potential (including in the NBA Finals), I think his offense was a bit of a surprise last night. He looked really, really good. I really hope it's an aberation because if Leonard is that good offensively, then that's not good for the Thunder.

I have a feeling the teams we watched last night are two of the elite teams in the league assuming they stay healthy. Both teams seem pretty loaded. Green had a bad night last night - normally he kills the Thunder (2-9 and 0-5 from three). KD wasn't MVP caliber KD. But with both teams it seems they are so deep and have very few weaknesses. Based on Game 1 of 82 (HA)! We might recall last year we had Lance Thomas, Ish Smith, Perry Jones, Jeremy Lamb on the floor at various crucial times which didn't always go so well.

[bradh]

I thoroughly enjoyed hearing actual coaching in the huddle from Donovan last night as opposed to just screaming "play hard!" Or "rebound!" At guys.

[Richard at Remax]

Its worth noting again that the line situations are ridiculous. We passed both north entrances on our way to the SW entrance and it was a cluster. I understand its better to be safe than sorry, but there has never been an incident here (at least not reported) of any crimes with any weapon that would set off a metal detector. I don't even recall any issues league wide.

Its somewhat tolerable now since the weather isn't bad, but when I gets really cold it could get ugly. Last thing you want is 18,000 grumpy fans coming inside a building and not wanting to buy merchandise or food/beverage

[sooner88]

Its worth noting again that the line situations are ridiculous. We passed both north entrances on our way to the SW entrance and it was a cluster. I understand its better to be safe than sorry, but there has never been an incident here (at least not reported) of any crimes with any weapon that would set off a metal detector. I don't even recall any issues league wide.

Its somewhat tolerable now since the weather isn't bad, but when I gets really cold it could get ugly. Last thing you want is 18,000 grumpy fans coming inside a building and not wanting to buy merchandise or food/beverage

We got to the SW corner about 35 minutes prior to tipoff and we waited 10 minutes tops. It was a very smooth process and while it is a little annoying, we were all expecting much worse based off of preseason reports.

[okatty]

Its worth noting again that the line situations are ridiculous. We passed both north entrances on our way to the SW entrance and it was a cluster. I understand its better to be safe than sorry, but there has never been an incident here (at least not reported) of any crimes with any weapon that would set off a metal detector. I don't even recall any issues league wide.

Its somewhat tolerable now since the weather isn't bad, but when I gets really cold it could get ugly. Last thing you want is 18,000 grumpy fans coming inside a building and not wanting to buy merchandise or food/beverage

I understand this is an NBA league wide deal required at all arenas this season so not just OKC. I had club seats for SA game so used the far East entrance along the middle of the arena by the hotel parking and were maybe 10 people in line there about 630. But the lines to the main entrances looked pretty dang long. Glad to hear Sooner88 report of only 10 minutes. That is tolerable.

[Bellaboo]

I understand this is an NBA league wide deal required at all arenas this season so not just OKC. I had club seats for SA game so used the far East entrance along the middle of the arena by the hotel parking and were maybe 10 people in line there about 630. But the lines to the main entrances looked pretty dang long. Glad to hear Sooner88 report of only 10 minutes. That is tolerable.

My season tickets are in club level so I use the west entrance. I got there at a quarter after 6 and it took about 10 to 12 minutes. I was in line outside for the majority of that time. The holdup was people getting through the detectors but I think with this first experience over it should go faster. I did notice they removed all the detectors when leaving the building.

[okatty]

My season tickets are in club level so I use the west entrance. I got there at a quarter after 6 and it took about 10 to 12 minutes. I was in line outside for the majority of that time. The holdup was people getting through the detectors but I think with this first experience over it should go faster. I did notice they removed all the detectors when leaving the building.

Try that far East entrance next time with your club tickets and see what you think. I was glad we walked a little extra to get over there!

[Richard at Remax]

I will say that we were in line at around 620. might just wait longer to walk over there

[sooner88]

I will say the line looked really long at the SW entrance when we got there... it was already going down the ramp, but it went by as fast as possible.

[sooner88]

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