2015-16 OKC Thunder

[Anonymous.]

Ah, so that's why the Warriors rarely lost games this season.

Protect home court, boys. For once, I think the extra rest days will benefit us as we are pretty beat up. Adams and Westbrook definitely need some healing time.

[PhiAlpha]

That game... woof.

Though it does feel a lot better to be blown out after winning game one than it did to get blasted by the Spurs right out of the gate.

GSW was on tonight and we were really off in the second half. Have to play smarter in game three. No more early shot clock, long threes!!!!

[OkiePoke]

We had too many fundamental mistakes. Durant needs to take care of the ball better, way too many turnovers.

It was nice to see KD have a good shooting night though. Here is looking forward to game 3. HCA is hopefully going to help us.

Also, what has been going on with Ibaka as of late? Terrible D, not switching when he needs to, when he does, he is late, which allows easy layups.

[emtefury]

What is Ibaka doing shooting threes and on the perimeter? He should be not allowed to go 15 feet away from the basket. He should inside pounding away, blocking shots, shooting within 15 feet and grabbing rebounds. He needs to understand he is not Durant and never will be. He is hurting the team and the coach should bench him until he understands.

[Anonymous.]

You do understand that the coaching staff are the ones telling Ibaka to shoot from there, right? It was an actual plan to incorporate a legitimate 3 point shot into Ibaka's regimen.

Ibaka's problem is defense, he hasn't stopped jumping on a pumpfake since he entered the association. He has a lack of discipline and confidence.

I think what we are seeing (especially last night) is that with our starting lineup, the person guarding Roberson doesn't have to actually do that and can be used to clog the passing lanes or double KD/Russ. This is creating havoc with KD's passing and the ability to get the ball to an open man.

[AP]

Serge Ibaka's per game playoff numbers:

[dankrutka]

What is Ibaka doing shooting threes and on the perimeter? He should be not allowed to go 15 feet away from the basket. He should inside pounding away, blocking shots, shooting within 15 feet and grabbing rebounds. He needs to understand he is not Durant and never will be. He is hurting the team and the coach should bench him until he understands.

Ibaka is terrible in traffic. He's not a good post player or creator. When he's on the perimeter he stretches the defense, which creates open space for KD, Russ, and others to operate. Ibaka has been our best three point shooter in the playoffs. He just has to find a nice balance of stretching the floor and crashing the boards. But he needs to take open there's if they're there.

[AP]

For comparison. Kevin's per game playoff numbers:

[Laramie]

Ibaka's has a little more to go with his 3-point shooting as does Westbrook. Andre Roberson went to the Wizard of Oz, he now has some courage to shoot the three.

Regardless of whether or not we advance to the finals; Thunder's accomplishments this season should help keep Durant on a little longer.

All we need is one more solid piece (Harrison Barnes caliber) to complement what we have to really solidify the Thunder to make that championship run.

[dankrutka]

We haven't lost yet, Laramie.

[Richard at Remax]

Ibaka had limitless potential just a few years ago. Now, he literally looks Thunderstruck out there most of the time. It's amazing how someone can have so much talent to go along with terrible basketball IQ sometimes. He commits more cardinal sins (fouling 3point shooters, always getting caught in the air, ect) than anyone on the team.

[Laramie]

Inside Ibaka's brain...

[Urbanized]

You know who's terrible in traffic? Kevin Durant.

I talked about this with Dan via Twitter the other day, and I don't think we ever found the exact info I'm getting at, but KD is an absolute TO machine. I haven't been able to find a stat for possession minutes, but if you put a stopwatch on every player from the time he touches the ball til it leaves his hands, KD's TO numbers would be astronomical compared to Russ and to most star players in the league. I don't recall ever seeing a superstar player so careless with the rock.

[Laramie]

You know who's terrible in traffic? Kevin Durant.

I talked about this with Dan via Twitter the other day, and I don't think we ever found the exact info I'm getting at, but KD is an absolute TO machine. I haven't been able to find a stat for possession minutes, but if you put a stopwatch on every player from the time he touches the ball til it leaves his hands, KD's TO numbers would be astronomical compared to Russ and to most star players in the league. I don't recall ever seeing a superstar player so careless with the rock.

Good observation Urbanized,

He has got to limit his turnovers. Inside the paint traffic; K.D. doesn't possess the strength & conditioning it takes to hang onto the ball.

[dankrutka]

Yeah, KD has to limit his TOs. High usage players are going to turn it over, but Urbanized is right that KD's rate of TOs is too high. But I think read that 6 of his 8 TOs last game occurred when he shared the court with Roberson. So, some TOs might be the result of poor offensive spacing. Donovan may have to pull the plug on some or all of Roberson's minutes. Could Waiters and Foye absorb them? Or can the Thunder make an adjustment when Roberson is on the court? They need to do something...

[Jake]

The team needs another competent ball-handler.

[dankrutka]

The team needs another competent ball-handler.

Well, it has one in Payne, but he's just not ready for this postseason. I really think he'll take a big step next season and be a solid contributor.

[Urbanized]

Welp, "the best team in history" was just humiliated for a second time by the third seed in the West. I don't remember the '96 Bulls being beaten by 20 or 30 in the conference finals. Probably because they swept them.

I'll just leave this here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995...o_Bulls_season

[Jake]

They should hand out groin cups to the fans for the next game.

[dankrutka]

Another incredibly impressive performance by OKC... but it's still just one game. Game 4 is obviously a big one. It's very unlikely OKC gets another blowout. We'll see if they can grind one out in the next one. I'm looking forward to driving up for it.

[Laramie]

King of Thug Ball

Draymond Green

[OSUMom]

Adams isn't human.

Bill Simmons tweeted this:

"Steven Adams has 3 fractured vertebrae, a broken finger and two ruptured testicles - he's probable to return. Back to you Marv."

[Anonymous.]

Vegas is getting slaughtered by OKC this post-season.

[Thomas Vu]

Welp, "the best team in history" was just humiliated for a second time by the third seed in the West. I don't remember the '96 Bulls being beaten by 20 or 30 in the conference finals. Probably because they swept them.

I'll just leave this here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995...o_Bulls_season

If for nothing else, I learned that the 95 Magic weren't that good.

[Anonymous.]

I can't give enough props to Dion, he is balling hard on both ends. He feeds off of the energy of the team and crowd, and he is playing his role to absolute perfection. That drive and wrap-around-pass to Ibaka for the slam was a thing of beauty.