2015-16 OKC Thunder

[KingGilbert]

If Green tears his ACL, so what. They're not going to beat Cleveland and J.R. Smith can play dirty and take that jackoff out plus he'll get to lift the trophy because LeBron turned his life around.

[White Peacock]

NBA has already failed to suspend him the last 3 games. No chance he gets it for that. Tinfoil hat mode, but the NBA seemed to truly want another GSW/CLE Finals.

Even the announcers creamed over them and downplayed the Thunder.

[KingGilbert]

Curry is gonna cry like a girl when Cleveland lifts the trophy

[Teo9969]

And they almost beat the greatest team of all time doing it, right? So, that's enough to usually win a title. But some years you need some luck.

However, the only time I felt like Russ/KD really got away from playing smart team ball was at the end of game 6. They played incredible team ball the last two rounds, but there's just no room for error with Golden State. I really am as optimistic about their play as I've been in a couple years. So, no, they don't do it "time and time again." They were great in this playoffs in getting their teammates involved.

Furthermore, sometimes you HAVE to go Hero ball. Hero Ball is the only reason Golden State won Game 6. Great as Iguodala's defense was, Klay hitting everything he threw up is what won them the game. that 30-footer over Westbrook would have gotten him crucified if he missed and OKC scored. It was TERRIBLE.

But he hit it, and was praised for it. The problem for Durant and Westbrook is that they couldn't close a game when they needed to. Not surprising considering KD's jump shot has been broken most of the post season. He at no point took over during this series. Every other star did.

You pay superstars and let them eat up a large percentage of your salary cap because they are supposed to do things that nobody else can do. And while KD did some of that, he just didn't do it at the rate he needed to.

[Thomas Vu]

The NBA is by far the most well documented rigged professional league in North America. Everyone remember all the referees being caught in the mid 2000s for bribes and rigged officiating? So, your tinfoil hats may not be tight enough if you ask me.

Anyway, wanted to throw this in here. According to ESPN (who I despise for a variety of reasons- but enough about me), their formulas rank KD as the 6th most popular athlete in the world right now, behind LBJ:

http://espn.go.com/espn/feature/stor...world-fame-100

Westy is at 48. These two are the image of OKC to the world.
And another, game 7 was the MOST WATCHED NBA game and PROGRAM EVER on TNT:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...er-on-cable-tv

Something something 9/11 patriots won #fixisin

[dankrutka]

The NBA is by far the most well documented rigged professional league in North America. Everyone remember all the referees being caught in the mid 2000s for bribes and rigged officiating? So, your tinfoil hats may not be tight enough if you ask me.

Lol. One ref -- Tim Donaghy -- was caught gambling. There was no widespread corruption or conspiracy. The NBA's track record is good compared to any other professional leagues. In fact, the NBA is probably the most transparent sports league there is. They literally release two minute reports after games criticizing their own officials.

[dankrutka]

Furthermore, sometimes you HAVE to go Hero ball. Hero Ball is the only reason Golden State won Game 6. Great as Iguodala's defense was, Klay hitting everything he threw up is what won them the game. that 30-footer over Westbrook would have gotten him crucified if he missed and OKC scored. It was TERRIBLE.

But he hit it, and was praised for it. The problem for Durant and Westbrook is that they couldn't close a game when they needed to. Not surprising considering KD's jump shot has been broken most of the post season. He at no point took over during this series. Every other star did.

You pay superstars and let them eat up a large percentage of your salary cap because they are supposed to do things that nobody else can do. And while KD did some of that, he just didn't do it at the rate he needed to.

We're using the term "hero ball" differently. To me, hero ball is when you abandon your offensive system to "take over" a game. At the end of game 6, Russ and KD abandoned the offense the Thunder had been running all game and series, held it to late in the shot clock, and took contested difficult shots. That is not at all what Klay and Steph did. While some of those shots were tough, they occurred within the flow of Golden State's offensive system.

I am not at all saying Russ and KD should not take contested shots as they're two of the best at it. But, they still have to do so within an offensive system.

Regarding your comments about KD, I disagree. He did take over offensively in numerous instances, including his 7-0 run to get the Thunder back in it before Ibaka's dumb foul. But what KD really did this series is take over defensively. He was amazing and easily the Thunder's best player. And I think he was the second best player in the series behind Klay.

[PhiAlpha]

We're using the term "hero ball" differently. To me, hero ball is when you abandon your offensive system to "take over" a game. At the end of game 6, Russ and KD abandoned the offense the Thunder had been running all game and series, held it to late in the shot clock, and took contested difficult shots. That is not at all what Klay and Steph did. While some of those shots were tough, they occurred within the flow of Golden State's offensive system.

I am not at all saying Russ and KD should not take contested shots as they're two of the best at it. But, they still have to do so within an offensive system.

Regarding your comments about KD, I disagree. He did take over offensively in numerous instances, including his 7-0 run to get the Thunder back in it before Ibaka's dumb foul. But what KD really did this series is take over defensively. He was amazing and easily the Thunder's best player. And I think he was the second best player in the series behind Klay.

Yeah KD really took over to close one game against the Spurs as well.

[TU 'cane]

Lol. One ref -- Tim Donaghy -- was caught gambling. There was no widespread corruption or conspiracy. The NBA's track record is good compared to any other professional leagues. In fact, the NBA is probably the most transparent sports league there is. They literally release two minute reports after games criticizing their own officials.

Donaghy stated multiple times that the mob controlled and controls more than we know and that their grip went past just him. Donaghy was the one caught and thus was the fall guy.

Hey, I'm just saying it was a big deal. Heck I didn't even start the conspiracy talk!

[dankrutka]

Donaghy stated multiple times that the mob controlled and controls more than we know and that their grip went past just him. Donaghy was the one caught and thus was the fall guy.

Hey, I'm just saying it was a big deal. Heck I didn't even start the conspiracy talk!

Wait, so we're supposed to trust the guy who was caught red-handed participating in illegal activities? Criminals always say it's bigger than them to divert attention, but there's not much evidence (at least that I've seen) to show there were widespread problems. Feel free to link to any credible sources saying otherwise as it's obviously been a while since I've read up on the topic though...

[Thomas Vu]

Last time I thought I read up on it, I thought I read something about Donaghy's mental state that would normally discredit anybody else's opinion.

[Bill Robertson]

The Mob, NBA officials, TV network moguls etc. are not hitting three pointers for the Slpash Brothers.

[Thomas Vu]

The Mob, NBA officials, TV network moguls etc. are not hitting three pointers for the Slpash Brothers.

Haha, I heard that same quote listening to a radio show yesterday on XM

[dankrutka]

The Mob, NBA officials, TV network moguls etc. are not hitting three pointers for the Slpash Brothers.

Exactly. Steph set the all-time NBA record for three pointers in a series against OKC. Klay would have set a new all time record in this series except Steph set it. But KD and Russ are just chokers. Lol.

[Bill Robertson]

Haha, I heard that same quote listening to a radio show yesterday on XM

Not where I got it. I don't have XM. LOL

[Anonymous.]

Exactly. Steph set the all-time NBA record for three pointers in a series against OKC. Klay would have set a new all time record in this series except Steph set it. But KD and Russ are just chokers. Lol.

While their three point shooting was absolutely insane. Everyone dogging on the people saying "OKC choked" are taking those people out of context.

The facts about Game 6 is yes: Thompson went absolutely crazy mode and kept GSW in the game. However, OKC still had a chance to take the win down the stretch, but with 3-4 poor possessions (KD and Russ) and some very ill-timed turnovers (KD and Russ) - yes it was a choke.

The Thunder had a chance to withstand the Klay Thompson storm, just like they did in game 4 (where he had 19 pts in the 3rd), and still win. But in game 6 the team forgot what got them there and were careless with the ball.

[dankrutka]

Yes, I agree. You could certainly say the Thunder choked down the stretch in game 6. KD and Russ went away from everything that had got them there. It was the one time in the Golden State series where the team really faltered IMHO. But saying that they choked in the series is to not give credit for their incredible series overall.

[Thomas Vu]

I projected it to be more exciting than the Finals, and I'm right so far.

[Anonymous.]

I projected it to be more exciting than the Finals, and I'm right so far.

Amazing that Thompson and Curry finally cool off for a game, and their bench comes out of nowhere and destroys CLE. I am beginning to think the only time this GSW squad has collectively had a bad game was against the Lakers in the regular season.

[Thomas Vu]

Amazing that Thompson and Curry finally cool off for a game, and their bench comes out of nowhere and destroys CLE. I am beginning to think the only time this GSW squad has collectively had a bad game was against the Lakers in the regular season.

They weren't great against the Pistons either.

[Anonymous.]

I have never seen this story before, but it was linked on reddit earlier.

It is about how KD drove behind an ambulance to get thru traffic faster, but the media and paramedics are somehow spinning it like he did something heroic. Very weird and doesn't even make sense.

http://kfor.com/2016/05/17/kevin-dur...al-paramedics/

These kinds of things make OKC look hilariously desperate to try and keep KD. Like really, this little goofy award and a spun story is going to keep him here, good job.

[Jake]

OKC should be desperate to try and keep KD.

[Jim Kyle]

It is about how KD drove behind an ambulance to get thru traffic faster, but the media and paramedics are somehow spinning it like he did something heroic.

If you actually read the report, his backing up cleared enough space that the ambulance had room to get around the traffic that was blocking its progress.

Quite often EMSA can get a call via radio, and the first thing surrounding drivers know about it is when the light bars begin to flash and the siren sounds. If the rig happens to be in rush-hour traffic at the time, with vehicles packed in close on all sides, then something like what KD did is indeed a great help, allowing many seconds to be shaved from the response time. It's fortunate that he had space behind his vehicle, but his action may have prompted other drivers to make more room also. I don't see anything underhanded in the report as published!

[jn1780]

Its too bad KingGilbert got banned. He can't tell us how great Cleveland is doing against Golden State.

[Zuplar]

This popped up on my feed earlier. Although the guy is clearly biased (he even states that), still has some interesting points about Presti that do make you wonder.

http://clnsradio.com/boston-celtics-...a-city-thunder