****Official 2012/2013 Oklahoma City Thunder Basketball Thread****

[Praedura]

Heads Up, America: Kevin Durant Is Having One of the Greatest Offensive Seasons Ever - The Triangle Blog - Grantland

Major love for KD and the Thunder.

Article quote:

...they are on pace to finish as one of the greatest offenses in modern NBA history

Oy! Such positive coverage. Probably means we're about to drop a couple of games.

Or maybe not.

[Teo9969]

These numbers are ridiculous. You can't play KD and Russ that many minutes. You'll wear them out.

Ok, I did say "these will fluctuate a lot". But when push comes to shove, minutes will look like that. It's not likely push will come to shove in the first round and depending on the matchup, possibly not frequently in the second. If Liggins plays himself.

So let me rephrase I bet we stick with Reggie, and I bet he averages 4 to 8 minutes of game time in any series where we do not play 2 bigs for major stretches (So if we play Memphis, he probably averages 2 to 4). He'll play as often as much as Cook did (averaged 6.8 minutes in the playoffs).

This also depends on how well Liggins develops over the second half of the season.

I think Brooks is (getting) comfortable enough with his combinations of the core roster (Starters + Martin/Collison) that we'll get to see a lot more use of Jackson/Maynor, Thabeet, Liggins, and maybe even some Jackson and Lamb. I'll probably revise these numbers, but I'd wager that there will be no trades made that are made for this season alone. If we make any trades, they are for mid to long term pieces. (We may trade Maynor for like a future 2nd round pick to clear cap space if we're bringing in a vet point guard for the minimum). Presti will not go into the luxury tax this season.

[ljbab728]

Only 52 for KD tonight. A new career high while the Thunder nip Dallas in overnight. They have now won 5 of their 6 road games in January with four more left in what was supposed to be a challenging month.

[Teo9969]

Is it just me or every time OKC plays DAL/SAS/MIA do they not revert to their 2011/2012 offense? Seems like tonight we slipped into that KD/RW offense with very little regard for KMart or Ibaka down the stretch. Obviously we want the ball in KD/RW's hands, but to essentially ignore the other 3 players on the court, though we really have that luxury when Russ is shooting well, is not the ideal situation to have for an entire 15 minutes of play. For the last 2 maybe 3 minutes sure...but way back at the 8 minute mark, I feel like it's important to keep especially Ibaka involved. KMart, if he is shooting well, is a great kick out option. But if KD/RW ignore Ibaka then they're just making their own job harder as the defense can be lax with Ibaka.

[ljbab728]

Could be, but all that counts in the NBA is a win and that's what they got.

[dankrutka]

Could be, but all that counts in the NBA is a win and that's what they got.

I disagree. The team needs good habits for the playoffs. That's all that really matters for this team.

[OKCisOK4me]

I've seen them pass the ball a 1,000 more times this year than all of last season. That's a marked improvement!

[Teo9969]

I've seen them pass the ball a 1,000 more times this year than all of last season. That's a marked improvement!

I've seen marked improvement too, but if what else I'm seeing is indeed true, that's cause for concern. It's one thing to have great ball movement against Sacramento and Orlando...it's another thing to move the ball and still be effective against teams with good defense and against teams that know your tendencies. We've played Dallas 15 times in the last 21 months. We've played SAS a lot, We've played MIA a lot.

If we decide when we play familiar teams that we're going back to our iso offense, then I think we'll struggle to make it to the WCF. That offense is not dependable for 20 minutes without James Harden. We have to move the ball in the 4th quarter.

In the 4th everyone not named Westbrook and Durant combined for 5 total shots out of 19. Durant counted for 11 of those shots and made 2 of them, only 1 in the final 6 minutes.

Now, I'm not saying that I want to see the ball in someone else's hands, and I'm not saying that I want Durant or Westbrook deferring to anyone else (and I'd prefer RW defer to KD)...but they HAVE to make use of Ibaka and Martin on occasion, in close games against good competition so that the threat is there: Double team Durant at the peril of an Ibaka dunk or a wide-open Martin 3.

[OKCisOK4me]

James Harden played worse and worse the farther we got into the playoffs...

[ljbab728]

I disagree. The team needs good habits for the playoffs. That's all that really matters for this team.

And you totally missed my point. I absolutely was not saying that how they play doesn't matter, I was saying that how they play means nothing in the standings. This isn't a beauty contest like college football.

[MDot]

Anyway, the Thunder are doing good this year no matter how many things they can change. It's never enough, but they're a pretty darn good team.

[ljbab728]

You're right, MDot. As much as we like to complain, they are winning close games now that they would have lost a couple of years ago. Of course there are things they can do better but they will never be a perfect team just as no other team in the NBA will ever be perfect.

[Just the facts]

Anyway, the Thunder are doing good this year no matter how many things they can change. It's never enough, but they're a pretty darn good team.

I agree 100%. They have the best record in the league and they are better than last years team which went to the finals. If that gets translated into 'crappy bench play", then bring on more crappy bench play.

[dankrutka]

I agree 100%. They have the best record in the league and they are better than last years team which went to the finals. If that gets translated into 'crappy bench play", then bring on more crappy bench play.

I think you all are missing my point. I am very appreciative of the success we're having. I don't take it for granted and I always remember how lucky we are to have a contender. Some cities (e.g., Milwaukee, Toronto) haven't had a serious contender for 20 years.

Having said that, I critique the team based on the hopes we can win a championship. The margin of error for title teams is tiny. A bad bench can lose you a series. Miami's bench completely outplayed ours last year and it was a huge reason they won a title and we didn't. Right now our bench only has 2 players (Martin, Collison) I'm comfortable getting playoff minutes. Some of these young guys need to improve, especially the guards, or the Thunder should make a move.

The playoffs are NOT the same as the regular season. Saying we're better than last year is very premature. This team will be judged by what it does in the playoffs... Overall improvement/development is just as important as our record. We still need to improve in some areas to solidify our chances. That's why I am both very happy with team, but also concerned about our weaknesses.

[Jake]

Good teams can always get better.

Having another solid bench piece couldn't hurt.

[Teo9969]

I think you all are missing my point. I am very appreciative of the success we're having. I don't take it for granted and I always remember how lucky we are to have a contender. Some cities (e.g., Milwaukee, Toronto) haven't had a serious contender for 20 years.

Having said that, I critique the team based on the hopes we can win a championship. The margin of error for title teams is tiny. A bad bench can lose you a series. Miami's bench completely outplayed ours last year and it was a huge reason they won a title and we didn't. Right now our bench only has 2 players (Martin, Collison) I'm comfortable getting playoff minutes. Some of these young guys need to improve, especially the guards, or the Thunder should make a move.

The playoffs are NOT the same as the regular season. Saying we're better than last year is very premature. This team will be judged by what it does in the playoffs... Overall improvement/development is just as important as our record. We still need to improve in some areas to solidify our chances. That's why I am both very happy with team, but also concerned about our weaknesses.

How much more comfortable are you with Daequan Cook and Nazr Mohammed getting minutes than Jackson and Thabeet? I mean, I'm definitely on the boat that Mohammed is easily a better have than Thabeet...but I honestly think Jackson (and Liggins for that matter) is capable of same/better defense than Cook. I also think Jackson brings more to the table offensively in terms of variety. He can penetrate and shoot from the outside.

The bigger issue I see with bringing in a piece, is that there is nobody out there to grab for the minimum, and that's really all we have recourse for. We have no real wiggle room to stay out of the luxury tax this season, and I can't see Presti breaking into the tax this year, without a full season to work someone else into the lineup.

I think the real answer to the Thunder's guard woes is to let KMart play the point for ~5 possessions per game.

[dankrutka]

I wasn't comfortable with Nazr and Cook just like I'm not comfortable with Thabeet (fouls far too much) and Jackson. That's my point. Our bench wasn't, and isn't, where it needs to be. The situation is similar to last season. Cook has 8 huge points in San Antonio, but contributed almost nothing else (including the Finals). Nazr and Hasheem are a wash to me.

Maynor pre-ACL injury was solid and we really haven't replaced his contributions since...

[Teo9969]

In my opinion, the lack of bench play deep in the playoffs last season had far more to do with our offensive system (or lack thereof). It's why it bothers me that Westbrook and Durant, of late, are going back to this isolation offense. Seems like since the Martin injury that sidelined him a couple of games and the couple of losses around the same time, Durant and Westbrook have taken on a little bit of that "put the team on our backs" mentality. That's great for the last 3 minutes or during overtime...but the entire 4th quarter? That's unhealthy.

I don't think the issue is talent...I think the issue is usage:

#3 Westbrook 30.5
#8 KD 27.3
#139 Martin 18.7
#153 Maynor 18.0
#173 Reggie 17.1
#203 Ibaka 16.4
#299 Collison 11.8
#314 Sef 10.1
#318 Perk 9.9
#321 Thabeet 9.6

Hard to develop consistency and dependability when you never get the opportunity.

[Just the facts]

The playoffs are NOT the same as the regular season. Saying we're better than last year is very premature. This team will be judged by what it does in the playoffs... Overall improvement/development is just as important as our record. We still need to improve in some areas to solidify our chances. That's why I am both very happy with team, but also concerned about our weaknesses.

That is what I am saying. You are down on the bench, or at least see areas for improvement, but things in the playoffs are different. Maybe we have a 'playoff' bench and you are only seeing them in the regular season. Every team gets better in the playoffs, even the Thunder.

[dankrutka]

That is what I am saying. You are down on the bench, or at least see areas for improvement, but things in the playoffs are different. Maybe we have a 'playoff' bench and you are only seeing them in the regular season. Every team gets better in the playoffs, even the Thunder.

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense to me. Our bench is magically going to get better? What on earth is a "playoff bench?"

The playoffs is when weaknesses get exposed. Rarely do weaknesses turn into strengths. We need to find a way to improve our bench. Jackson has not shown any improvement with his playing time. He was awful at Denver. He just does nothing. He doesn't make shots, create for others, anything. Unless Jackson shows dramatic improvement he won't be part of a "playoff bench" because he won't be playing at all.

[Bellaboo]

[QUOTE=KilgoreTrout;611767]I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense to me. Our bench is magically going to get better? What on earth is a "playoff bench?"



What happens is that they notoriously go to a smaller rotation. Instead of a nine or ten man, they cut it back to a seven or eight come playoff time. Some guys who barely see time will not see time at all, unless a game ends up a blowout.

[dankrutka]

I agree that our rotations will likely cut back to 8-9 players, but we still will have to figure out what to do when Russ is out of the game...

[Just the facts]

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense to me. Our bench is magically going to get better? What on earth is a "playoff bench?"

The playoffs is when weaknesses get exposed. Rarely do weaknesses turn into strengths. We need to find a way to improve our bench. Jackson has not shown any improvement with his playing time. He was awful at Denver. He just does nothing. He doesn't make shots, create for others, anything. Unless Jackson shows dramatic improvement he won't be part of a "playoff bench" because he won't be playing at all.

Why is every team going to get better in the playoffs except for OKC?

[Teo9969]

Why is every team going to get better in the playoffs except for OKC?

Because Most teams are not already playing their roster near playoff minutes.

OKC is really only using a 9-man rotation throughout the year (in part, because we have 2 rookies, and 2 second year guys).

Jackson/Maynor and Thabeet average ~21 MPG. Collison, the 3rd least played man in a 9 man rotation averaged 19.4...

Echoing a sentiment from earlier: We need another ball-handler so that Russ doesn't have to average 42 minutes through 4 playoff series. I genuinely believe the answer to that question for *this* season, is to put the ball in Kevin Martin's hands for 5ish possessions so that Reggie only has about 5ish himself. I do not think it's a good idea to play Reggie more than about 8 minutes in the playoffs. Thabeet really needs to improve quickly if he's to be trusted with even 5 minutes of playoff time.

I am thinking that Scott is holding off on using Collison more because he is 32 now. I think he'll average more minutes in the playoffs and I think he'll be more effective. So I'm thinking that we'll not quite see the best this bench has to offer until the playoffs or shortly before that.

[Just the facts]

So I'm thinking that we'll not quite see the best this bench has to offer until the playoffs or shortly before that.

Isn't that what I said?