OKC Thunder 2014 - 2015

[dankrutka]

The Spurs have had a lot of injuries. Neither Parker nor Leonard played last night. And they're losing all the close ones, which just happens sometimes. I don't see anything fundamentally wrong with the Spurs.

[dankrutka]

Really disappointing loss tonight because of how it happened. The Thunder didn't score in the last 3:45 minutes of the game and Russ (and Reggie on one possession) didn't pass it in the last 5 minutes. Just hero ball possession after possession after all the offseason talk about more ball movement. Russ was 1-8 over the last 5 minutes (attempting every shot but 3), 0-6 over the last 3:45. While Russ will get blame (deservedly), where's Brooks? He's been coaching Russ for too long to play that kind of losing basketball. This lack of commitment to playing quality basketball comes back to bite teams in the playoffs. When will the Thunder learn?

[Jake]

Why is Serge Ibaka terrible at defense now? He and Adams got destroyed down low the entire game.

[DocThunder]

Our defense was terrible.

[DocThunder]

The Pelicans are not a team that should dominate us in the paint, at home. No excuse.

[dankrutka]

Why is Serge Ibaka terrible at defense now? He and Adams got destroyed down low the entire game.

Anthony Davis is an absolute stud. He may already be the third best player in the league. Having said that, aside from his 3 point shooting, Serge has been really disappointing this season. When players went down he didn't step up at all. It's becoming clearer that Serge is a really good role player, but without KD and Russ out there his weaknesses become quickly apparent. He's still a very capable and valuable difference maker as a role player though.

[Jake]

I agree that Davis is one of the best players in the league and will probably be the MVP in the near future, but what was frustrating to me was that a lot of times Davis didn't beat Ibaka making tremendous plays last night, Davis just had open layups and dunks the majority of the game. Ibaka was out of position so often last night, I counted 4 or so plays where Ibaka was defending the 3-point line and allowed a routine layup down low. Yuck.

Ibaka (and the team) needs Durant to be back in order to be fully functional. Hurry up, KD!

[Laramie]

Durant has patience when it comes to leadership of the team. Westbrook will get everyone involved for three quarters; his patience runs out in the fourth quarter about the time he is low on energy.

[kwhey]

Ibaka (and the team) needs Durant to be back in order to be fully functional. Hurry up, KD!

So you are saying it is a one-man team.

[DocThunder]

That was a tough one last night. In some ways, that was on Scott Brooks. We were up by plenty w/ 2 min left in regulation. ...that is when coaching helps.

[OKCretro]

gave up 27 points in the final 6 minutes of the game.

[Laramie]

That was a tough one last night. In some ways, that was on Scott Brooks. We were up by plenty w/ 2 min left in regulation. ...that is when coaching helps.

Wouldn't be so quick to put that on Scott Brooks? Damien Lillard had one of those unstoppable nights:

Field Goal Made/Attempted - 11/21, Three Point Shots Made/Attempted - 8/12, Free Throw Made/Attempted - 10/11. He played like a man possessed. Give it up to Portland; these guys have learned how to close. Let the damsels have their day.

We'll get back on track when K.D. returns...

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder - Box Score - December 23, 2014 - ESPN

[dankrutka]

The shot Lillard got at the end of regulation compared to the shot Westbrook got speaks to Brooks' shortcomings as a coach. Whether it was poor design or execution, Brooks is frequently outcoached in similar situations. He's weak at Xs and Os. Very disappointing again because I'm not seeing improvement from him. He's been at this too long to not show more growth.

[Anonymous.]

Everyone (fans and players) knew it was the Houston .9 second play. Except Brooks?!



And then the horrid busted play for the win, where Russ just chucks a 40 footer? Late game play execution is awful for OKC. We have to win the game by multiple baskets or get bailed out by KD.


Lillard is by far the best closer in the game right now. The stats don't lie. He is the one you want shooting for the win.

[Jake]

We have a lackluster coach and quite possibly the lowest basketball IQ team in the entire league. Gross.

[Easy180]

With 3 seconds left ya got to come up with something better than a 35 footer. Hell try to get it to somebody they wouldn't expect and drive to the basket. KD might sink a 35 footer every now and then but with him out try a different approach

Would have stung worse had the MVP played but still a sucky sucky loss

[Jim Kyle]

We have a lackluster coach and quite possibly the lowest basketball IQ team in the entire league. Gross.

Several weeks ago a number of posters floated the idea that the best strategy this year, in view of all the losses due to multiple injuries, just might be to tank...

I find it difficult to believe that the coach, the players, and most of all the management of any NBA-level team could be quite so consistently inept. But I'd love to be proved wrong about this!

And regardless of their strategy, I'll continue to cheer for them.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City Thunder 114 - San Antonio Spurs 106

Reverse roles on closing out this game, the Thunder were very methodical as they dismantled the Spurs down the stretch. Westbrook showed a lot of patience as he was fouled a number of times without getting the call. Jackson & Morrow both hit some key buckets down the stretch. Reggie Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Perry Jones & Steven Adams were the x-factors in this game:

Westbrook 34
Ibaka 21
Adams 16
Morrow 15
Jones 14
Roberson 7
Jackson 6

The Westbrook energy virus was contagious. This was about as lackadaisical of a performance by the Spurs in a marquee matchup you will ever see. Popob*t*h did not appear to be his usual self. Thunder appeared to sap the energy from the Spurs down the stretch...

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs - Box Score - December 25, 2014 - ESPN

[Mel]

I think it was Pop's beard. Made him ho ho hum today.

[dankrutka]

Several weeks ago a number of posters floated the idea that the best strategy this year, in view of all the losses due to multiple injuries, just might be to tank....

Yeah. That was a ridiculous suggestion. As long as KD really is okay, this team could win the title this year. Brooks just doesn't make it any easier sometimes.

Very nice win today.

[Jim Kyle]

Yeah. That was a ridiculous suggestion. As long as KD really is okay, this team could win the title this year. Brooks just doesn't make it any easier sometimes.

I sincerely hope you're right about this. They certainly didn't look inept today -- and that's very good.

There's still hope, but to win a title we must first get above 9th place, and every loss makes it that much more difficult.

[jn1780]

I sincerely hope you're right about this. They certainly didn't look inept today -- and that's very good.

There's still hope, but to win a title we must first get above 9th place, and every loss makes it that much more difficult.

This part is easy if KD and Westbrook stay healthy. There is only two wins separating us from 7th and 8th spots. They showed they can win a lot of games in a hurry when their healthy. Championship material? I don't know about that. Kind of hard to beat Golden State without good defense.

[dankrutka]

This part is easy if KD and Westbrook stay healthy. There is only two wins separating us from 7th and 8th spots. They showed they can win a lot of games in a hurry when their healthy. Championship material? I don't know about that. Kind of hard to beat Golden State without good defense.

Getting to the 8th spot shouldn't be too tough, but we're 4 games out of the 7th spot. There's a decent chance the Thunder get the 8 seed as Western teams aren't likely to fall off far, but they could definitely be the best team in the league at the end of the year.

Statistically, the Thunder have maybe the best defense in the NBA. Whoever the Thunder play will be tough, but if the Thunder are healthy and clicking, I'd put them on par with anyone.,

[Laramie]

It's the NBA, you win some, you lose some--matchups are the key when we play against all NBA teams.

Just get the feeling that some posters want to make Scott Brooks the scapegoat for the play of the team. Especially when I hear comments that the team won in spite of Scott Brooks' coaching. You can't have it both ways.

Go ahead fire Scott Brooks, your chances of keeping Durant in Oklahoma City will be zero; if you can't keep Durant, guess what--you're going to lose Westbrook. Scott Brooks is not one of those in-your-face coaches like Greg Popovich. Popovich had to build trust in construction of the San Antonio Spurs; it wasn't done overnight. We're not going to emulate the Spurs; there are obstacles (rash of injuries) we've faced that the Spurs didn't face in their road to the NBA championship.

Corporate Strength: San Antonio (5/7 Fortune 500/1000) vs. Oklahoma City (3/5 Fortune 500/1000)

San Antonio, TX . . . (2,277,550) 25th largest metropolitan area/7th largest central city (1,409,019)
Oklahoma City, OK (1,319,677) 42nd largest metropolitan area/27 largest central city (610,613)

It takes time to build a championship contender especially with a young roster like ours.

List of Fortune 1000 Companies by Urban Area - Geolounge

[dankrutka]

Why do you assume Durant would 100% leave OKC if Brooks were replaced? People said the same thing when Jeff Green and James Harden were traded because they were his friends. What if KD loved the new coach? If another coach came in next year and led OKC to a title then I think KD would be far more likely to stay.

Having said that, I think Brooks is a steady players coach who is generally good at developing players and keeping the team together. However, his Xs and Os coaching leaves a lot to be desired.For example, playing Perk in the 2012 Finals when Miami went small put OKC at a competitive disadvantage. Just absolutely no excuse for such a boneheaded move throughout a series. In the end, Brooks is an average coach at best. He may be the reason KD leaves or stays. None of us know.