OT - OKC is really coming on.

[MIXUM]

This team is gonna be scary good soon. Im beginning to think they make the playoffs this year.
That team already has 3 solid starters and an all star for the future. They also have savlosha (whatever his name is) who is becoming an elite defender. All they need is a center. Imagine if Joel signed there this summer? Scary.

Soon enough... we might not be the young darlings of the NBA.

Westbrook
Harden
Durant
Green
Pryz????

Tell me thats not a top 4 team in 3 years the longest.

 

[andalusian]

Yeah, they are a nice team. Just like the Blazers were in 2007-2008. Hover around the .500 and either luck into last place in the playoffs or get a late lottery ticket. Fun team to watch, as well.

But, without some post scoring, where are they going? Nowhere fast. And Joel, as much as we love him, is not a post scoring threat.

 

[MIXUM]

do they need more scoring???? pryz would be perfect for them.

and i think they are more like us last year.. minus about 10 wins.

 

[alex42083]

But, without some post scoring, where are they going?

I agree. Much like the Blazers were, and probably still are, OKC is a jump-shooting team that doesn't get a lot of pts in the paint in the half-court but one thing they do is get a lot of fast-break points.
They have a real good core though and will be a force to be reckoned with eventually.

 

[andalusian]

do they need more scoring???? pryz would be perfect for them.

and i think they are more like us last year.. minus about 10 wins.

Of course they need more scoring, specifically, more efficient scoring. They are #24 in the league in offensive efficiency. They are a bad offensive team. The reason they hover around .500 is because they are a good defensive team. They have 2 fantastic perimeter defenders (Westbrook, Sefalosha) and they do a nice job of team defense in the post. They are 6th best in the league in defense.

When you are 6th worst in offense and 6th best in defense - you are basically a .500 team - which is what they are...

For all of the Durant hype, it is clear that as good as he is individually, his impact on the game is nowhere near as big as Oden's impact is.

Durant was drafted because he is a talented offensive player. They are a bad offensive team. Oden was drafted because he is a talented defensive player. The Blazers are #2 in the league in defense.

Greg Oden is not as good a player, individually, as Durant is, but his impact on the game is much higher.

 

[drexlersdad]

they are gonna have a bunch of cap space, if they get a boozer type they will be scary.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I watched their game last night. They are a fun team to watch in the open court. But they have a glaring weakness. As much as the Blazers have been criticized for being a perimeter team, OKC is FAR worse. No comparison. Down the stretch (up 16) they were in panick mode as Durant was double teamed and was hoisting up terrible shots. I like their team, but they need a post up player badly. Durant can't do it. (yet)

 

[andalusian]

they are gonna have a bunch of cap space, if they get a boozer type they will be scary.

Boozer is fool's gold. Sure, he would give them post scoring - but he is a defensive sieve. They will trade defensive efficiency with offensive efficiency, with Boozer. A better team? probably. Scary? I am not sure.

 

[MIXUM]

utah isnt trading boozer to them. as a free agent.... boozer will go to an eastern team with a star. like miami or cleveland

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Yeah, they are a nice team. Just like the Blazers were in 2007-2008. Hover around the .500 and either luck into last place in the playoffs or get a late lottery ticket. Fun team to watch, as well.

But, without some post scoring, where are they going? Nowhere fast. And Joel, as much as we love him, is not a post scoring threat.

Agree 100%. They can't live off jump shooting and be serious title contenders.

 

[MIXUM]

we would know that....


we kinda still are a jump shooting team

 

[andalusian]

we would know that....

we kinda still are a jump shooting team

I think we are a lot more of a post-scoring, back to the basket team with Oden and to some extent LMA. We can do better - but OKC has about 0 back to the basket scoring, we do have some. The issue with OKC - is that they just do not have the pieces on the roster that could develop into this - where with Portland, we are about 3-4 percent of more post attempts to be as much of a post-scoring team as LAL is...

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

we would know that....


we kinda still are a jump shooting team

Sort of. But at least we have some post players.

 

[hasoos]

James Harden is my favorite player on that team. I expect in a year or so it will not be Durant and Westbrook/Green they talk about there, but Durant and Harden. I absolutely love how he scores, but if very unselfish at the same time, he is the type of player that makes the right play.

 

[magnifier661]

do they need more scoring???? pryz would be perfect for them.

and i think they are more like us last year.. minus about 10 wins.

He didn't say scoring. He said "post scoring". Back to the basket scoring in the paint.

 

[magnifier661]

we would know that....


we kinda still are a jump shooting team

Well it seems that we are looking more this season to score in the paint. Thanks to Oden.

 

[BlazersBlood]

do they need more scoring???? pryz would be perfect for them.

and i think they are more like us last year.. minus about 10 wins.

Um, wouldn't that be us from 2007-2008?

So funny how optimistic you are about the opponent.

 

[oldguy]

Lots of room on the Thunder bandwagon. Their GM doesn't throw the players under the bus and he already has balls. Durant isn't a bust and is worthy of a #2 pick. Young promising team. More upside than those Portland loosers. Closer to the east coast. Can I help anyone pack?