OKC Might Have the Worst Bench in the League

[KG215]

I've about lost my patience with Presti and our FO.

Reggie Jackson
Nick Collison
Jeremy Lamb
Derek Fisher
Hasheem Thabeet
Perry Jones
Daniel Orton


We'll still win 55-60 games because Durant and Westbrook are so good, and we'll just overwhelm all the bad teams like we did last year. But every other contender in the West improved. I'm predicting 55-27, 4th or 5th in the West, and a 2nd round exit...at best.

Our front office is wasting another year of Durant and Westbrook's prime. Sat on their hands because they're too f***ing cheap and don't want to pay the luxury tax. I've blindly been trying to defend them all summer but, unless they go out and get someone else that I'm not thinking of, I've had it. We're too short on shooters and our second most talented bench player is virtually a rookie who's going to go through a lot of ups-and-downs this year like most rookies.

[NumberSix]

Collision is consistently a top notch bench player and Jackson is solid too.

[imdaman99]

lamb better be able to step up, hes gonna have to be james harden-like. he has it in him.

[KyrieTheFuture]

Don't hate on lamb he'll be a stud (hopefully)

[NumberSix]

Seriously though. Maybe y'all can get Royce White.

[Fudge]

Don't forget Perk's soon to be replacement, Steven Adams.

[PickernRoller]

The battle for stack.

[Young X]

dat Harden trade

[Heavincent]

Seriously though. Maybe y'all can get Royce White.

He'll only be able to play home games though. Might be able to take the trips to play the Texas teams too I guess.

[NumberSix]

He'll only be able to play home games though. Might be able to take the trips to play the Texas teams too I guess.
Hey, that's 3 teams right there. Not too shabby.

[imdaman99]

http://i.imgur.com/6gfsZZS.png

:roll: :roll: :roll:

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

Collision is consistently a top notch bench player and Jackson is solid too.
this.

I don't think OKC has that bad of a bench at all. Not very deep, but Collison and Jackson are good enough to be on any team's 2nd unit and PJ3 and Lamb have tons of upside - Lamb I expect to develop quite nicely by year's end.

Calm down, OP.

[KG215]

I love Collison. After Durant he might be my favorite player on the team. I didn't mean to belittle him as a role/bench player. We're just severely lacking scoring punch unless Lamb grows up really fast. And after our first three bench players our bench is shit.

[It's A VC3!!!]

Don't feel too bad. If your a durant fan you'll get to see him win a ring with the nets in 2016.:cheers:
thunder bench isn't that bad. it's not good, but it's not horrible. you are right thought. they will win in the high 50's, solely because of durant and westbrook but will not get to the wcf.

[Spaulding]

http://i.imgur.com/6gfsZZS.png

:roll: :roll: :roll:

haha

Collison is old and Lamb is young. No one else on bench is reliable at all. Hopefully someone steps up or Brook and Durant will be playing major minutes.

[JimmyMcAdocious]

The only thing that bench is missing is a 6th man. :confusedshrug:

Collison gives you steadiness and good defense.

Thabeet, Orton, and Adams give you size, fouls, and maybe a little rebounding and defense.

I thought Jackson showed he can be a capable backup PG during the playoffs.

Fisher for leadership or something. There has to be a reason teams keep signing and playing him.

And Lamb, PJ3, and the aforementioned Adams are your young upside players who you hope to develop into capable starters, or starter level players.

There's just no 6th man... You put Jack on that bench and it's one of the best in the league. It has everything except the most important piece.

[HarryCallahan]

No bench can be "worst in the league" when it has Collison. If they sign a back-up swing-man who can play 3 and D it's actually not too bad of a bench, especially if Adams is ready to play from the get-go.

I'm still waiting for OKC to make a trade. If they could try and trade PJ3/Orton/pick for a sixth man G/F they'd be back into the top level of contenders again.

[TheCorporation]

Jackson and Collison are solid, and Fisher is still a good shooter that brings some big time experience and leadership to the table.

Don't forget about Ibaka, foo.

And KING GOAT PERKINS!!!

[I<3NBA]

have you taken a look at the Lakers bench?

[mrpibb]

Utah's is terrible.

[Fudge]

have you taken a look at the Lakers bench?
Nick Young
Wes Johnson
Jordan Farmar
Jordan Hill
Steve Blake

Really? How's that worse than OKC's?

[dbk123]

Lol durants gonna end up leaving . I see Westbrook staying tho

[KG215]

Utah's is terrible.
True. I went over board on "worst in the league" because it's got two really solid players, and a third with a lot of potential. I just wish we could add one more scorer/shooter who can play and defend both wing positions.

But out of the other contenders, we really might have the worst bench.

[Twiens]

Utah's is terrible.

But Utah isn't trying to win a title this year....OKC management is being cheap and praying for the development of Adams/Lamb/Jones

[mrpibb]

But Utah isn't trying to win a title this year....OKC management is being cheap and praying for the development of Adams/Lamb/Jones

And? It's still the worst bench in the league.

[poido123]

How are these guys second in championship betting?

I see two or 3 teams better than OKC in the West and 4 teams that are better in the east.

[Xiao Yao You]

Utah's is terrible.

Probably and with Burke starting it could be really ugly!

[Inferno]

Definitely a bad bench for a team that could easily be contending.

[SpurrDurr]

You ain't deep at all but you still have a solid 8 man rotation that will be enough in the POs.

This year i expect Brooks to play Durant and Westbrook a bit less during regular season, getting them to POs as fresh as possible.

[Dr. Cheesesteak]

I see two or 3 teams better than OKC in the West and 4 teams that are better in the east.
:oldlol: :oldlol:

[bdreason]

Imagine if they get knocked out of the playoffs this year by Harden and the Rockets. :oldlol:

[andremiller07]

Roberson from what I seen in the SL imo could actually get some decent time and on top of that Liggins as well should be better, but yeah that bench if you trying to win a title is pretty underwhelming plus who did they replace KMart with Lamb?

Imo OKC can still make moves if they want to give up Ibaka to get two decent players in return but it's a big risk and other than Lamb they really are the only two pieces imo with good value that you can get something ok/good enough in return.

[bdreason]

Nick Young
Wes Johnson
Jordan Farmar
Jordan Hill
Steve Blake

Really? How's that worse than OKC's?


Johnson and Hill will probably start. Young might get some starts too, considering he's only backing up Meeks.

[All Net]

Durant and Westbrook could be burnt out by playoff time.

[flipogb]

glad someone is willing to talk about it, the media is still treating OKC like a feel good story. it will end eventually and frustration and trouble will come in.

[SillyRabbit]

It still baffles me how Presti was able to dismantle a potential dynasty and let James Harden go, when all he had to do was amnesty Perkins.

With Martin gone, they basically let Harden walk for nothing, when they could've easily kept him.

Hell if they felt so strongly about Perkins, they should've just payed the luxury tax to keep Harden.

Really hope OKC doesn't turn into a "what could've been" story.

[BlazerRed]

It still baffles me how Presti was able to dismantle a potential dynasty and let James Harden go, when all he had to do was amnesty Perkins.

With Martin gone, they basically let Harden walk for nothing, when they could've easily kept him.

Hell if they felt so strongly about Perkins, they should've just payed the luxury tax to keep Harden.

Really hope OKC doesn't turn into a "what could've been" story.

Too late. In the past year OKC have demonstrated that money is more important than success. While Perkins is still under contract and the FO isn't willing to hit any luxury tax bills, this team cannot make any moves or winning a championship. 2 more years wasted of the Durant/Westbrook years while they're close to their prime. This is going to go down as one of the worst **** ups in NBA history. This team could have been special.

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

And what is funny is the league is paying some of Durant's contract too. The owners approved it.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/07/19/nba-to-pay-a-portion-of-kevin-durants-max-contract/

[Xiao Yao You]

It still baffles me how Presti was able to dismantle a potential dynasty and let James Harden go, when all he had to do was amnesty Perkins.

I'd say that is on ownership. Perkins still gets paid.


With Martin gone, they basically let Harden walk for nothing

Got some young players. Remains to be seen what they actually get out of it.

[qrich]

Still a few free agents that can really help the bench for you guys that are getting overlooked.

James Singleton: While not a scorer, would be a great utility guy to have behind Durant at the three.

Craig Smith: Dude is a bruiser and is among the best post scorers a team can just bring off the bench, at least imo. He would be real well next to Ibaka for spurts as well.

Ike Diogu: Similar to Rhino, but not as good of a scorer.

Dionte Christmas/Morris Almond/James Anderson: All scored in or near the 20s for the majority of their time in college. Didn't get much time to show their skill in the pros, but could be some instant offense options.

Corey Maggette: Would have to be trade, but I do believe Maggette still has enough slashing ability to drop about 8 points in 15 minutes or so of action. Might not be great, but a decent option.

[Xiao Yao You]

There are others that aren't former Clipps as well.

[Spaulding]

OKC's front office seems to be struggling now they got a championship level team.

[livingby3's]

second coming of the mid 00s Suns. Downhill since trading Harden. Good thing they at least they have lots of youths on the team.

[pegasus]

That's a poorly assembled team, and their coach is not a miracle maker by any means, so they're screwed unless Lamb becomes Lion.

[Flash31]

I've about lost my patience with Presti and our FO.

Reggie Jackson
Nick Collison
Jeremy Lamb
Derek Fisher
Hasheem Thabeet
Perry Jones
Daniel Orton


We'll still win 55-60 games because Durant and Westbrook are so good, and we'll just overwhelm all the bad teams like we did last year. But every other contender in the West improved. I'm predicting 55-27, 4th or 5th in the West, and a 2nd round exit...at best.

Our front office is wasting another year of Durant and Westbrook's prime. Sat on their hands because they're too f***ing cheap and don't want to pay the luxury tax. I've blindly been trying to defend them all summer but, unless they go out and get someone else that I'm not thinking of, I've had it. We're too short on shooters and our second most talented bench player is virtually a rookie who's going to go through a lot of ups-and-downs this year like most rookies.


Lakers and Boston have something to say about that

Bos Creating a tank
LAL Barely even have a good 5,their bench is horrible

[Flash31]

Too late. In the past year OKC have demonstrated that money is more important than success. While Perkins is still under contract and the FO isn't willing to hit any luxury tax bills, this team cannot make any moves or winning a championship. 2 more years wasted of the Durant/Westbrook years while they're close to their prime. This is going to go down as one of the worst **** ups in NBA history. This team could have been special.


They basically did what their rivals the grizz did
lost their 3rd best star,Harden-Gay
replaced them with a role player,played better but ultimately it cost them
no playmaker for Okc,no ability to create own sgot,space floor for mem

then they both lose their other contributors Martin,Mayo

They change their strategy to focusing on 2 stars and company
Durant-Westbrook with Ibaka
and
ZBO-Gasol with Conley

they both have each others weaknesses now
Okc-no post,rim,inside game
Mem-no perimeter shooting,spacing the floor


Champagne on beer budgets,
not all teams can be the spurs,they run as a team
okc-mem became a two man team

[Horde of Temujin]

Replace Collison with Perk in thr starting lineup and then it will certainly be the worst bench.

[Flash31]

Johnson and Hill will probably start. Young might get some starts too, considering he's only backing up Meeks.


Nick Young is starting

Nash
Kobe(whenever he returns)Meeks
Young
Gasol
Kaman

farmar,sacre,hill

Their frontcourt depth is lacking
and their backcourt has virtually 0 defense and neither does their starting front

The Lakers have an all o coach and an all o team

gasol,kaman is a horrible defensive frontcourt
nash,kobe is one of the slowest,least defensive backcourts
not to mention young or meeks

Theyre like the opposite of mem
all o 0 d

And with Kobe coming off an achilles tear
speed and defense and dantoni system

No DEFENSE

[Twiens]

Nick Young is starting

Nash
Kobe(whenever he returns)Meeks
Young
Gasol
Kaman

farmar,sacre,hill

Their frontcourt depth is lacking
and their backcourt has virtually 0 defense and neither does their starting front

The Lakers have an all o coach and an all o team

gasol,kaman is a horrible defensive frontcourt
nash,kobe is one of the slowest,least defensive backcourts
not to mention young or meeks

Theyre like the opposite of mem
all o 0 d

And with Kobe coming off an achilles tear
speed and defense and dantoni system

No DEFENSE

I think it's gonna be:

Gasol/Hill/Young/Kobe/Nash

with Kaman/Johnson/Farmar/Blake though I'd prefer Wes Johnson at SF and Young as our bench scorer.

[chips93]

Too late. In the past year OKC have demonstrated that money is more important than success. While Perkins is still under contract and the FO isn't willing to hit any luxury tax bills, this team cannot make any moves or winning a championship. 2 more years wasted of the Durant/Westbrook years while they're close to their prime. This is going to go down as one of the worst **** ups in NBA history. This team could have been special.

i wouldnt be so down on the thunder

they have the 2nd best player in the league locked up for 3 more years, and a top 10 player in westbrook locked up for 4 more years.

they are guaranteed to be at least a good playoff team for the next 3 years, how many teams can you say that about?



they just need one or two of PJIII, lamb, orton, or adams to become a solid player, or good trade asset, and they should be right back as strong contenders.

if i could bet money on okc winning a title in the next 5 years, i would

[Flash31]

I think it's gonna be:

Gasol/Hill/Young/Kobe/Nash

with Kaman/Johnson/Farmar/Blake though I'd prefer Wes Johnson at SF and Young as our bench scorer.


either way their d is practically nonexistent

Kobe played d sometimes,usually only against stars,and now coming off from achilles surgery hell be even slower and even less inclined to play d,
hes been focusing more and more on the offensive side and less and less on the defensive side as the years go by

and on top of that Nash and Gasol got even slower and older,


The players are perfect for Mike Dantoni in that theyre all about offense but at the same time
with a coach that only emphasizes o,is horribble at d,and you have Kobe taking plays off

Their defense is going to be one of the worst in the league

[flipogb]

I wouldn't list a starting PF for the Lakers just yet, they are still looking at the FA market, so Hill and Kaman could both be backups and Gasol will start at C

[oh the horror]

Thunder keep fu*king around and one of their big two is going to walk.

[PickernRoller]

Two players that are young, soon to enter their prime who can average 25/25 together easily. How many teams in the league have that kind of star power?

Compared to super stacked neighbors, and summer BFF Lebron yeah OKC isn't as stacked.

[fozi]

I'm just wondering what would've happened if OKC kept Harden.

If things arent getting better i expect Westbrook and Durant requesting a trade ..


Hopefully they stay in the west though, but its still too early to say ..

[Duderonomy]

We'll still win 55-60 games because Durant and Westbrook are so good, and we'll just overwhelm all the bad teams like we did last year. But every other contender in the West improved. I'm predicting 55-27, 4th or 5th in the West, and a 2nd round exit...at best.

Our front office is wasting another year of Durant and Westbrook's prime. Sat on their hands because they're too f***ing cheap and don't want to pay the luxury tax. I've blindly been trying to defend them all summer but, unless they go out and get someone else that I'm not thinking of, I've had it. We're too short on shooters and our second most talented bench player is virtually a rookie who's going to go through a lot of ups-and-downs this year like most rookies.
http://replygif.net/i/101.gif

[Nastradamus]

Terrible bench for sure. Plenty of solid players, but all of them are 8th man types (Collison,Jackson,Sefalosha), unproven(Jones,Lamb,Adams) or just not that good at all(Fisher,Thabeet).

They have no 6th man, period. They've averaged 8 win shares from their 6th man over the last couple years and they've now completely lost that with no replacement whatsoever.