Thunder title favorites?

[Connor B]

This team is playing at a ridiculous level of confidence and consistency. They also never seem to "coast", which is good because they thrive on their home court and will want that for the playoffs and Finals. Durant is obviously having the best stretch of his career right now, but the myth that the team "made a horrible trade with getting rid of Harden" is officially over...yes, Harden would still make them better I think, but Jeremy Lamb, Sean Adams are on the rise, Ibaka has gotten better the last year, and Reggie Jackson is a pretty damn good substitute for a sixth man. Brooks gets criticized a bit too much, he isn't a great coach but he is not nearly as bad as many would like to say - I think he can reprove himself in the playoffs this year.

This team, if they play like they have been and can play like this when Westbrook returns...they are only gonna get better and it is a real pleasure to watch. I said they would come out of the west at the beginning of the season, I believe that even more now, and I believe they would be able to beat the Heat who are running of fumes for a third title. I also believe they have the offensive firepower to overcome Indiana.

[GoranDragon]

Yes they are the favorites.

Top 3 SF - Durant

Top 3 PG - Westbrook

Top 5 PF - Ibaka

6th man of the year - Jackson

Dwight Stopper - Perkins


It's not even close the level of stackness OKC has over other teams. It's almost unfair. A collusion.:facepalm :banghead:

[secund2nun]

I'd have Indy and Miami over OKC.

[GoranDragon]

I'd have Indy and Miami over OKC.
IND yes.

MIA certainly is the underdog against OKC.

[AnaheimLakers24]

miamis to lose.
biggest chokers ever if they dont defend

[dannywpt]

Yes they are the favorites.
It's not even close the level of stackness OKC has over other teams. It's almost unfair. A collusion.:facepalm :banghead:

I guess that's what happens when a group of stars decide to take huge paycuts to chase rings together and they get a bunch of solid veteran roleplayers with them. :confusedshrug:

[Tmuston Beltics]

Bookmakers have Miami as the favorite at this moment:

Heat +250
Pacers +350
OKC +650

[Connor B]

miamis to lose.
biggest chokers ever if they dont defend

3 peats are extremely hard to achieve.

[CelticBaller]

Bookmakers have Miami as the favorite at this moment:

Heat +250
Pacers +350
OKC +650
totally not expected, it's not like the heat are coming from backtoback championships with one of the most stacked team of all times

[Milbuck]

Yes they are the favorites.

Top 3 SF - Durant

Top 3 PG - Westbrook

Top 5 PF - Ibaka

6th man of the year - Jackson

Dwight Stopper - Perkins


It's not even close the level of stackness OKC has over other teams. It's almost unfair. A collusion.:facepalm :banghead:

I'm surprised you didn't look up the meaning of collusion after the last time you got destroyed for not knowing it.

And you're ****ing stupid if you think Ibaka is a top 5 PF.

[GoranDragon]

I guess that's what happens when a group of stars decide to take huge paycuts to chase rings together and they get a bunch of solid veteran roleplayers with them. :confusedshrug:
Let's compare.

Westbrook (top 3 PG) > Wade (top 5 SG)

Ibaka (top 5 PF) = Bosh (top 5 PF)

Durant (top 3 SF) = Lebron (top 1 SF)

Jackson (6th man) >>>> Beasley

Perkins > Oden


Seems to me the "group of stars decide to take huge paycuts to chase rings together and they get a bunch of solid veteran roleplayers with them" is the OKC thunder. They even have D Fish ffs.:facepalm

[AnaheimLakers24]

3 peats are extremely hard to achieve.
im not the one who guaranteed 8 straight titles

[Connor B]

im not the one who guaranteed 8 straight titles

I won't bother arguing with trolls because that's useless on this forum but he was clearly just hyping the crowd up.

[HoopsFanNumero1]

Easily the most talented team in the league. It'd be a huge choke if Thunder lose.

[GoranDragon]

Easily the most talented team in the league. It'd be a huge choke if Thunder lose.
This. Most talented, most stacked team in the league right now and it's not even close.

[livinglegend]

Yup, if they lose, huge choke job!

[GoranDragon]

Yup, if they lose, huge choke job!
Durant already has 1 choke job under his accolades belt when he lost to Lebron in the 2012 finals.

[JebronLames]

3 peats are extremely hard to achieve.
Main problem for Miami is defense. If wade returns to his 2.2 blocks per game form, the heat will challenge the stacked thunder for being the favorite.

[livinglegend]

Durant already has 1 choke job under his accolades belt when he lost to Lebron in the 2012 finals.

actually 2, +1 for last year s 4th quarter chokes vs Grizzlies

[GoranDragon]

actually 2, +1 for last year s 4th quarter chokes vs Grizzlies
Oh snap! Silly me for forgetting that.

Seems like Durant is far more accomplished in the choking department than Lebron.

[Milbuck]

Oh snap! Silly me for forgetting that.

Seems like Durant is far more accomplished in the choking department than Lebron.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFe8KUEQdn4

[GoranDragon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFe8KUEQdn4
Lebron: 2 rings 2 FMVPs 4 MVPs

Durant: 0 ring 0 FMVP 0 MVP

[Milbuck]

Lebron: 2 rings 2 FMVPs 4 MVPs

Durant: 0 ring 0 FMVP 0 MVP
Not a fan of Durant, don't really care about that. I was just responding to your choke argument. Fact is KD has never and will never sh1t the bed the way Bron did.

[funnystuff]

Not a fan of Durant, don't really care about that. I was just responding to your choke argument. Fact is KD has never and will never sh1t the bed the way Bron did.
You act like that Grizzlies series didn't happen.

[GoranDragon]

You act like that Grizzlies series didn't happen.
Milbuck has an agenda against me and other Lebronites, that's obvious enough. He's oblivious to Durant's own countless choke jobs.

[funnystuff]

INB4 choking in the finals is worse than choking in the 1/2/3 round.

[Milbuck]

You act like that Grizzlies series didn't happen.
29/10/7/1/1 for the series. He did choke, but it's not even close to the 2011 finals.

[russwest0]

Yall niqqas need to calm down with this "stacked" shit.

So everytime a team goes on an Eastern Conference road trip they are stacked now? Is that what we are calling it?

[zoom17]

Yall niqqas need to calm down with this "stacked" shit.

So everytime a team goes on an Eastern Conference road trip they are stacked now? Is that what we are calling it?

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3851938/kevin-durant-crying-o.gif

[GoranDragon]

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3851938/kevin-durant-crying-o.gif
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[KG215]

I'm surprised you didn't look up the meaning of collusion after the last time you got destroyed for not knowing it.

And you're ****ing stupid if you think Ibaka is a top 5 PF.
Like how he throws Perkins, "Dwight Stopper", in there like it's supposed to make everyone forget how consistently awful he really is.

[KG215]

actually 2, +1 for last year s 4th quarter chokes vs Grizzlies
Still has quite a ways to go, then, to catch LeBron in "chokejobs" if that's the very loose way we're defining choking.

[russwest0]

Yes, the Thunder are title favorites.

Because they have Kevin Durant.

[Fire Colangelo]

Yes, the Thunder are title favorites.

Because they have Kevin Durant.

Props for actually repping your team.

These stans downplaying the heat to make excuses for lebron are ****ing pathetic honestly.

[zoom17]

Yes, the Thunder are title favorites.

Because they have Kevin Durant.

get ready to witness this again:roll: :roll: :roll:

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3851938/kevin-durant-crying-o.gif

[GoranDragon]

get ready to witness this again:roll: :roll: :roll:

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view2/3851938/kevin-durant-crying-o.gif
They are all witness.:roll: :roll:

[Thunderstruck]

Does anyone on this forum actually try to participate in rational discussion instead of just constantly trolling each other? With Westbrook healthy the Thunder are the favorites in the west but until Miami goes down, they are the title favorites. I love my team. They are loaded no doubt, but they gotta prove it and get past the defending champs before I say they should be favorites.

[Combat Wombat]

Props for actually repping your team.

These stans downplaying the heat to make excuses for lebron are ****ing pathetic honestly.

:applause:

Understatement of the century right there.

I'm surprised any of them can string a sentence together without help.

[Milbuck]

Does anyone on this forum actually try to participate in rational discussion instead of just constantly trolling each other? With Westbrook healthy the Thunder are the favorites in the west but until Miami goes down, they are the title favorites. I love my team. They are loaded no doubt, but they gotta prove it and get past the defending champs before I say they should be favorites.

This is not good logic. The 2011 Lakers were not title favorites. Neither were the 2012 Mavs. Or going back further, the 2006 Heat.

[LongLiveTheKing]

Right now they are. But once its the finals everyone is gonna say that they're underdogs to try to discredit Miami.

[GoranDragon]

Right now they are. But once its the finals everyone is gonna say that they're underdogs to try to discredit Miami.
I would go as far as to say Miami WAS the underdog in 2012. People try to downplay Lebron's accomplishments.:banghead:

[Thunderstruck]

This is not good logic. The 2011 Lakers were not title favorites. Neither were the 2012 Mavs. Or going back further, the 2006 Heat.
How's this for logic then?

http://www.vegas.com/gaming/futures/nba-championship/

Miami: 2/1
Oklahoma City: 13/5

Vegas seems to agree with me.

[Milbuck]

How's this for logic then?

http://www.vegas.com/gaming/futures/nba-championship/
It's still bad logic. I don't care what they say. Anyone who's been watching this season can see that Miami isn't the best team in the world, and it's not really close.

[Thunderstruck]

It's still bad logic. I don't care what they say. Anyone who's been watching this season can see that Miami isn't the best team in the world, and it's not really close.
I don't disagree with you, but it's the regular season. OKC has something to prove and a Miami can easily coast into the playoffs against weak eastern conference teams. I think you could easily be right. My eyes tell me, with Westbrook, this is the best Thunder team ever fielded and my heart tells me they are better than the Heat, but they have got to show me they match up with them better than they have in the past before I definitely say they will beat them in a 7 game series.

[Milbuck]

I don't disagree with you, but it's the regular season. OKC has something to prove and a Miami can easily coast into the playoffs against weak eastern conference teams. I think you could easily be right. My eyes tell me, with Westbrook, this is the best Thunder team ever fielded and my heart tells me they are better than the Heat, but they have got to show me they match up with them better than they have in the past before I definitely say they will beat them in a 7 game series.

Fair enough, I can understand the hesitation. I think we can both agree that with a healthy Westbrook, a Heat-Thunder rematch in the Finals would be an all-out war.

[GoranDragon]

Fair enough, I can understand the hesitation. I think we can both agree that with a healthy Westbrook, a Heat-Thunder rematch in the Finals would be an all-out war.
And if that happens, please tell me which team is the underdog. Please.

[Milbuck]

And if that happens, please tell me which team is the underdog. Please.
I don't care. "Underdog" is as worthless a title as it gets. It's the finals. If you're good enough to make it there, you're good enough to win it all.

[GoranDragon]

I don't care. "Underdog" is as worthless a title as it gets. It's the finals. If you're good enough to make it there, you're good enough to win it all.
Don't dodge the question. The answer is CLEARLY the Heat. If the Thunder don't win it all despite being the favorites, it's another choke on Durant's list of accolades.

[Milbuck]

Don't dodge the question. The answer is CLEARLY the Heat. If the Thunder don't win it all despite being the favorites, it's another choke on Durant's list of accolades.
We haven't seen the two teams play each other this season. Unless you're conceding that Durant is significantly better than Lebron, there is no underdog in that matchup.

[GoranDragon]

We haven't seen the two teams play each other this season. Unless you're conceding that Durant is better than Lebron, there is no underdog in that matchup.
It's not JUST Durant vs Lebron.

OKC has:

Top 3 PG - Westbrook

Top 5 PF - Ibaka

6th Man of the year - Jackson

Dwight Stopper (lockdown defender) - Perkins

I think MIA is the underdog despite having the best player on the planet in Lebron James (yes title is STILL his).

[Milbuck]

It's not JUST Durant vs Lebron.

OKC has:

Top 3 PG - Westbrook

Top 5 PF - Ibaka

6th Man of the year - Jackson

Dwight Stopper (lockdown defender) - Perkins

I think MIA is the underdog despite having the best player on the planet in Lebron James (yes title is STILL his).

I'm done with this argument. Anyone who thinks Ibaka is a top 5 PF and Kendrick ****ing Perkins is a difference maker (unless it's negative) is someone I don't want to discuss basketball with.

And no dude, unless Lebron wakes up and proves it, he's really not.

[russwest0]

Goran, which one of these Power Forwards is Ibaka better than?


LaMarcus Aldridge
Anthony Davis
Dirk Nowitzki
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin

[GoranDragon]

Goran, which one of these Power Forwards is Ibaka better than?


LaMarcus Aldridge
Anthony Davis
Dirk Nowitzki
Kevin Love
Blake Griffin
I will take Ibaka over Dirk and Blake. Ibaka is clearly a better asset than an aging Dirk and I think Blake is soft and cannot anchor a team defense like Ibaka can.

[J Shuttlesworth]

totally not expected, it's not like the heat are coming from backtoback championships with one of the most stacked team of all times
Then why are they second place in the shittiest conference of all time?

[J Shuttlesworth]

I will take Ibaka over Dirk and Blake. Ibaka is clearly a better asset than an aging Dirk and I think Blake is soft and cannot anchor a team defense like Ibaka can.
Ibaka is a perfect compliment for KD/Westbrook. Very well designed team, and they're young.

[Spokelahoma]

I'm still a little nervous about how okc's role players will handle a deep playoff run. We know Durant, and hopefully a healthy Westbrook will show up and do what they do. Ibaka, however, has had his fair share of disappearing acts in big games. Lamb, Reggie, and PJ3 all have little to no playoff experience, and Perk and Thabo are basically a liability on the offensive end. I wouldn't call them the favorites, but with the way KD is playing so far this year, i think they have just a good of shot as anyone

[TMT]

Don't dodge the question. The answer is CLEARLY the Heat. If the Thunder don't win it all despite being the favorites, it's another choke on Durant's list of accolades.

Since when are back-to-back champions ever underdogs?
Wow, you sound like a Lebron stan trying desperately to make Durant look bad. :lol

[TMT]

I will take Ibaka over Dirk and Blake. Ibaka is clearly a better asset than an aging Dirk and I think Blake is soft and cannot anchor a team defense like Ibaka can.

:roll: I don't think you watch any of these players you are trying to compare.

[All Net]

Miami favourites till proven otherwise. But only Miami, indy, OKC will win it

[Fudge]

Miami are more stacked and are STILL the favourites. Deal with it, buds. :oldlol:

[icewill36]

Miami are more stacked and are STILL the favourites. Deal with it, buds. :oldlol:

miami arent favorites... they shouldnt be anyway.

history, health, and lack of size are all against them

[freshperry]

Let us not forget the heat were underdogs the first time Heat vs OKC in the finals.

[navy]

Let us not forget the heat were underdogs the first time Heat vs OKC in the finals.
:roll:

[moe94]

:roll:

Are you saying they were not?

[Marlo_Stanfield]

miami arent favorites... they shouldnt be anyway.

history, health, and lack of size are all against them
ur talking to a retard afterall

[navy]

Are you saying they were not?
No. In Hindsight that was stupid and showed a complete lack of knowledge of the game by bettors.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

Heat will win yet another Championship as the clear cut underdog with at least 5 teams with better rosters:applause: :applause: :bowdown:

[kurple]

fans are batteling what contender has the worst roster? :biggums:

all of Pacers, Heat, Clippers, SAS, Houston, GSW, OKC are "stacked" enough to win. And the Heat are the favorites because they have won the last two years with the same core.

[dannywpt]

:roll:

They were. Heatles looked shaky, while OKC was cruising through the tough west. Most people had OKC as favorites.

[Nash]

yes they are, they have everything Miami got and more. They also don't have a bunch of old players who look like they should retire playing big minutes.

Miami is not the same anymore. And the big reason for that is Wade. The man clearly got some major issues. Also Allen and Battier who played big parts of this team look super old these days.

[buddha]

No. In Hindsight that was stupid and showed a complete lack of knowledge of the game by bettors.

the only reason the thunder were favored was because LeBron James disappeared in all his previous finals. nobody had any reason to believe he would show up.

[Fire Colangelo]

Another reason thunder were favored was because of bosh's health, and chemistry between wade and spolstra.