Thunder In the Best Spot

[3ball]

Last year Durant was fatigued going into the playoffs due to having a Top 20 all-time regular season.

This year, he gets a two month vacation to start the year - broken foot... so he will not fall off physically in the playoffs this year because he'll only be playing a 50 game regular season, with the utmost attention paid to taking it slow early on and monitoring health more carefully than before... by the playoffs, he'll feel physically the way he felt last March.

Russel Westbrook gets a month off, so ditto for him, although he didn't need the break like Durant did.

If you look at the Thunder and the Cavs rosters, the Thunder's is way better - better quality up top, and far deeper, probably the best bench in the league.

But more importantly than just on paper - lebron's heat teams won with both defense and offense, whereas this Cavs team will rely more on offense... OKC is more like lebron's Heat, because they can use both at a high level to win games.

Looking at all the teams that can beat the Cavs, OKC by far leads the pack.

[tpols]

I shudder to think what Russell Westbrook would do to Kyrie Irving.. he would absolutely destroy him, and with no rim protection to face once he reaches the second level.

[navy]

no excuses

[Cocaine80s]

Why is op so nervous about Lebron? :pimp:

[Fire Colangelo]

Thunder are still relatively young, it's hard to predict how well they'll do without HCA. Not to mention te west is so stacked that they might not even make the playoffs without Durant for two months.

The 8th seed in the west had 49 wins last year, assuming the same again this year. Durant's out for 2 months so that's around ~30 games. Assuming they go something like 10-20 in their first 30 games, they'd need to go 39-13 (on pace for 61 wins) for the rest of the year to be in the playoffs conversation.

Of course that's assuming OKC don't rush Westbrook/Durant back earlier than schedule.

Anyways, I wouldn't say they're at a good spot at all lol. Never know how that foot injury is gonna bother him.

[russwest0]

If you bet 200 on OKC winning it all right now, your return would be something like 3200 dollars.

I've been thinking about doing it but I don't have much time to think because betting odds change fast.

[KirbyPls]

Why is op so nervous about Lebron? :pimp:

It may have to do with OP's suboptimal post rate.

[theoneneo]

Good chance they don't even make the playoffs

[tpols]

If you bet 200 on OKC winning it all right now, your return would be something like 3200 dollars.

I've been thinking about doing it but I don't have much time to think because betting odds change fast.
They'll probably keep getting better and better over the next month as OKC keeps losing. So you have some time.

[Lakers Legend#32]

As long as they are located in OKC, they are far from the best spot.

[All Net]

Best bench in the league? What? OKC lack of supporting cast is a big factor why they havnt won the title. Their support around their main two is very questionable.

Going through every round on the road? Think that would be too much to overcome

[Done_And_Done]

The road to achieving a playoff birth will be farrrr from a vacation my friend. Brooks is gonna have to play his key cogs into the ground once they get back in hopes of making up all the missed ground. It's gonna be a grind for sure, albeit doable...

[SOD 21]

Best bench in the league? What? OKC lack of supporting cast is a big factor why they havnt won the title. Their support around their main two is very questionable.

Going through every round on the road? Think that would be too much to overcome

I understand what you're trying to say that to say that Oklahoma City is only Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but that seems both unfair and inaccurate.

Ibaka is one of the top shot blockers in the league and also one of the best mid range shooters, not to mention him extending his range at the three-point line, in the NBA. He's a solid 15 ppg scorer and provides elite rim protection.

Ready Jackson is also one of the best sixth men in the league and will likely average 14 or 15 points per game off their bench this year. There are not many bench perimeter players better than he is.

If you want to say that they have a mostly unproven roster after those four, then I understand what you're saying. They do you have Anthony Morrow, who is one of the best catch and shoot and three-point shooters in the league. But it is the rest of this young roster like Adams, Lamb, Jones and Roberson, that have a lot to prove and are mostly unproven. OKC's average age is 25.4 at the start of the season, which is ridiculously young for a championship contender.

Their championship hopes ride on good health from here on out, or maybe I should say after KD and RW return, and the rapid development of these players. Sam Presti is trying to do the nearly impossible balancing act of constantly building for the future and also competing for a championship simultaneously.

[Uncle Drew]

I shudder to think what Russell Westbrook would do to Kyrie Irving.. he would absolutely destroy him, and with no rim protection to face once he reaches the second level.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=irvinky01&p2=westbru01

[All Net]

I understand what you're trying to say that to say that Oklahoma City is only Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but that seems both unfair and inaccurate.

Ibaka is one of the top shop blockers in the league and also one of the best mid range shooters, not to mention him extending his range at the three-point line, in the NBA. He's a solid 15 ppg scorer and provides elite rim protection.

Ready Jackson is also one of the best sixth men in the league and will likely average 14 or 15 points per game off their bench this year. There are not many bench premier players better than he is.

If you want to say that they have a mostly unproven roster after those four then I understand what you're saying. They do you have Anthony Morrow, who is one of the best catch and shoot and three-point shooters in the league. But it is the rest of this young roster like Adams, Lamb, Jones and Roberson, that have a lot to prove and are mostly unproven. OKC's average age is 25.4 at the start of the season, which is ridiculously young for a championship contender.

Their championship hopes ride on good health from here on out, or maybe I should say after KD and RW return, and the rapid development of these players. Sam Presti is trying to do the nearly impossible balancing act of constantly building for the future and also competing for a championship simultaneously.

Their supporting cast is only questionable due to what they did the last few years but going forward they have great potential. It just depends how quickly they develop.

Maybe this year with durant and russ out even if they fail to make the playoffs it might help them going forward as the young guys would of developed a lot who knows.

[lilteapot]

Thunder have nowhere near the best bench in the league. OP is on crack

[tpols]

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=irvinky01&p2=westbru01

53FG is pretty telling.. Russell shoots in the low 40s usually. Plus I'd expect him to play with more intensity in the playoffs like he did last year against a couple of the leagues best pgs.

[SexSymbol]

Words Oklahoma City and best spot should never be used in a sentence together

[SOD 21]

Their supporting cast is only questionable due to what they did the last few years but going forward they have great potential. It just depends how quickly they develop.

Maybe this year with durant and russ out even if they fail to make the playoffs it might help them going forward as the young guys would of developed a lot who knows.

Scott Brooks loves his veteran players and rode those vets like Perkins, Thabo, Fisher and Butler to sometimes absurd levels. But those Scott Brooks safety nets are no longer here, except Perk with a reduced role.

This young group has more physical talent, but one knows how good these youngsters will be by the end of this season and what they will contribute in the playoffs. It is one thing to do it in November, December or January, but time will tell if their commitment to developing this young talent pays off or not.

[3ball]

Words Oklahoma City and best spot should never be used in a sentence together

sure they should - thunder have one of the best benches itl, lamb and adams as starters along with big 3, most athletic team itl....

and of course, the best player in the world.. is coming back for a shortened season at full bore..


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/4f62ee0eb198d0745d8aea59d5c00edb.gif


http://gifsforum.com/images_new/gif/other/grand/70ef58faec3261993659b90b834ca54c.gif

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

Thunder have nowhere near the best bench in the league. OP is on crack
this........WTF u on OP

Chi, Spurs, GS....

[3ball]

this........WTF u on OP

Chi, Spurs, GS....
they have one of the best benches in the league.

reggie jackson, perkins, morrow, and collison is as good as chicago's brooks, hinrich and gibson.

[3ball]

actually, thunder bench matches up with GS too:


reggie jackson > iggy

collison = draymond green

morrow = shaun livingston

perk = festus izili

perry jones < barbosa


pretty close imo... and talent-wise, okc is as good as the spurs, but of course, the spurs' system elevates their entire bench.

[retaxis]

Cavs defence takes a minor hit but their rebounding and second chance opportunities go way up. Plus Kyrie Irving is just as likely to draw multiple fouls on Russel Westbrook as the other way around and Love is going to put Ibaka in foul trouble with ease (too many weapons both Kyrie and Love have). Lebron will post up Durant and make him foul as well. They can't defend Cavs without fouling.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

they have one of the best benches in the league.

reggie jackson, perkins, morrow, and collison is as good as chicago's brooks, hinrich and gibson.
No it isnt:facepalm Perkins is one of the worst players in the league

Chi has Taj whos better than most starting PFs, Hinrich whos a top5 defensive PG, Mirotic, Mcbuckets, Brooks, Snell......
Reggie, PJ and Morrow are the only decent bench players on OKC

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

actually, thunder bench matches up with GS too:


reggie jackson > iggy

collison = draymond green

morrow = shaun livingston

perk = festus izili

perry jones < barbosa


pretty close imo... and talent-wise, okc is as good as the spurs, but of course, the spurs' system elevates their entire bench.
Reggie better than Iggy:roll: :roll: do u even care about defense at all?

collison=draymond:biggums: :biggums: :biggums: :biggums:
im done. youre a dummy:oldlol: :oldlol:

[I<3NBA]

As long as they are located in OKC, they are far from the best spot.
:yaohappy:

[3ball]

Reggie better than Iggy:roll: do u even care about defense at all?

collison=draymond:biggums: :biggums:


reggie jackson is on iggy's level of overall production and impact, and actually, he's a lot better at this point and only getting better.

as for collison and draymond - on a per-100 possession basis (the most unbiased way to look at raw production), they are pretty equal in points, rebounds and assists, except Collison is far more efficient... so neither guy is anything more than a role player off the bench and neither has much of an advantage over the other.

aside from reggie jackson and collison, the thunder still have Morrow and Perk, along with perry jones... thunder have the most athletic team itl and yeah, probably the best bench itl.

[andremiller07]

OKC once fully healthy will not just have a big 3 but a big 5, Adams, Serge, KD, Roberson or Lamb and WB that's a big 5 with the GOAT 6th man coming off the bench in Jackson.

That's stacked, they also got a top 5 PF coming off the bench in Perry Jones. Not even including studs like Lance Thomas either cause it would just be to much.

I have never seen a more stacked team in my life, they would challenge for the 72 win record easy if they were fully healthy.

[JT123]

You're doing it wrong 3ball. Lebron's team is ALWAYS the most stacked in history relative to competition. This ISH law. :no:

[Spurs5Rings2014]

OKC once fully healthy will not just have a big 3 but a big 5, Adams, Serge, KD, Roberson or Lamb and WB that's a big 5 with the GOAT 6th man coming off the bench in Jackson.

That's stacked, they also got a top 5 PF coming off the bench in Perry Jones. Not even including studs like Lance Thomas either cause it would just be to much.

I have never seen a more stacked team in my life, they would challenge for the 72 win record easy if they were fully healthy.

:biggums:

[NBAplayoffs2001]

Why is op so nervous about Lebron? :pimp:

Why is you in green?

[Hoopz2332]

I shudder to think what Russell Westbrook would do to Kyrie Irving.. he would absolutely destroy him, and with no rim protection to face once he reaches the second level.


:coleman:


OKC doesn't scare me at all:oldlol:


Cavs lesser 2 of the big 4


Kyrie Irving Full Highlights 2014.02.26 at Thunder - 31 Pts, 9 Assists, 4 Stls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nPEtsB7bk&app=desktop&hd=1


Kyrie Irving 13pts in the last 2:51 against OKC Thunder (2013.02.02)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIANMqJX0ig&hd=1


Kyrie Irving Amazing Game Winner vs Thunder - February 2, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU8cwekPbPU&hd=1


.
.
.



Dion Waiters Full Highlights 2014.03.20 vs Thunder - 30 Pts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJEnRvrTXI&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.




Cavs big 2


Kevin Love Scores 51 points 14 Rebounds & Seven 3 Pointers! :eek: (Thunder cant guard Bosh on the perimeter so you know Love gonna style on them!)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeJYRnZ37yg&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.


:lebronamazed:



LeBron James Stampedes the Thunder in OKC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMQsCX0z74&hd=1


LeBron catches fire to end 1st half!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c26cnWlK2Ms&hd=1


Nightly Notable: LeBron Torches the Thunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ClVgLKEKk&hd=1

LeBron & Durant battle to close 1st half of season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaTbGGGm354&hd=1



http://i.imgur.com/09aOjoz.png



:oldlol:




Throwback

LeBron James Game winning block on Kevin Durrant at end of Game 1 23 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_NvujgnpI&hd=1

owning Durant since his Cavs days:lol

Lebron James 1st Half Dunk Highlights vs Thunder 12-13-09 (44pts / 7rbs / 6assist / 4stls)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPusHKKGP78&hd=1


:bowdown:




Lebron James triple-double (26PTS, 11REB, 13AST) vs Thunder full highlights (2012 NBA Finals GM5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGvgkwOcuIY&hd=1




http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/hT5Hx.jpg

[NBAplayoffs2001]

:coleman:


OKC doesn't scare me at all:oldlol:


Cavs lesser 2 of the big 4


Kyrie Irving Full Highlights 2014.02.26 at Thunder - 31 Pts, 9 Assists, 4 Stls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nPEtsB7bk&app=desktop&hd=1


Kyrie Irving 13pts in the last 2:51 against OKC Thunder (2013.02.02)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIANMqJX0ig&hd=1


Kyrie Irving Amazing Game Winner vs Thunder - February 2, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU8cwekPbPU&hd=1


.
.
.



Dion Waiters Full Highlights 2014.03.20 vs Thunder - 30 Pts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJEnRvrTXI&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.




Cavs big 2


Kevin Love Scores 51 points 14 Rebounds & Seven 3 Pointers! :eek: (Thunder cant guard Bosh on the perimeter so you know Love gonna style on them!)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeJYRnZ37yg&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.


:lebronamazed:



LeBron James Stampedes the Thunder in OKC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMQsCX0z74&hd=1


LeBron catches fire to end 1st half!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c26cnWlK2Ms&hd=1


Nightly Notable: LeBron Torches the Thunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ClVgLKEKk&hd=1

LeBron & Durant battle to close 1st half of season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaTbGGGm354&hd=1



http://i.imgur.com/09aOjoz.png



:oldlol:




Throwback

LeBron James Game winning block on Kevin Durrant at end of Game 1 23 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_NvujgnpI&hd=1

owning Durant since his Cavs days:lol

Lebron James 1st Half Dunk Highlights vs Thunder 12-13-09 (44pts / 7rbs / 6assist / 4stls)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPusHKKGP78&hd=1


:bowdown:




Lebron James triple-double (26PTS, 11REB, 13AST) vs Thunder full highlights (2012 NBA Finals GM5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGvgkwOcuIY&hd=1




http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/hT5Hx.jpg

I miss being in green. You need to get negged.

[tpols]

:coleman:


OKC doesn't scare me at all:oldlol:


Cavs lesser 2 of the big 4


Kyrie Irving Full Highlights 2014.02.26 at Thunder - 31 Pts, 9 Assists, 4 Stls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3nPEtsB7bk&app=desktop&hd=1


Kyrie Irving 13pts in the last 2:51 against OKC Thunder (2013.02.02)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIANMqJX0ig&hd=1


Kyrie Irving Amazing Game Winner vs Thunder - February 2, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU8cwekPbPU&hd=1


.
.
.



Dion Waiters Full Highlights 2014.03.20 vs Thunder - 30 Pts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJEnRvrTXI&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.




Cavs big 2


Kevin Love Scores 51 points 14 Rebounds & Seven 3 Pointers! :eek: (Thunder cant guard Bosh on the perimeter so you know Love gonna style on them!)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeJYRnZ37yg&app=desktop&hd=1


.
.
.


:lebronamazed:



LeBron James Stampedes the Thunder in OKC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tMQsCX0z74&hd=1


LeBron catches fire to end 1st half!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c26cnWlK2Ms&hd=1


Nightly Notable: LeBron Torches the Thunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ClVgLKEKk&hd=1

LeBron & Durant battle to close 1st half of season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaTbGGGm354&hd=1



http://i.imgur.com/09aOjoz.png



:oldlol:




Throwback

LeBron James Game winning block on Kevin Durrant at end of Game 1 23 2010

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN_NvujgnpI&hd=1

owning Durant since his Cavs days:lol

Lebron James 1st Half Dunk Highlights vs Thunder 12-13-09 (44pts / 7rbs / 6assist / 4stls)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPusHKKGP78&hd=1


:bowdown:




Lebron James triple-double (26PTS, 11REB, 13AST) vs Thunder full highlights (2012 NBA Finals GM5)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGvgkwOcuIY&hd=1




http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/hT5Hx.jpg

You don't wanna see San Antonio though. :oldlol:

[poido123]

Last year Durant was fatigued going into the playoffs due to having a Top 20 all-time regular season.

This year, he gets a two month vacation to start the year - broken foot... so he will not fall off physically in the playoffs this year because he'll only be playing a 50 game regular season, with the utmost attention paid to taking it slow early on and monitoring health more carefully than before... by the playoffs, he'll feel physically the way he felt last March.

Russel Westbrook gets a month off, so ditto for him, although he didn't need the break like Durant did.

If you look at the Thunder and the Cavs rosters, the Thunder's is way better - better quality up top, and far deeper, probably the best bench in the league.

But more importantly than just on paper - lebron's heat teams won with both defense and offense, whereas this Cavs team will rely more on offense... OKC is more like lebron's Heat, because they can use both at a high level to win games.

Looking at all the teams that can beat the Cavs, OKC by far leads the pack.


mentally fresh sure, but is he going to be physically where he needs to be by the Playoffs?

Not that easy. But there is o doubt once Westbrook and Durant are back to health, the Thunder team will be the ones to beat out west IMO.

warriors/okc/Spurs look to be the true contenders in the west for mine.

[Hoopz2332]

You don't wanna see San Antonio though. :oldlol:


Spurs are a high IQ team not the Thunder though. ISO's all day:oldlol: Thunder would be quick work:applause:

[KDthunderup]

OKC doesn't scare me at all:oldlol:




Proceeds to write half a page worth of stuff with several links and stats he spent time sourcing out

Suuuuuuuure mate :lol

[Hoopz2332]

Proceeds to write half a page worth of stuff with several links and stats he spent time sourcing out

Suuuuuuuure mate :lol


I got this


http://i.imgur.com/09aOjoz.png


All I need:pimp:

[imnew09]

If you bet 200 on OKC winning it all right now, your return would be something like 3200 dollars.

I've been thinking about doing it but I don't have much time to think because betting odds change fast.

they might get better when OKC about to miss the playoff

[KDthunderup]

I got this


http://i.imgur.com/09aOjoz.png


All I need:pimp:
Durant putting up stats consistent against player in his prime :bowdown: :bowdown:

[Hoopz2332]

Durant putting up stats consistent against player in his prime :bowdown: :bowdown:

10-3:oldlol: 54fg% to 49%

[KDthunderup]

10-3:oldlol: 54fg% to 49%
It's a team game brah

Still stands that Durant has stood head to toe with Bran even with Bran in his prime and majority of KD not being in his.

Pretty telling really.

[Hoopz2332]

It's a team game brah

Still stands that Durant has stood head to toe with Bran even with Bran in his prime and majority of KD not being in his.

Pretty telling really.


http://i.imgur.com/pKxkwYb.jpg

[KDthunderup]

Dude clutching at straws now :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Kvnzhangyay]

http://i.imgur.com/pKxkwYb.jpg


:applause: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

[Hoopz2332]

Dude clutching at straws now :roll: :roll: :roll:


clutching at straws? Lebron owns Durant

10-3 reg season

4-1 playoffs

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1199581/kdsad_medium.gif

[Fudge]

Hoopz copying and pasting the same posts from the past year. :roll:

[Hoopz2332]

Hoopz copying and pasting the same posts from the past year. :roll:

..they haven't faced off this year so of course Im posting stuff from previous seasons:biggums:

[Fudge]

..they haven't faced off this year so of course Im posting stuff from previous seasons:biggums:
But you copy + paste posts, is all i'm saying, bro. :oldlol: Don't get angry now.

[KDthunderup]

But you copy + paste posts, is all i'm saying, bro. :oldlol: Don't get angry now.
Dude pretends like he doesn't care but he is non stop with his posts about KD :lol :lol :lol