|
|
Post by mistwell on Apr 24, 2019 13:32:56 GMT -8
I think Dame might have put an end to the Russ era in OKC. Thunder are in the same position the Clippers were before trading CP and Blake. That team will go nowhere with Russ, PG and Adams eating up all of that cap space. They need to clean house. They don’t have a savvy front office like we do. They should trade us PG for two firsts, two seconds, Robinson and Gallinari. Heck, I'd even do Shamet instead of Robinson. |
|
|
|
Post by clipps on Apr 24, 2019 13:39:47 GMT -8
I think Dame might have put an end to the Russ era in OKC. Thunder are in the same position the Clippers were before trading CP and Blake. That team will go nowhere with Russ, PG and Adams eating up all of that cap space. They need to clean house. They don’t have a savvy front office like we do. They should trade us PG for two firsts, two seconds, Robinson and Gallinari. Heck, I'd even do Shamet instead of Robinson. Is this really Mistwell or did Magic, Daryl Morey or Stan avan Gundy hack your account? |
|
|
|
Post by hitnrun24 on Apr 24, 2019 17:33:19 GMT -8
I don't see how they get off of Russ, he's a tough guy to build around but they desperately need shooting around him. Adams may be the casualty because as good as he is, it's tough with him when Russ can't shoot. George is by far their best player and he'd probably be unhappy if they trade Russell away since he committed to them to play with him. Even if they build perfectly and get those guys who can play good defense and shoot, you still have the issue that your point guard wants to shoot the ball a lot inefficiently. Honestly Russ is just not worth much, he'd have to be on a team where he is the 3rd or 4th option and surrounded by shooters and I don't see his ego allowing that.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2019 18:54:35 GMT -8
I don't see how they get off of Russ, he's a tough guy to build around but they desperately need shooting around him. Adams may be the casualty because as good as he is, it's tough with him when Russ can't shoot. George is by far their best player and he'd probably be unhappy if they trade Russell away since he committed to them to play with him. Even if they build perfectly and get those guys who can play good defense and shoot, you still have the issue that your point guard wants to shoot the ball a lot inefficiently. Honestly Russ is just not worth much, he'd have to be on a team where he is the 3rd or 4th option and surrounded by shooters and I don't see his ego allowing that. Analytics has been around for a while now. Why are people just now figuring out that you can't build a team around a high volume/low percentage scorer like Westbrook or Wall? Any knucklehead looking at the advanced stats of the 2011-12 Thunder would have kept Durant and Harden and let Westbrook go. |
|
|
|
Post by clippers1121 on Apr 25, 2019 8:29:35 GMT -8
And in other news Donovan Mitchell goes 4 for 22 and causes the Jazz to wash out of the playoffs last night. Like Westbrook, he decided to play hero ball in the last quarter and virtually shot them out of the game. And it was not the first time he did that in the series. Jazz never did play that well on offense against the Rockets. They should have won this game. Rockets are not a tough team to beat when you guard their pick and roll and when they are not hitting their three pointers. If we advanced we would have a decent shot at beating them. They don't appear to be as good as last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 9:10:17 GMT -8
Dame Lillard, what a special moment that was. That guy is everything you want in a superstar. Great player, great leader, not whiny, doesn't care about teaming up. Just a great baller. I was a day late in watching the Thunder-Trail Blazers game. Thankfully nothing was spoiled for me. I'm not sure I've seen a game like that. The Portland was up 9, then the Thunder had their 30 - 6 run, followed by Portland's 21 - 6 run. At any of those points, in a normal game, the game would have been "over". Either when Portland went up 9, or when the Thunder went on a 30 - 6 run for a 15 point lead, or when Portland had their 21 - 6 run. McCollum was also big with a few floaters in the 4th. And Harkless with his made FTs. And Paul George missed 3 FTs in the last 5:31. Any of those would have changed the outcome. As for Lillard's shot, I've always thought of him as a very good shooter. He was wide open. As that article points out, he's really good from that range. He probably only takes open shots. He's not like someone else, who might take a contested 37 footer. So if he's a very good shooter, and only takes open shots, then it's a good shot for him. I usually don't like games decided by a "lucky shot". Or a super contested shot that goes in. If someone makes a game-winner, I want it to be on a good play (the defense does contest the shot, but the offense makes them work and gets open). I don't like game-winners where the defense had a clear lapse, or someone makes a shot while off balance and falling. I hope Lillard didn't take that shot only because he was at home. Because in the playoffs, you can't just assume the home team will win overtime games. I'll bet overtime games are more 50/50 in the playoffs, than in the regular season. And in the playoffs, if a team loses an overtime game, it hurts more than it does in the regular season. The Thunder, in addition to their missed FTs, committed several bad fouls. One criticism of Portland could be their play when the Thunder were on their 30 - 6 run. Bad defense, contested 3-pointers. They weren't playing smart at all. They were giving too much space to 3-point shooters, and didn't vary it up. Both credit to the Thunder, but it shouldn't have extended as much as it did if Portland had changed how they were playing. I've really liked how Lillard has played PG this year. He's become good at setting up others, and doesn't just shoot it every time. He really knows how to get Aminu, Harkless the ball, as well as Kanter and Nurkic. And again, this was a nice series to watch, because Westbrook and Lillard guarded each other for most of the games. |
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 9:29:47 GMT -8
I don't see how they get off of Russ, he's a tough guy to build around but they desperately need shooting around him. Adams may be the casualty because as good as he is, it's tough with him when Russ can't shoot. George is by far their best player and he'd probably be unhappy if they trade Russell away since he committed to them to play with him. Even if they build perfectly and get those guys who can play good defense and shoot, you still have the issue that your point guard wants to shoot the ball a lot inefficiently. Honestly Russ is just not worth much, he'd have to be on a team where he is the 3rd or 4th option and surrounded by shooters and I don't see his ego allowing that. He's already taken a step back this year and Paul George was the main scorer in the regular season.
Things could continue to go in that direction.
I don't like the fit of Schroder with Westbrook. Too many inefficient shooters. Changing that would be a starting point for me.
The Thunder defense has been pretty good the last few years.
They could just continue to work with it.
I think trading away Kanter was bad.
Look at how many years Portland struggled with roster construction, until they got it right this year with Kanter and Seth Curry added to their mix.
OKC could do the same, if they realize that they need more efficient players.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 9:32:29 GMT -8
I don't see how they get off of Russ, he's a tough guy to build around but they desperately need shooting around him. Adams may be the casualty because as good as he is, it's tough with him when Russ can't shoot. George is by far their best player and he'd probably be unhappy if they trade Russell away since he committed to them to play with him. Even if they build perfectly and get those guys who can play good defense and shoot, you still have the issue that your point guard wants to shoot the ball a lot inefficiently. Honestly Russ is just not worth much, he'd have to be on a team where he is the 3rd or 4th option and surrounded by shooters and I don't see his ego allowing that. Analytics has been around for a while now. Why are people just now figuring out that you can't build a team around a high volume/low percentage scorer like Westbrook or Wall? Any knucklehead looking at the advanced stats of the 2011-12 Thunder would have kept Durant and Harden and let Westbrook go. They had the # 4 ranked defense. That counts for something.
Same with Wall. His defense is a big part of his value.
2 years ago, he got to the foul line 6.8 times a game, was an 80% FT shooter, and averaged 2 steals a game. His defense, and ability to get to the foul line are a part of his value.
2 years ago, he had a 23 PER.
Injuries have hurt the past 2 years. If he can't stay healthy going forward, then it's a problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 10:29:59 GMT -8
I look at a team like Portland and OKC as having opposite strengths.
For years, Portland had the shooting but would get bounced due to poor defense. They were last in opponents FG% in the playoffs last year with allowing over 50% shooting.
They had similar problems against Memphis in 2015.
Lillard is a great shooter, but their teams weren't good at defense.
This year, they've made improvements, as they're 7th in opponents FG% in the playoffs.
For OKC, they have the defense, but need better offense. Having the 4th ranked defense is not something to throw away.
Because Westbrook is not efficient sometimes, they need more efficient players around him. Get rid of Schroder. Imagine if they had Kanter back, or Harrell, or Gallinari, etc. Just like Portland needed to improve their defense, OKC needs to improve their offense.
OKC swept the 4 game season series against Utah, for example. That counts for something.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 17:39:25 GMT -8
Nuggets-Spurs game 6:
Game 6 is on now.
Spurs had a 10 point lead, then the Nuggets took the lead.
71-73 midway through the 3rd.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 25, 2019 17:41:07 GMT -8
Murray has played well this series.
|
|
|
|
Post by clipps on Apr 25, 2019 20:13:28 GMT -8
I’m pulling for the Nuggets as a Denver resident. Maybe we’ll face them in the WCF.
|
|
|
|
Post by griffin5 on Apr 26, 2019 0:53:39 GMT -8
The pressure is on the Nuggets now. Can Jokic and Murray play good to get the win at home? Will be an interesting game but I'm still going with the Spurs. I think Poeltl played very well too.
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 26, 2019 10:07:01 GMT -8
You know a play is big when there's different international replays of it.
The Korean one is the best, because they say "Dame Time".
|
|
|
|
Post by nuraman00 on Apr 27, 2019 17:21:58 GMT -8
Dame Lillard, what a special moment that was. That guy is everything you want in a superstar. Great player, great leader, not whiny, doesn't care about teaming up. Just a great baller. Philly with Embiid and Simmons has become the new team with too many whiny players (replacing the Clippers and a little bit the Rockets).
The Thunder also get a lot of technicals, but they're not as drawn out, IMO.
|
|
