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- Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 3:51pm #37092
aamir543ParticipantAt the halfway point, there don’t seem to be many teams outside of the playoff race that seem primed to make a run in outside of the T-Wolves and the declining Blazers, but let’s take a look at how the West’s top team is doing
Thunder- The Tunder are in a great position. Their two best players are playing well and they are winning consistently. Harden has given them a great scoring boost off the bench, and Kendrick Perkins is quietly shaping into form. I like them particularly because they know who they’re gonna run their offense through each time down the floor. Scott Brooks runs beautiful plays that allow Durant and Westbrook to compliment each other beautifully. Serge Ibaka is stil very raw offensively, however he is a menace on defense. A shot blocker is a great luxary to have, and we fail to realize that five blocks in a 3 point game could very well have been the deciding factor.
As great as they have played this season, their defense will to the key to lifting that trophy at the end of the season. If they can continue to clamp down defensively, it’ll make things even easier for them. One of the reasons the Thunder are a slightly better defensive team is the play of Westbrook on the defensive side of the ball. He’s always been a pretty good denfender, however it always seemed as if he would rely on pure athleticism on D, now he sticks to his principles and tries to lock down his man.
And also, people look at Westbrook’s assists and compare them to his average from last season, and see the increase in his points and think that he has started looking more for his own shot, and shouldn’t runt the point anymore, and although he has been looking for his own shot a bit more, part of the reason is that at times Durant runs and initiates the offense, which explains why his turnovers are a bit high, but I read that the Thunder’s ultimate goal is for his to average 5 assists, and while that is still a work in progress, Durant’s ability to run the point, thus allow Westbrook to move off the ball is very important. It may not be as huge a factor this season, but having to worry about Durant trying to create his own shot, while at the same time trying to keep a tab on Westbrook moving without the ball, and James Harden moving along the baseline, KP or Iblocka waiting for hte dumpoff, and Daquean Cook camping out at the three point line, that’s very difficult to guard.
For me, I have no doubt that the Thunder will be a tough out with just Durant and Westbrook doing their thing, but the knockout blow could very well be James Harden. He is averaging 17 ppg on a career high 47% from the field, in just 31 minutes a game. He has improved each season in the league, and can also initiate the offense as well. He gets a lot of open midrange and Three point shots as a result of KD and Westbrook driving. If all three of these guys are clicking, I don’t think anyone other than the Heat have a chance of beating them
The only scare I have is their bench. Outside of the three, Ibaka is averaging 8.5 a game, and no onelse is averaging more than 6 a game. They don’t need their bench to score, they need them to give them hustle on defense and play off the others, but at some point someone will have to step up and take the burden off the other three.
Overall, the Thunder are headed in a great direction not only for this season but also for the future. They have a very good chance of playing in June, they are my favorites right now, but even I would still take the field over any one team.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 5:22pm #644685
Memphis MadnessParticipantGood analysis of the Thunder. They have one of the best Big Three trios in the league.
One thing that stood out in the all-star game was how Durant and Westbrook were two of the three
best players in the West along with Kobe and two of the top five guys in the game along with LeBron and
Wade.Harden is a great sixth man and a good complement as the third wheel. If Durant is Jordanesque then Harden’s game
is similar to Scottie Pippen’s.Their two big men are tough and unsung with Ibaka being a high flying shot blocker with Perkins being a tough low post defender.
Nick Collison brings the same level of intensity and toughness of the bench along with a better jumper. Those three bigs gave the Grizzlies fits
last year in the playoffs and gradually wore down Z Bo.I also think that the Thunder need another scorer. A guy who can give them 10 or so points a night. I like Cook a lot since he can hit 3’s to open up the offense but he and Ibaka are their 4th and 5th options on offense and I think the team can do better. What it means is that Durant,
Westbrook, and Harden all have to be on their games for the Thunder to win in the playoffs. They cannot afford to have one of those three take the night off.I really think that the Thunder should have signed Shane Battier. He’s a guy who could have given them 8-10 points a night
to go along with a few rebounds and 3’s. He’s also a great leader and smart defender. He can play solid defense on wings like Kobe, LeBron, Carmelo, and Rudy Gay. He would have been a great guy to bring off the bench at small forward, and even some power forward if they decided to go small. If they moved Harden to the starting lineup then the Thunder would still have three guys off the bench who could get some points with Battier, Cook, and Collison.Right now the Thunder are the best of the West and clearly in the top two in the league along with the Heat.
The Western Conference playoffs will be tough and I can see the Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies, and Spurs giving them trouble.
But, if their Big Three bring their A games and if their bigs rebound and defend with the other guys hitting some timely shots the. The Thunder
have a great shot of winning the NBA title.Yeah, they might be a guy a way from a dynasty but their Big Three is in place with some solid bigs and Collison/Cook off the bench so it’s not like they need a ton of help. Just a guy who can post up some, hit jumpers, help out on the boards, pass a little, and play solid defense. Basically what they need is a glue guy off the bench who can play inside with the ability to step out and hit a mid range jumper.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 6:56pm #644717
all-star snubParticipantthunder are pretenders beat a denver squad that just had a big trade barely beat memphis without gay and dallas lit them up. 2nd round exit
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 7:16pm #644722
db24kb24Participantif Lakers pick up sessions they lose in conference finals. If not they lose to MIA in finals.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 7:27pm #644723
DondiJohnParticipantIn my opinion, they still lack an Inside / Post Game. They should have this 3rd or 4th option that has a back to the basket game.Their offense runs through isolations, screens and pick n rolls for Durant Westbrook and Harden. Imagine if they can get a post threat. If they get this threat, they’re a lock for the NBA Finals.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 11:01pm #644756
rickybobbyParticipantI been thinking they should try and get Kaman for a while now, He gives you everything that Perkins do defensively and hes better on the boards and has a low post game. OKC doesnt have the young pieces for the Hornets so its going to have to be a 3 or 4 team trade involving Perkins. Maybe GSW who wants a Center and to become more defensive or Portland, Charlotte, Toronto who need a Bigman. But teams may be cautious to trade for Perk because he seems he only wants to play for winning teams or teams on the rise.
0 - Posted on: Tue, 03/06/2012 - 11:51pm #644759
omphalosParticipant"He gives you everything that Perkins do defensively"… Um, not quite. Perk’s true defensive impact doesn’t show up on the stat sheet, but trust me, he’s head and shoulders above Kaman defensively.
I’m thinking they should target Brook Lopez. He’ll be a RFA as far as I’m aware, and if Jersey goes after Dwight they might let him walk for a reasonable price. Lopez isn’t a great rebounder, but alongside Ibaka/Durant/Westbrook/Collison who are all good rebounders for their position it won’t be such a bad thing, plus his scoring inside would be a great weapon. He runs the floor pretty well too so would also fit in with their running game.
Of course, that would be an issue for next season. For now I think they really could win it all, Durant and Westbrook are young and confident enough not to be intimidated by Wade and Lebron. Durant is one of the few players I’ve seen (along with Rudy Gay and Kobe) who will go right at Lebron without hesitation, and he’s such a talented scorer that it usually pays off. Russ is only giving up an inch or so on Wade and matches him on athleticism, so should be able to limit his impact. The Thunder match up really well against the Heat, and if they can make it past the Lakers, Mavs and Clippers then this could be their year.
I could see the Lakers’ length really hurting them, the Mavs have a mental edge after those comeback wins in their series last season, and we’ve all seen how CP3 can take his game to another level in the post-season. Memphis is a dark horse to take them in the playoffs, but it depends on how Randolph gels when/if he returns.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 03/07/2012 - 12:34am #644762
NYK2010ParticipantOKC is capped out all they can offer Lopez is the MLE in free agency.
You’d have to say OKC is the best team out West.
Dallas is weak at PG, C and Carter and Odom aren’t getting it done either.
The Spurs are old, who nows if they stay healthy even and who’s guarding Durant?
Lakers are awful at PG, SF and on the bench they’d play OKC tough but lose the series as of today.
Grizzlies are an interesting team once Zebo is back.
Denver lacks the superstar and defense.
Clippers have a shot with but they need to make a move for a SG to put them over the top. Also in the half court who can make a big shot outside of CP3, Butler needs to step up.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 03/07/2012 - 2:49am #644768
PulseGlazerParticipantOKC is the best out West, but there’s at least 3 Western teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see beat them – the Grizzlies, the Mavs, and San Antonio. I’d be pretty shocked, but at least the Lakers and Nuggets have a real shot, as well. Their defensive efficiency ratings worry me, as does their end game playcalling.
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