Comments on: NBA Season Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder

By: KOBEshigawa

KOBEshigawa — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:38:39 +0000

Basically, the Thunder just have to be good enough to win three more games, right? Not so much. The key to this season for them will be if they can defend better with the best players on the floor. As dynamic as Westbrook, Durant and Harden are offensively, they have to be able to lock teams down like Bosh, Wade and Bron do in crunch time. This way, Perkins can stay off the floor and the team will be able to go small with Ibaka and Maynor, and thus a more potent team towards the end of games. The Thunder need to step up in this way not just to beat Miami, but keep pace with the Lakers and a Spurs team that they were lucky to beat last year – http://thegreatmambino.blogspot.com/2012/10/winning-three-more-games-oklahoma-city.html

By: brokerhenry

brokerhenry — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 20:00:21 +0000

@Paulhargis: You are absolutely right that games are not won on paper. Last season, Mike Wilbon, Jim Rome, Tony Kornheiser, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and many more picked the Thunder to win in 5 games or 6 because they were the better more complete team on paper. The Heat were having none of that. This year, the Heat are deeper than they were last year and will face either the Lakers or the Thunder unless something unthinkable happens to derail one of the three teams listed. The chances of that happening in under one percent. LeBron has seen how winning is like an aphrodisiac. I am telling you right now. The Miami Heat will steamroll everybody in such a way that we have not seen in a long time. They will win this thing. My prediction is that the Boston Celtics will not win one game against this bunch in the Eastern Conference Finals. If that happens, my prediction of a repeat will happen. These guys are not losing this year. By the way, I am not Brian Windhorst. I just moved from Margate, Florida to Sydney, Australia.

By: tk41

tk41 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:40:50 +0000

Looks like Brian Windhorst has a pseudonym!

By: dysraw1

dysraw1 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:18:34 +0000

this is the guys i picked last year to go all the way,this year i know sounds crazy but i like the Nuggets.

By: passerby23

passerby23 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 17:03:09 +0000

Thanks for the long-winded post about the Heat on the OKC Thunder review page. The title is no gimme for the Heat this year, although I still think they are the favorites. My pick is the Lakers right now.

As for OKC, I think 63 wins is a bit high. I think they will go 60-22 and secure the 2nd seed again. Should be an epic showdown with the Lakers again.

By: connaniii

connaniii — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:45:16 +0000

Hey Moore, have you ever heard of a guy named Serge Ibaka? you don’t even mention the guy; and although he’s got to improve on his defence and post play he’s the best freaking shot blocker in the whole darn league!

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:30:45 +0000

OKC Thunder finished 9th in defensive efficiency. It seems odd to me that a team starting 3 defensive specialists (Perkins, Ibaka, Sefolosha) wouldn’t break the top-5. It might be time to admit that Perkins is too slow to be effective against athletic/quick teams and just a disaster on offense. The Heat always made a run when Perkins was on the floor in the finals because he couldn’t guard any of the Heat forwards. I’m not saying they should go small-ball like everybody else but they need more versatility at center.

By: michaeljordanseviltwin

michaeljordanseviltwin — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:26:45 +0000

Russell Westbrook is a phenomenal athlete and basketball player but he took a step back last season. His assists per game went from 8 in 2010, 8.2 in 2011, to 5.5 last year. Some of that is the result of the offense running through Durant more frequently, but the rest is Westbrook trying to prove something with his touches. Rather than facilitating the offense he was trying to score points which isn’t good for the Thunder. His usage rate jumped a point last year and he took twice as many 3′s at a lower percentage.

The Thunder also finished dead last in assists. They remind me of the late 80′s Bulls where every guy played played 1-on-1 offense, trying to get theirs because the star was going to get his regardless. They were still effective offensively but they could be unstoppable with some ball movement and play-calling.

By: paulhargis53

paulhargis53 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:10:08 +0000

Spoken like a true homer, henry.

There is a couple of old adages.

Games are not won on paper.
That’s why they play the games.

You’d do well to rememv

By: brokerhenry

brokerhenry — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:51:37 +0000

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a damn good team. They are very well put together. The Miami Heat are also very good. The year the Heat first came together, we heard how they could not beat the good teams. At one time, they were 1 and 12 against teams with winning records. They then got to the finals and wilted under intense pressure form the Mavericks. This past season, the Heat withstood everything the Thunder threw at them and they won the championship. They won because their main guys played insane minutes and with the burning desire to not be disbanded and branded a failure. It also helped that they were able to masticate on all the hatred directed their way and derive energy from that hate.

In 2010 the Miami Heat had no depth. The Thunder had a great bench. In 2011 the Heat had a so so bench. In 2012 the Heat are loaded. They do not have a true great center, but with Bosh playing the 5, they will make do. I believe that last year was the last time anyone could beat the Heat. If they are healthy come playoffs time, NO ONE(!) is stopping these guys. These guys want to win. LeBron wants to take Dan Gilbert’s face to a meat saw and then ask him how is rear end tastes.

The Heat will open with Bosh at Center, LeBron at Small Forward or Power Forward, Battier at Power Forward or Small Forward, Dwyane Wade at Shooting Guard and Mario Chalmers at Point Guard. Depending on the opposing line up, they may start Ray Allen in place of Mario Chalmers and LeBron will play Point Forward. I think the league is in for a rude treatment from these guys. I think the Heat are going to go for the Bulls record number of wins and I think they will finish number one overall in the East. I don’t see them getting the wins record because Coach Spoelstra will rightly let them know that is not their main target.

I do not see Dwyane Wade or LeBron attempting any shots beyond 12 feet of the basket unless it is wide open. There just is no need for it. LeBron is slashing to the basket with D-Wade and Bosh will be 12 to 18 feet from the basket. I see Dwyane and LeBron setting free throw records this year. Ray Allen and Battier will not attempt any shots from within the arc. How in the world can anyone beat the Heat with their emasculating defense? Not happening. No way.

By: jerdogthompson

jerdogthompson — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:45:27 +0000

Bring in the Thunder baby. Only team to beat them 3 outta 4 games last season?

It’s a new season with new hopes,players, aspirations….,,,,,,

It’s all good, we shall see who stands upon the West in no time shortly.

By: cosanostra71

cosanostra71 — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 03:36:05 +0000

don’t understand the dig at Westbrook not being able to defend in the same mold as Nash… Westbrook is a much better defender than Nash…