Comments on: Is The Thunder A Contender Or Pretender?

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:38:52 +0000

@MartzMimic Please don’t think that I have anything against Manu. I just don’t believe that bringing in any other outside shooter is the answer. Nor do I believe that the Thunder necessarily need better 3 point shooting from James at this time. I believe at the root of the problem is their lack of confidence in their inside physical game and this lack of confidence inside does affect their outside shot.
I am encouraged that Thunder is moving in right direction. Trust your big men to play inside. Keep the ball moving, keep, keep fighting inside, and keep attacking the rim. Go Thunder!!!

By: Trading Green for Nene is a viable option « Thunderous Intentions | An Oklahoma City Thunder blog

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 02:29:27 +0000

[...] The Daily Oklahoma writers question whether or not the Thunder is a championship contender. [...]

By: MartzMimic

MartzMimic — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 01:56:22 +0000

@Matthew
Please know I wasn’t saying we needed Manu Ginobli, but simply got a kick out of my phone autocorrecting “many” to “Manu.”

I still think Harden can be our three-point specialist. It doesn’t matter so much to me if he starts, but I do think he needs to be playing closer to 30 minutes a night. Even with the horrific start to the season and his recent slump, his shooting percentages are still above (barely) last season.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:12:31 +0000

The 3-point shooters will be more open if the Thunder can acquire at least 1 post player who can muscle, rebound, and score in the paint. Nobody on the roster now can do that.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:34:02 +0000

I agree with most of what Darnell says, all or MartzMimic’s first paragraph and none of his second. However, I am a little encouraged by the last couple of games. Thunder is starting to experiment with getting a larger lineup on the floor, starting to really work at better ball movement with the goal at working the ball inside for a higher % shot at the rim and Thunder is slowly starting to commit to playing a more physical determined inside game. No Thunder does not have a dominating big man, but collectively as a group they match up with anyone. Just got to trust them and be determined to win the physical inside game. Thunder was actually beating the Lakers inside and therefore on course to winning the game by turning LA into a jump shooting team till they got rattled by a little 3 by fish and completely abandoned a winning inside game in favor of trying to out jump shoot LA. Playing all your big men outside is inane. The game is won inside. Keep fighting Thunder, you are better inside than you think you are.

By: El Prez

El Prez — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:38:23 +0000

The home loss against Dallas without Dirk told me all I needed to know before this two game road swing. We’re better than being called a pretender, but only a contender in the sense we’re competing for the No. 4 seed and no higher. In the NFL — you only have to beat a team once to advance in post season. In the NBA—you have to win four separate four out of seven series to win the championship–and there is no way this team has that type of complete game to acheive that far ranging goal. They need a three point shooter–and a another big who is a defensive specialist in the paint. I don’t necessarily believe they need a low post offensive presence because basically Russ gets to the rim whenever he wants to. Michael Jordan won championships with Bill Cartwright, Will Perdue and Stacy King. But Sam Presti does have to fill those two shortcomings. Actually–I thought they played decent on the two game swing–except for the tough shooting nights by Kevin.

A contender for No. 4 in the West…and when you realisticly appraise the comparitive payrolls of LA, San Anonio and Dallas compared to the Thunder—what would make anyone think more is realistic at this point?

By: MartzMimic

MartzMimic — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Not that I really disagree with any of the sentiments, but Darnell is probably the closest to what I’d say. I would probably add that in the second half of many games, they go away from driving to the rim and start shooting too many jump shots.

(The first time I tried to spell “many,” my iPhone corrected it to “Manu.” Even my phone knows we need better three-point shooters, though it doesn’t seem to realize the salary cap considerations.)