Comments on: Expect a Change in Kevin Durant’s Substitution Pattern

By: John Khan

John Khan — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:10:19 +0000

I meant when OKC signed Perkins.

By: John Khan

John Khan — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 03:08:42 +0000

I am sorry but the day OKC signed I was Pissed off. They could have signed Chandler from Dallas.What are the chances of OKC getting Anderson Verajao from Cleveland. He is the kind of player we are missing in the Team. Today’s kind of a legit Five man who can move, is scrappy can score and play defense. Cleveland needs to rebuild and could use Draft picks. Maybe Jones 111 to Cleveland.

By: joe

joe — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:10:10 +0000

I agree that Perkins is not very effective in games that require rebounding, scoring, block shots and a center’s body to move the opponent’s center out of the paint to get the rebounds. My guess is that Brooks and Presti don’t have the minds of centers and power forwards, but only small ball for guards positions. With that in their minds, the Thunder will not improve through the years, like the Lakers (Kareem), Celtics (Russell and Parrish), Rocket (Olajawon) and Spurs (Duncan).

Even Westbrook is not a true point guard, he is more of a shooter first mentality and pass later player. The Thunder will not improve also with the role he plays and the coach they have, who is a small ball player mindset! Presti needs to develop the big men to thrive in the league.

By: redriverndn

redriverndn — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 22:28:42 +0000

Chris Paul will drive in recklessly & pull the ball back out & reset the offense if needed…. Russ drives in & that’s it, shot made or missed….

It would help if Russ could slow down or if he could as least try it once in a while but nobody MAKES him, so he does as he pleases….

KD has to “babysit” the 2nd unit until they mature, that’s so sad…. I thought Maynor was beyond that but he’s not playing like he is….

Perk has regressed to a caricature of himself, his talent level is what it is & it’ll never be anymore, so now the Thunder are left with whatever it is that is on display out there on the court & the hallways of the Peake….

By: Nick Rovisa

Nick Rovisa — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:38:31 +0000

That’s part of the point I was trying to make, Gene.

Matt – You’re right, it came off as I was blaming Russ for all of the Thunder’s issues, but what I’m really trying to say is that he needs to start playing like a true PG or they won’t win a championship. His wild play will only get so far (as we saw this past year) and for them to be a real contender, he has to play under more control.

And you can’t even blame the high speed offense for his inability to keep it together because Chris Paul seems to be handling one just fine in LA. It’s up to Russ to lead the team, make the smart play, make that extra pass and play within the confines of the system.

By: Gene

Gene — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:19:58 +0000

Perkins’ role on the Thunder is to set the screens for the pick and roll. He is vital for the pick and roll to be sucessfull. When Westbrook is playing under more control, the Thunder seems to do better. I think sometimes Westbrook plays the game faster than even he is capable of keeping up with. Just my observation.

By: Thunder likely to tweak Durant’s substitution pattern | ProBasketballTalk

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:57:56 +0000

[...] Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman: Brooks is in the process of plotting that transformation, and he has a plan that could work. [...]

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:46:47 +0000

Russ is NOT the reason OKC won’t win a championship. He’s a vital reason OKC even got there in the first place last year. Perkins and a stagnant offense is the reason, and the reason Russ forces things. Perk kills any offensive flow. Stop blindly blaming Russ for everything.

By: Nick Rovisa

Nick Rovisa — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:10:23 +0000

I hate to say it, but the problem is Russ. Against the Grizz, he had more than a few (probably a small handful) of opportunities to make the extra pass to a wide open K-Mart and even Durant on a few instances late in the 4th. What did he do instead? Drive for a wild layup in one instance, launch his own three in another, etc., etc. It’s nothing new, but that doesn’t mean it should be tolerated. He’s the reason they lost that game and the reason they won’t win a championship. Sorry, but it had to be said.

By: Friday Bolts – 11.16.12 | Daily Thunder.com

Friday Bolts – 11.16.12 | Daily Thunder.com — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:59:27 +0000

[...] Darnell Mayberry says a rotation change is coming: “The idea is to sub out Kevin Durant earlier. It’s a strategy Brooks told me following practice today that the coaching staff began kicking around earlier in the day. By sitting Durant earlier, the Thunder can accomplish three things: most importantly a more sensible rotation that relies less on only Eric Maynor and Kevin Martin to create, secondly, an opportunity for Westbrook to run as wild as his heart desires for longer stretches and, lastly, more rest for Durant. Early in games this year Brooks has trusted his second team as much as he did a year ago, playing that unit consistent minutes without either Durant or Westbrook. But the bench has only been marginally successful without the help of one of its All-Star teammates. That’s now about to change, Brooks said, starting with Friday’s game at New Orleans and likely continuing back inside The Peake on Sunday against Golden State.” [...]