Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
- Flagrant Fowl
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Monty looked fine when Rubio was the starting point guard.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
I am very curious what happened to him. He seemed to be our most consistent shooter off the bench and then... he was gone. Never to play again.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
I'm not just a member. I'm the president.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Apparently, we should have never messed with the bubble team.specialsauce wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:37 pmThis team has got to push the pace. We won’t win until Monty stands up to CP3 and demands he push the ball. He did it to Ricky consistently last year, I remember him prodding him to push the ball up the court. He’s not doing with with Chris.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Yep, he could relax after that and take a few games off.Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:52 pmBut it was "awesome" that Jokic said he's really good. So he doesn't really need to get any better.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Chris Pauls last pass was excellent!
Boo!
Boo!
Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
The offense is Chris Paul dribbles around waiting to see if Ayton is going to do something. He doesn’t. So Paul drives and when he’s cutoff he kicks it to an open Crowder for a three. Crowder missed because he’s wide open for a reason. That’s the offense.Charlie Smithy! wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:14 pmI call it the "milk the shot clock and shoot a 3 offense" Oof.The Bobster wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:11 pmTerrible game.
You just wonder sometimes what their plan is on offense.
I think the .5 offense has become "don't shoot it until there's .5 on the clock."
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Might get a sponsorship out of it
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Unfortunately Ayton is always going to be a guy who teases you with his potential when all he really is, is a guy who’s going to have 2 good games and 14 subpar. That’s all he is. Third fucking season of this shit.specialsauce wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:45 pmDA just proved that his 4 game stretch was the same tune as his first two years in the league- just a stretch before regressing back to his lackadaisical self. Dude just does not have the drive to be a player in this league.Split T wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:43 pmIn Paul’s defense tonight, I saw him a few times getting after Ayton who was lackadaisical at setting the initial screen to get us into the offense. So not fully to blame. Still likes to take it easy getting into the front court though.specialsauce wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:37 pmThis team has got to push the pace. We won’t win until Monty stands up to CP3 and demands he push the ball. He did it to Ricky consistently last year, I remember him prodding him to push the ball up the court. He’s not doing with with Chris.
The artist formerly known as Y2JJEDIPIMP on .net
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
He probably was distracted with some awesome puppet show he put together this week and what kind of voices each character should have. He’s a fucking child.Superbone wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 10:15 pmYep, he could relax after that and take a few games off.Flagrant Fowl wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:52 pmBut it was "awesome" that Jokic said he's really good. So he doesn't really need to get any better.
The artist formerly known as Y2JJEDIPIMP on .net
"Just like Neal Armstrong I went to space and now I'm back..."
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Ayton got fouled. Dort clearly walks into him. Refs should be ashamed.specialsauce wrote: ↑Wed Jan 27, 2021 9:08 pmHe got fouled. That was bullshit. Some awful calls again. How many offensive fouls on screens?
- The Bobster
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Clearly there were mistakes made during the offseason -
Starting PF Jae Crowder - 37.4 FG%, 10.8 pts, 4.8 reb - no presence whatsoever around the basket.
Backup center has fallen to Frank Kaminsky because he's the only other center on the roster. (and getting Damian Jones back isn't solving any problems)
Backup point guard is still an issue - Carter just isn't a point guard and Payne has regressed lately.
To many shooters and not enough makers - Crowder 37%, Carter 37% and Kaminsky 39% don't keep defenses honest.
Throw in Booker, Ayton and Paul all playing sub-par this year and it's a mess these last 6 games.
When you looked at what they were doing with their cap space last year - signing Crowder, Jones, Galloway and Moore - you just had to wonder "WTF are they thinking?"
They put far too much stock in their 8-game stretch in the bubble, ignoring the mediocrity of the other 65 games they played (26-39).
Starting PF Jae Crowder - 37.4 FG%, 10.8 pts, 4.8 reb - no presence whatsoever around the basket.
Backup center has fallen to Frank Kaminsky because he's the only other center on the roster. (and getting Damian Jones back isn't solving any problems)
Backup point guard is still an issue - Carter just isn't a point guard and Payne has regressed lately.
To many shooters and not enough makers - Crowder 37%, Carter 37% and Kaminsky 39% don't keep defenses honest.
Throw in Booker, Ayton and Paul all playing sub-par this year and it's a mess these last 6 games.
When you looked at what they were doing with their cap space last year - signing Crowder, Jones, Galloway and Moore - you just had to wonder "WTF are they thinking?"
They put far too much stock in their 8-game stretch in the bubble, ignoring the mediocrity of the other 65 games they played (26-39).
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- LazarusLong
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
I've said it before ... Crowder should drive to the hoop more.
At 235, there's going to be contact.
It would be nice if there was a player with some semblance of a post game on the roster.
Carter can hit from deep, but he's terrible when he drives inside.
In fact, not many of the players are inclined to take it to the iron, hence, the dearth of free throws.
Booker has some nice moves to the rim, but can't risk him getting hurt....
At 235, there's going to be contact.
It would be nice if there was a player with some semblance of a post game on the roster.
Carter can hit from deep, but he's terrible when he drives inside.
In fact, not many of the players are inclined to take it to the iron, hence, the dearth of free throws.
Booker has some nice moves to the rim, but can't risk him getting hurt....
Window is open again ... blue skies ahead?
Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Oubre was the one slasher we had who could play downhill, get into the teeth of the defense and finish above the rim. We didn't replace that. Cam and Mikal improved their off-the-dribble game, but it's not natural for them and with Paul handling so much, they've reverted back to 3-D wings.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
BTW, lost in all this is a nice game by Nader.
For a guy who seemed to be a trade throw-in, he's much better than expected, at least so far ...
For a guy who seemed to be a trade throw-in, he's much better than expected, at least so far ...
Window is open again ... blue skies ahead?
Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
I think the roster is fine for the 0.5/motion offense with cutters and shooters getting open off screens. Problem is, like we've said, CP is pretty much playing ISO ball for 15 seconds each possession, letting defenses get set and stay out on shooters. We're not playing with pace, guys are standing and watching so shots are a lot more contested. Yea, we're missing Dario and Book but were missing guys last year and still held up well because of the 0.5 offense. Passing and cutting, making the defense move and work side to side waiting for a breakdown to take advantage of. If we're playing slower and in the halfcourt, then yea it's a flawed roster because we don't have players who can attack off the dribble in a halfcourt setting.The Bobster wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 7:40 amClearly there were mistakes made during the offseason -
Starting PF Jae Crowder - 37.4 FG%, 10.8 pts, 4.8 reb - no presence whatsoever around the basket.
Backup center has fallen to Frank Kaminsky because he's the only other center on the roster. (and getting Damian Jones back isn't solving any problems)
Backup point guard is still an issue - Carter just isn't a point guard and Payne has regressed lately.
To many shooters and not enough makers - Crowder 37%, Carter 37% and Kaminsky 39% don't keep defenses honest.
Throw in Booker, Ayton and Paul all playing sub-par this year and it's a mess these last 6 games.
When you looked at what they were doing with their cap space last year - signing Crowder, Jones, Galloway and Moore - you just had to wonder "WTF are they thinking?"
They put far too much stock in their 8-game stretch in the bubble, ignoring the mediocrity of the other 65 games they played (26-39).
I don't think it was a matter of having too much confidence in the 8game stretch in the bubble. The bubble players- Book, Cam, Mikal, Payne, Dario, Carter have been our best lineups this season because they stick to the system from last year. The CP-DA lineups have been the worst. It's really not too hard to figure out what's been wrong this year.
Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Also why did Cam drive to the hoop multiple times only to get to the rim and then kick it out last second? Makes me nuts watching it.
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Re: Game Day: Thunder (7-9) @ Suns (8-7), Wed 1/27/21
Nader seems like the only guy other than Chris Paul who is willing to drive to the basket. He isn't awesome at it, but the fact that he at least attacks the basket forces the defense to collapse and either nets him a layup or opens up a pass to a 3-point shooter. We need more of that. I suspect that's why Nader is getting minutes over Galloway.LazarusLong wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 8:23 amBTW, lost in all this is a nice game by Nader.
For a guy who seemed to be a trade throw-in, he's much better than expected, at least so far ...
IMO the biggest problem with the current roster construction is that we acquired a ton of spot-up shooters and not enough guys with other discernable talents. We need a mix: some guys who drive to the basket, some defensive specialists, some great passers, some excellent shooters. We have a bunch of James Joneses of various heights.
I'm pretty disillusioned with Chris Paul at this point, too. He seems overweight to me and his body language often looks like he's going through the motions. I hate how much he holds the ball and dribbles unnecessarily. I especially dislike when he goes into "shake and bake" type moves for no reason, further eroding the shot clock. As many others have said, the offense just stagnates when he does this. It seems like Paul would be most effective with a strong P&R partner, but Ayton is too inconsistent to be that for him. Paul does try to feed Ayton on rolls to the basket, but it often leads to bobbled passes and turnovers due to Ayton's bad hands.
I actually think we would be better with Rubio as our starting PG. I know Rubio's stats are dreadful in Minnesota right now, but I think a lot of that is situational for that team. Plus Rubio's got to be disheartened being sent to such a dysfunctional place after giving his best to Phoenix. I think if he were here he would be pushing the pace better than Paul has been. And while Rubio is considered a poor shooter, I have no more confidence in Paul's shot. When Chris Paul pulls up for a 3, I just assume it will bounce out. Paul's midrange shooting is good, but that won't save us.
I want to mention Bridges. I love, LOVE, Bridges. But he was basically a non-factor last night against OKC. He scored 7 points, shot 3-13, and 1-6 on 3s. That just isn't good enough. If Booker is out, Bridges should be trying to get 18-20 ppg to help make up the gap. Ayton also had a bad game, scoring just 5 points on 2-7 shooting.
I don't want to overreact too much given that we're missing our best player in Booker. But there are some real problems with the roster and the strategy right now. I do think this is a playoff team, but probably not a contender in the brutal West.