By the end of the year, will we be good enough to take OKC and Denver in the playoffs?

I would worry about Denver first bc Jokic has an extra gear come Playoffs.

Do you really think OKC cannot figure out a 37 yr old Durant when the 20 year old Durant played 8-9 years for them?

Presti being a scout and a video room stats guy collecting data on Durant.....

Spoiler

The Thunder now are dominating like the Warriors who beat the KD led Thunder back then, instead of an avalanche of 3s, the Thunder wreak havoc with steals, deflections, drives, Hartenstein scoring inside, and Chet scoring inside&Out... 4-5 high energy glue guys at once or in spurts.

We have not seen the ambidextrous JDub yet....and Topic and highly touted Thomas Sorber.

 

I don't think they will catch OKC. I mean, anything can happen in the playoffs, but a lot would have to go right to make that jump. I still worry about injuries. If Durant can stay healthy, or at least be healthy for the playoffs, that is your best chance. We'll see.

 

OKC should be dominant for the next 10 years. Look at their current roster and the insane amount of draft picks they have.

 

We are and can be a very good team. But in terms of beating OKC, Denver in the playoffs with our current roster the answer is a clear no. We need one high-calibre two-way starting guard and at least one very productive scorer/shooter off the bench. Think Jrue Holiday and Malik Monk types respectively.

 

I'm not quite as negative on our group as others on the board. I do wonder if the desire to play so much big and zone is an effort to save some wear and tear through switching. The same weird logic might be in play with the stand and iso offensive "system." Are we playing some sort of long game? Will we have more legs later in the year?

I know that Alpi has to be feeling better not getting beat up by centers every night.

Defensively, teams across the league are practicing against zone. It still works as a change-up, but we give up too many uncontested looks (inside and out) to play this so much. We do have a lot of guys (Durant, Sheppard, Capela, Okogie, eventually DFS) that need reps to stop making mistakes. This would cut down on a few of the open looks. But I don't understand why we're playing so much zone (unless it's part of a greater plan).

The problem with our offense is that the stand and iso system hinges on someone being able to initiate once guys are on their favorite spots. Sheppard isn't comfortable running a pick and roll, and Durant truly needs someone to set a pick to let him catch the ball at the elbow. Our lob-in passes to a stationary Durant are 50/50 balls that he might turn it over against overplaying ball pressure. Most of that is on the passer and Durant to get better at working together.

It seems logical, based on our existing personnel to incorporate more motion off the ball--back cuts, screens, etc.--to try and pick up more cheap baskets. But our coaches seem very hard headed about adding concepts such as these. I will say watching Reed Sheppard he wants to incorporate more action like this. Maybe he'll convince other players to add a few more wrinkles.

 

No significant injuries, yes.

 

OKC is going to be like GSW in the past decade or so. But that doesn't mean they can't be beaten. With the right matchup (and the right amount of injuries or lack of injuries), anything can happens.

 

Theyre injury proof....unless SGA gets injured. They'll also have picks for 2026 draft...they own the rights to swap Clippers pick. With how the Clips are playing, it could potentially be top 5 pick. Man...OKC has been ran right. Everything has landed right for them now and the future. Only good thing is the Rockets avoiding handing them our picks from previous drafts.

 

• People do not realize that Shai is lean Harden/Kobe, Dub is smarter WB, Chet is defensive KD.......
• Less athleticism but a lot more skills
• Hartenstein is like Homeless Joker.

And they have like the depth of All historic teams.

 

Agreed to an extent, 2018 Rockets were the best curve ball thrown at the Warriors.

2025 Denver and Rockets might be good rivals but I think people do not realize that OKC is young and has a lot more growth potential with their Big 3.

If 75% of tapped potential can win a Chip last year, they are going to be much better.

 

No and that is nothing against our players, coach, organization or anything. Those 2 are just proven champions with MULTIPLE all-stars still in their prime range. They have been together for a while, at least their core so it’s just plug and play for the Nuggets especially. They have an established system, hierarchy and multiple guys who can initiate the offense. We are rising sure, but even with FVV it would’ve been very tough. Will we put up a fight? Definitely, but we might not even beat the Spurs in a 7-game series. I’d say we’re a solid 4-6th power house in the West which is still very good and great considering the circumstances.

 

I know Wemby is generational blah blah but would be disappointed if they could not handle the Spurs in 7......

Basically because the Spurs are even more inexperienced, to giftwrap that experience to them and still lose....would be brutal.

 

Was thinking about this the other day. Rockets can get past OKC, and with Tatum out. This
year could be a chance to get that Trophy.

Rockets would have to slip thru okc, but
home court advantage OKC puts together, will make it much impossible for Houston to get there.

Also if you see a Denver Houston 2nd rd matchup, it will be immersive experience for houston.
Nuggets and OKC, Are Houston top of the Hill teams to beat.


What motivations will force them to get past these teams?

 

KD, Is still up there. Just turn of the dice has the exp to overpower SGA, If he wanted to.

KD is just as clutch as SGA, and has Sengun + Amen on his team. Thats a big advantage.

 

I never thought we had more than a slim chance this season even with KD onboard because most of this group is just still so young and only have one playoff series under their belts, and our talent is close to OKC's, but still not quite there; I think they have a slight edge in having the best players, in having the most depth, and a substantial advantage in playoff experience.

However, I do think we're at least in the "fringe contender" mix if we can get and keep everyone healthy. We'll need to have a lot of luck, but that's the case for most championships that aren't won by a clear favorite like the aforementioned teams; and even the most dominant teams don't win it every season because there's always the possibility of key injuries or wild upsets.

Basically the territory we're in...

 

That is probably assuming that the Thunder and Denver are currently staying at that level and that they are not getting any better which they are going to as well.

 

Durant is not even our best player today, and that will likely only be even more true by the end of the season. Not to mention this is a very different team than the Durant Thunder.

None of this is to say I believe we'll be better than OKC or Denver, but I find your take strange.

 

I don't disagree, Durant should not even be the best player......otherwise what is the purpose of all that rebuilding.

May the pieces fall where they may.

The takes are ever evolving so I don't really care.