if OKC kept their main core from last year they could've made it all the way in finals and beat the Heat this season. OKCs biggest mistake is not letting james hardens contract go through all the way in the season.
Without Westbrook they weren't gonna beat the Spurs. It's hard to predict what if. I do agree that the trade significantly lowered their chances though
What a dumb thing to say. They weren't even close to beating the heat last year (4-1) and the Heat got significantly better with Ray Allen and Birdman.
They should not have traded for Perkins either. Just imagine. They could have had Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Green-Ibaka with James Harden as their sixth man. That might just be an unbeatable team.
Ibaka is just not as good as everyone thought. his inability to get shots in the paint on his own is what's killing OKC right now. When Rockets can put our worst defender, Harden, on him and Ibaka cant take advantage is just awful for OKC.
He's been beasting on the boards and killing us with his mid-range game, not to mention swatting the **** out of everything. He wasn't hitting his shots tonight but don't downplay his effectiveness in this series. He's a large part of why we can never get a solid lead against OKC.
Yeah remember that one play late in the 3rd when 2 of our guys pretty much had the rebound then along came Ibaka outta nowhere and was like "Let me just get that for ya... thank you"
Same with us. I think OKC has been getting by because they've had superstars in Durant and a borderline superstar in Westbrook to carry them. Without Westbrook, Durant and the Thunder are looking like crap. Even with Durant going off for 40 points a game. Notice how the Heat too play better when Wade sits out rather than Bosh? You can't win in this league without a dominant big man with a post game.
wasn't my intention to downplay what he brings to OKC. What I'm saying is when Russ went out I thought he was supposed to graduate to 2nd option (or was that supposed to be KM?). because he is a jump-shooting big he is very easy to guard. they have no low post option at all. the only points they get in the paint are from put backs and drives from KD. he cant get his shot off at all against the smaller players in the paint and doesn't go to the ft line. Even Asik will give you a shoulder before going up for a wild hook that might get him fts.
IMO if Westbrook is healthy, they wouldn't need low post scoring as much. Especially with KMart coming off the bench... they could employ a similar offense like ours and rain down 3's all day and night. Their ball movements are great. Tonight, their shot simply wasn't going in... that was the main reason they lost.
Anybody still have any doubt that Harden make OKC better than Kevin Martin should be embarrassed like Barkley lol. It's a joke to even compare the two. I knew it from the beginning ....there is no comparison. Martin is basically just a spot up shooter...can't attack...doesn't have strong toughness like Harden...doesn't create shots for teammates and the list go on...
Martin had an off game. I agree Harden was a better fit for OKC, but Martin isn't a complete scrub. There's a reason OKC was willing to give us Harden.
Not only that. He's a spot up shooter that CAN'T shoot in the 4th quarter. I said from the very start that it would be near impossible for him to replace Harden because people just think "Oh he'll get a lot of open shots and can still score." Well...Harden did a lot more then just score and was more often than not a factor in the 4th qtr.
If I have to choose between Ibaka and Harden, I would take Ibaka too. But the problem is OKC shouldn't put themselves into the situation to choose. They shouldn't trade for Perkins two years ago.
