Are the Thunder becoming what the Blazers were supposed to become? Now, What I mean is, the Blazers several years ago were called the next "it" team, being young and filled with talent. Now the injury bug has plauged them and Roy has had some confrentation. The Thunder be the next great dynasty thanks to kevin Durant and Westbrook. The Thunder should be taken more seriously than the grizzlies in my opinion with their line up: Kristic Green Durant Harden Westbrook Notable Bench players: BJ Mullens, Sefalosha, and Collison
You beat me to it... but to answer the question... THunder's gonna be a dangerous team for years if they continue to build around Durant and Westbrook. I think they're one decent big-man away from being a VERY GOOD team. But Portland screwed up yet another draft choice. If they would have picked up Durant instead of Oden, can you imagine a team with DURANT and BRANDON ROY and ALDRIDGE? HOLY CRAP!
just not as solid a core. a nice start, but not equal the blazers core has roy and aldridge as primary with loads of young decent talent around and oden was supposed to be the final piece. the thunder core is durant with nice young talent around him. there is just not another primary piece. they would do well to miss the playoffs and get another lotto pick
OKC is a team that could REALLY use Battier as a defender/stopper to let Durant loose. Agree they will miss the playoffs as they have NO bench and inside force but if they get a nice big man with all their money or in the draft and next year they take a similar step that Portland took last year.
They have Sefolosha as their own "Battier". He might not be as cerebral as Shane but Thabo is a pretty good defender with a huge wingspan. Jeff Green is a pretty good defender as well. The only thing the Thunder lacks aside from a banger at the 5 is a bench.
Just not very big on Thabo...he may be a worse offensive option then Shane and while he has shown to be a pretty good defender, I don't think he is a shut down guy and for all of Shane's "ISSUES" he can really do a number on certain guys. Saying that, I saw Thabo play Kobe earlier in the year and was VERY impressed how he gave Kobe so many problems so he may grow into that shut down defender as the team matures. Overall I really enjoy watching the Thunder play a lot and can't wait to see the "new" Western Conference with OKC, Portland, Sacremento and the Rox.
that's a horrible team... what benchmarks are we using as team evaluation? I wouldn't want any of these players on my team if I was GM, not even KD. This is like the college version of the 2006/2007 ATL team without the athleticism nor the size.
I'm big on the Thunder as a basketball fan. Not so much on their crappy ownership shafting Seattle fans, nor as a Rox fan competing in the same division. Westbrook's going to be, if he isn't already, a top 5 PG. Durant's a monster that still developing his game, definitely a top 5 offensive player in the near future (if he isn't already). Love Scottie as their coach, he's done an amazing job. And they have great chemistry (there's a Stephen Jackson article on espn.com i can't be bothered to find about this). This does not bode well for division rivals; methinks that they'll be on the fringe of the Texas Trio very soon, especially with an acquisition in the paint.
We're using the benchmark that shows this team has been improving for several years, and currently has a winning record in a very tough and deep western conference. KD is a stud and several of their other young players are very solid. Perhaps there's a good reason you're not a GM.
Comparing OKC and Portland, I like OKC's talent more, mainly because I don't like Aldridge and do like Westbrook. I think OKC has a better opportunity to improve itself this year and next (they have a better cap situation than Portland). But I like Portland's long term situationL: Portland has an owner that will not hesitate to open his wallet, OKC cannot make mistakes and start over, think of Portland as Dallas or LA and OKC as New Orleans.
OKC still needs an impressive big man to match up with other teams before they will start making major impacts.
So, the Thunder are due for massive amount of injury soon? Scott Brooks better be careful walking around, then.
Yao for Durant+fillers and they'll be pretty solid playoff team, but Durant has too much potential for them to let go, and Yao is getting up there in age. I'm not sure the Rockets would do this either.
uhm the Rockets would do this in a heart beat and run away to the bank laughing. Durant is on the rise quickly to being a superstar no way OKC lets him go unless its for a lebron or a kobe i would say Durant is as untouchable as they come
