Picking up right where we left off last year, bench players being way more productive than the starting 5.

Definitely contenders in the West this year. And the Mavs or Lakers didn't exactly look unbeatable today either. This Thunder team will be dangerous

My pick to win the West.

Can't tell if Thunder are bad tonight or if Aldelman really has the Wolves clicking. Minny could be dangerous this year.

I've seen it all now...Perkins leading the fast break and lobs it to Durant for the dunk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ee15C0JfU&feature=youtu.be

Luke Ridnour's ankles...T&P

God, that's embarrassing.

Great start to the season, sweeping the back-to-back.

Got lower level tix to thunder vs rockets coming up in a few weeks. Pumped to see the boys live.

FYI, league pass is free the first couple weeks of the season for those who live out of the area

Impressive win tonight against the grizz, considering russ was 0-13 from the field

I was at that game tonight.

I don't know how many times I said, "That Kevin Durant is so good."


The Thunder looked like a better team with Maynor on the floor, and for that matter, when Mohammad was in for Perkins.

paging Deluxe....here is what i told you about.

the unraveling of Westbrook/Durant has already began. Westbrook will be moved. It'd better not be to Boston.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7399464/oklahoma-city-thunder-kevin-durant-russell-westbrook-clash-timeout

Steve Blake for Westbrook straight up? how about that

[This message has been edited by Simplebay (edited 12/29/2011 12:13p).]

Westbrook needs to pull his head out of his ass and realize he has a chance to be on a team that can compete for the next decade. If he keeps this up, he'll end up getting shipped to some shitty franchise and he can bask in his inflated numbers and crappy W-L record.

I freaking love it, it took 3 games for the national media and non OKC fans to declare this team fragile and Durant and Westbrook can't coexist.

Are the Patriots done because Brady lashed out on his coach? Look, this would be more an issue if Westbrook had a "whatever, don't talk to me" attitude. This is going to happen, this entire team is hyper competitive, and if you've ever played sports you'd realize that quarrels between teammates happen in this environment.

But everyone keep pretending this is an issue and the Thunder will just continue to get better and play winning basketball.

I really like the Thunder. If you don't think that this has the potential to become a huge problem, judging by the number of shot attempts Westbrook had last year in the playoffs, then you are high.

I get that heads are going to butt, but there are obvious signs that indicate Westbrook may not want to be second banana. I don't know if anything will come of it, but it isn't insane to think about it. The media is taking it to another level, but they do that with everything.

the padz has obviously forgotten game 4 of the playoffs last year and Westbrook's 0-7 and scuffle with durant on the court then.

All I'm saying is, I've watched this team in person or on TV, damn near every game, since 20 games into Westbrook's rookie season when I moved up here. Every media member that covers the Thunder, a small handful of national guys (including Chris Mannix, who I think is one of the top NBA guys out there), the players, and most importantly Scott Brooks, don't see this as near the issue everyone outside of the 405 does.

What's funny is, the problem the outsiders think there is (that he shoots too much and hogs the ball) is the exact opposite of the problem us in OKC thinks he has (he's trying too hard to be a true PG, which he isn't, and needs to just be himself and be a slashing distributor, not a traditional facilitating PG).

quote:

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the padz has obviously forgotten game 4 of the playoffs last year and Westbrook's 0-7 and scuffle with durant on the court then.

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I haven't forgotten at all. Everyone here just kinda takes it in stride, while everyone else freaks out about it. One thing I think is going to help this year is Durant seems to have figured out some leadership qualities and it's not always the time to be nice. What will be interesting to see is if Durant continues the tough love, if Westbrook stops showing any emotion or quits reacting to Durant, then we have a problem.

It's certainly something to monitor, but it doesn't warrant a full freak out like you and everyone else is pointing to.

How bad will the Thunder beat the Mavs tonight??? I am setting the O/U at 15. Also if the Thunder don't win the west this year Scott Brooks has to be fired. He sucks as a coach.

padz....i understand you may think people are freaking out about it in the national media. it's probably true.

however, counterpoint and conversely applies too...just because those in OKC don't see it as a problem doesn't mean it isn't a problem.

i say it's a problem because of several reasons. 1, westbrook's style of game and physical attributes. he could be top 5 most athletic in the nba right now, at some point pride takes over.


2, eyes dont lie. body language says a lot.

3, stats. cold hard facts. look how many shots he puts up. game 4...he puts up 30 shots and Durant puts up, what was it, 15-18? in a playoff game?

you can say whatever you want about media pundits, and "homer" people thinking everything is fine....those numbers factually prove something is wrong.

there's nothing "homer" about it. would I listen to some blowhard on the east coast and take it as the bible about your Lakers? no...I'd probably look for local analysis to get the real scoop.

Let's address your points:

1.) no argument, and we'll tell this season if Westbrook wants winning basketball or be the lead dog. Around the NBA, stars a trying to team up with other stars to win games. Westbrook should see this and realize what he has in OKC.

2.) What body language are you talking about? Westbrook almost always has questionable body language, he doesn't really care for the media, and unless you're in the huddle on the sideline, none of us really know what he's stirred up about. Hell last night the whole cause of this thing was he was pissed a teammate DIDNT TAKE A SHOT, not because he wanted the ball back to take a bad jumper.

3.) your stats are from one game....dynamite analysis.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree I believe on this one. Like I said before, because he's due an extension, it's a situation to be closely monitored this season. I just get a good laugh out of the rest of the country proclaiming this team (more specifically KD/RW) done every time Westbrook has a bad game, gets emotional, steps on a crack in a sidewalk, etc.

All I'm telling you is, you'd be hard pressed at this moment to find anyone in OKC who's wishing Westbrook to be out the door, despite his enigmatic ways on the court. It's just not the issue you guys wish it was.

[This message has been edited by The Padz (edited 12/29/2011 3:07p).]

Did Simplebay really just use a 'homer' arguement on someone else?

the literal "homer" sense, as in, radius of your team because it's your "home". everyone knows i dont live in LA

by definition, i would be a homer if i was a rockets fan without question

Yeah...lay off, he's just a bandwagon fan, not a homer.

this again

i've been a fan of the lakers more than most people on this board have been alive son!

hence the winky face...son (<----- worst new message board trend...calling people son)

KD

My favorite t.u. player ever! Durant is a baller.

DURANTULA!!!!!

That's from about the same spot where Marion blocked Durants shot at the end of game 4. Great game.

Durant was amazing on that shot. But that was some bs favoritism out of Crawford down the stretch. Calling that crap moving screen on Dirk and then not giving the superstar a little leeway to voice his displeasure. Gave the game to the Thunder a-hole.

Mavs are "Thunderstruck"!

Holy hell...glad my 1 year old is at the grandparents because my wife and I definitely woulda woke her up.

The Thunder finally beat the Mavs in a close game. Too bad it's Game 4 of their season and not Game 4 of the WCF.