Thunder Get Blownout In First Game Without Westbrook

[Darealtwo1]

Cuz the roster isn't trash. Don't think for a second Adams isn't a 12 rebound guy and dipo isn't 20ppg scorer.

 

[G.W.]

Why would the wolves want to win that game?

Because sadly Thibbs is out there trying his hardest to win every game. Check all his studs minutes per game. Look at the fact that he refuses to rest Rubio and give Dunn a chance to get some run. And when he does he refuses to run anything through him.

 

[Archangel]

This is more about the Twolves being trash than the Thunder being good without Westbrook. In 82 games without Russ, the Thunder are picking top 3 in the draft.

 

[Rigby.]

Don't think this makes that roster supremely elite or something. The Wolves are top down a fundamental atrocity right now outside of Wiggins and towns scoring

 

[DoubleClutch]

Oladipo took a serious backseat to westbrook this season. I always thought he could be a star on his own team.

 

[<<TheStandard>>]

OKC might arguably have the best front line in the league. This team is really being underrated because they lack shooting (and your average fan only cares about offense)

Also, in the case of players like Oladipo, there's no doubt in my mind that playing with Westbrook is making his teammates talents atrophy.

Westbrook is probably the biggest example of what it means to have a high floor but low ceiling. I think it speaks well of him that he's just as efficient with and without high level talents, i.e.: Kevin Durant but it does speak volumes about him that he wasn't more efficient when he played with him. Basically he's not maximizing the talents around him but if you give him a team with a low offensive ceiling he'll carry them to an average to a slightly above average offense. It's like the Iverson conundrum.

Said in another thread

Westbrook's impact goes without saying. We all know his impact but it's clear his game (similar to Iverson) doesn't have the portability of players like Curry or Harden and thus talents are marginalized in his presence. People are mistaking lack of shooters and being an ideal fit for RWB as being lack of help and that' just not the case.

Maybe it hasn't hurt the way OKC has played but I simply have trouble believing that the manner that OKC has played all year is most optimal.

 

[L&HH]

Cuz the roster isn't trash. Don't think for a second Adams isn't a 12 rebound guy and dipo isn't 20ppg scorer.

Kanter off the bench provides a lot of production and Roberson is one of the best wing defenders in the league.

 

[Big Boss]

 

[inndaskKy]

The team overall had more than 7 rebounds more than they average in games with Westbrook playing.

 

[Inertia Creeps]

There's a reason why OKC was expected to be a top 5 seed before the season. This roster isn't as bad as it's made up to be

This MVP race got people so up in their feelings rewriting history and expectations that even Trump would be blushing

 

[DlAMONDZ]

This MVP race got people so up in their feelings rewriting history and expectations that even Trump would be blushing

Vegas O/U before the season

OKC: 46.5
Rockets: 41.5

 

[GunRanger]

Vegas O/U before the season

OKC: 46.5
Rockets: 41.5

nikkas love to overlook this.

There were people who said rockets won make the playoffs and that it would the worst defense of all time e

 

[Professor Emeritus]

wolves trash lost to lakers too

Wolves won 6 of their last 8 home games, including wins over the Blazers, Wizards, Warriors, Clippers, and a 15-point blowout over the Lakers. The Lakers game they lost was on the road. There are 10 teams in the league with 32 wins or fewer, and the Thunder just beat the best of those 10 on the road.

Why would the wolves want to win that game?

Did you see the last two minutes? Both teams were playing hard. Why do the Wolves want to win any game? They played Towns 40 minutes, Wiggins 37, Dieng 39, and Rubio 36. Thibs was clearly playing to win. And they've won 6 of their last 8 at home.

Don't think this makes that roster supremely elite or something. The Wolves are top down a fundamental atrocity right now outside of Wiggins and towns scoring

Note that you just said, "outside of Wiggins and Towns", as if you can just dismiss Wiggins and Towns.

And this was a home game. In the last four home games the Timberwolves beat the Blazers by 2, lost to the Kings by 6, beat the Lakers by 15, lost to the Spurs by 7, beat the Wizards by 15, beat the Warriors by 1, beat the Clippers by 16, and beat Dallas by 13.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Cuz the roster isn't trash. Don't think for a second Adams isn't a 12 rebound guy and dipo isn't 20ppg scorer.

Or that Kanter isn't a scoring and rebonding force down low, Roberson isn't an elite defender, and Sabonis/Gibson/McDermott aren't solid NBA players.

 

[Piff Huxtable]

Ricky Rubio played 36 minutes so the Wolves are obviously tanking for more ping-pong balls