What are the Thunder's ceiling with Paul George added?

[Illuminatos]

Houston and GSW are still clearly better imo. Maybe even Minny and SAS. I can see them in the race for that 5th seed.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

4th best seed in west or 3rd if they overachieve and Spurs have a bad year. They still have shooting and bench issues

I agree they have bench issues, but it's alot better than last year with a second star to stagger minutes with and a backup pg who isnt fukking semaj

 

[jwinfield]

PG said his wanting to go to the lakers is Overstated

Was PG supposed to say LA is still where I want to go after getting traded to OKC?

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

I actually think Paul George is the perfect number 2 to play with Westbrook as well.

Many of us on this board have questioned if PG13 is even a number 1 as he tends to settle for his jumper more often than not but playing with Westbrook he won't be expected to carry the offense. He'll get plenty of open looks because of the pressure Westbrook puts on the defense.

I think as constructed they're currently better than Cleveland, San Antonio, Houston, and every other team in the league with the exception of Golden State.

Paul George is actually a great offball player and catch and shoot.
I think he can work better with russ than KD did tbh because Russ is so alpha and aggressive on the court.
He wont be expected to carry so much, and if he does, it's only while Russ sits. I really dont see any problems stemming from the 2.

Even against GS they match up well defensively. Don't think they beat them unless they play incredible basketball the entire series but hell going to the WCF means they have something there for sure.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

Was PG supposed to say LA is still where I want to go after getting traded to OKC?

No but there's definitely different ways to say it. From a winning perspective, he has a better chance with the recent MVP than lonzo ball and yougnins.

Do you really wanna spend your prime years waiting for the lakers to grow up?
He could sign for 3 years and then still go to LA. But spend his prime in a position for a potential title.

He can have both pretty easily.

 

[Mandizi]

4th or 5th seed in the west.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

A step below their ceiling with KD (a step the size of the gap between KD and PG). They have it all...size, length, athleticism, shooting. If Russ and PG gel I could see them as a 2 or 3 seed. GSW and SA are gonna do their usual and I can see them right their with SA in regular season. They should be one of the few teams capable of competing with GSW in a series.

I don't understand why people don't see this.
I'm not saying they're gunning for a title, but they arent an average team by any means.

They are the best matchup with the warriors and that should count for alot.

They got rid of pretty much every problem they had besides some bench issues and people only think they're gonna win 3 more games than last year with russ literally carrying them kicking and screaming to the playoffs.

I'm slightly worried about they're shooting issues but they have a better 3 and D starter along with George who's great at catch and shooting, as well as further development with abrines and mcdermott. Abrines has some potential. I think they have a chance at 2nd but most likely 3rd seed.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

Houston and GSW are still clearly better imo. Maybe even Minny and SAS. I can see them in the race for that 5th seed.

I doubt minny is better, their D is weak as hell. I say they get a low seed tbh.

Houston is neck and neck and they just got rid of their best perimeter defender.

I dont see cp3 and Harden working as well as everyone believes.

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

Anywhere from 2 to 4.

WCF is definitely possible but ain't no way they're touching the Warriors. Might not even beat Houston (who I have as 2nd best in the west right now) or the Spurs.

 

[ALonelyDad]

I agree they have bench issues, but it's alot better than last year with a second star to stagger minutes with and a backup pg who isnt fukking semaj

they are but I still feel like Rockets and Spurs are better. I dont see OKC winning 60 games and Rockets added CP3 and potentially Melo.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

Anywhere from 2 to 4.

WCF is definitely possible but ain't no way they're touching the Warriors. Might not even beat Houston (who I have as 2nd best in the west right now) or the Spurs.

Understandable.
I still believe we match up really well with the spurs and rockets and the warriors though.

I believe they could get a game off GS

think we could beat the spurs. That twin towers combo can still work on them but prolly even better now.

dont wanna say that we can beat the rockets for sure, but it's definitely not a sweep either way.

 

[Sauce Dab]

Same result as this past year with a couple more wins in the regular season

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

they are but I still feel like Rockets and Spurs are better. I dont see OKC winning 60 games and Rockets added CP3 and potentially Melo.

now if they add melo, I dont think we can do it unless they give up some great pieces like ariza or gordon.

We match up pretty well with the spurs.

I doubt with the new acquisition we only win like 50-53 games like some predicted. we hit 47 last year with dipo and kanter out alot of the year. 60 is iffy tho.

I'd say 3 seed is very possible. I wanna say the spurs will start falling off but people been saying that for a decade.

cp3 and harden need a third guy, if they dont get him I dont see them hitting 60 honestly. mid to high 50's though.

 

[Leavingtheecstasy]

Same result as this past year with a couple more wins in the regular season

I just dont see that with another superstar added and they plugged up alot of the weak holes from last year.

I watched every single thunder game and a big majority of the losses came from russ just sitting and the lead evaporating before he came back in.

With Felton and PG, I highly doubt they get anything less than 55.

 

[I.AM.PIFF]

Understandable.
I still believe we match up really well with the spurs and rockets and the warriors though.

I believe they could get a game off GS

think we could beat the spurs. That twin towers combo can still work on them but prolly even better now.

dont wanna say that we can beat the rockets for sure, but it's definitely not a sweep either way.

I'm not too high on the Spurs right now. Unless they make some moves or LMA shows out again next season, their interior rotation is gonna be

I don't think they matchup that well against GS. Curry/Durant is > Westbrook/George and the Warriors have more talent/depth. Could they take a game or 2? Possibly yes.

Another issue is PG will be a FA next summer and there's a strong possibility he leaves. Russ has a player option for 18/19 and if he doesn't pick it up, then he would be a FA next summer too.

Don't think time is on your side

 

[Chris Cool]

middle of the pack westeen team. they're not competing for titles.