NBA- OU players and general (this thread only)

[jmizzy4ou]

Had Luka not gotten injured late in the season, we would have played Minnesota in Round 1. Had we survived that, we would have a legit chance to beat SA. But at the end of the day, we'd still run into OKC...so it basically amounts to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. There is one team that could beat OKC, though - the Knicks. They're just crushing teams right now after a very slow start against the Hawks. OKC is no doubt better, but it could be a great series if the Knicks play like they have in the past six games.

The Knicks have several good defenders to guard Shai. Breidges, OG, Hart could wear him down and make it hard for him. Obviously, they probably put Dort/Wallace/Caruso on Brunson and try to take him out. IMO Towns would be a huge factor. If he is playing his best, Hartenstein/Williams can't handle him. It could be a good series. San Antonio also has a few good perimeter defenders and a freak in the middle. OKC is so good at taking teams out of what they want to do with great team defense and effort.

 

[WaymanFan]

I’d say SAS could beat OKC more so than the Knicks. OKC can match everything NYK have imo

Except playoff experience. That often comes into play. Detroit almost lost to a #8 seed. I bet next year, if they're a #1, they pull out the brooms against the #8.

 

[CoachTalk]

Except playoff experience. That often comes into play. Detroit almost lost to a #8 seed. I bet next year, if they're a #1, they pull out the brooms against the #8.

Possible but a lot of the thunder in the spurs. They have some vets on the bench that have done it.

O

 

[WaymanFan]

The Lakers are at least competing / battling. They're up 59-57 at halftime. AR looking like Stockton with his passing as he has 8 assists, though not shooting it well. My bigger complaint with him is his incessant whining. He needs to dial it back...not going to get every call, so stop throwing up your arms every time the refs let it go.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

AR is really hard to like. He really needs to chill on the complaining

 

[NickZepp]

Lakers are doing all they can with the talent disadvantages they have. They have nobody inside to match with the Thunder. And they just run out of gas as the game goes on. Thunder just have guys that can keep on coming. They play the first 6-7 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters every game and they've won those minutes against the Lakers. The turning point of game 2 was the 10 and a half minutes without Shai because of foul trouble.

 

[WichitaSooner]

The NBA as a whole has done the game a disservice by allowing players to complain constantly. Other than soccer, I can’t think of another sport that allows it. Umpires don’t let hitters spend 10-15 seconds demonstrably bitching about strike calls. Hockey players occasionally get heated with the refs during stoppages in play, but they keep the game moving and the complaining isn’t nonstop. Same with football. I don’t think guys should get Ts every time they say something to a ref, but there is no reason for the nonstop, long, theatrical discussions after nearly every call.

 

[NickZepp]

The NBA as a whole has done the game a disservice by allowing players to complain constantly. Other than soccer, I can’t think of another sport that allows it. Umpires don’t let hitters spend 10-15 seconds demonstrably bitching about strike calls. Hockey players occasionally get heated with the refs during stoppages in play, but they keep the game moving and the complaining isn’t nonstop. Same with football. I don’t think guys should get Ts every time they say something to a ref, but there is no reason for the nonstop, long, theatrical discussions after nearly every call.

Mark Daigneault for the Thunder makes it a policy to where he tells the players to play and he'll take care of the refs. That's why you see it less with Thunder players than other teams. More coaches need to have that be their policy.

Reaves was clearly being targeted a lot on defense by the Thunder last night. Not all Reaves fault. The lack of team rim protection by the Lakers hangs their guards to dry.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

The Lakers are at least competing / battling. They're up 59-57 at halftime. AR looking like Stockton with his passing as he has 8 assists, though not shooting it well. My bigger complaint with him is his incessant whining. He needs to dial it back...not going to get every call, so stop throwing up your arms every time the refs let it go.

I was wondering if Luka & LBJ have rubbed off on him. Luka probably whines more than anyone in the league, and LBJ is on the list as well.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Lakers are doing all they can with the talent disadvantages they have. They have nobody inside to match with the Thunder. And they just run out of gas as the game goes on. Thunder just have guys that can keep on coming. They play the first 6-7 minutes of the 2nd and 4th quarters every game and they've won those minutes against the Lakers. The turning point of game 2 was the 10 and a half minutes without Shai because of foul trouble.

Ayton is playing BAD, BAD basketball. He's so lazy most of the time.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

The NBA as a whole has done the game a disservice by allowing players to complain constantly. Other than soccer, I can’t think of another sport that allows it. Umpires don’t let hitters spend 10-15 seconds demonstrably bitching about strike calls. Hockey players occasionally get heated with the refs during stoppages in play, but they keep the game moving and the complaining isn’t nonstop. Same with football. I don’t think guys should get Ts every time they say something to a ref, but there is no reason for the nonstop, long, theatrical discussions after nearly every call.

I agree!!! It's really annoying. No one ever fouls in the NBA, and no one misses a shot without getting fouled.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Mark Daigneault for the Thunder makes it a policy to where he tells the players to play and he'll take care of the refs. That's why you see it less with Thunder players than other teams. More coaches need to have that be their policy.

Reaves was clearly being targeted a lot on defense by the Thunder last night. Not all Reaves fault. The lack of team rim protection by the Lakers hangs their guards to dry.

That's why I don't think a starting backcourt of Reaves/Luka can get to the level many people think they can. They would be traffic cones on defense. AR tries hard on defense, but he's just not good at it. I've never seen Luka give anything more than casual effort on defense.

 

[NickZepp]

That's why I don't think a starting backcourt of Reaves/Luka can get to the level many people think they can. They would be traffic cones on defense. AR tries hard on defense, but he's just not good at it. I've never seen Luka give anything more than casual effort on defense.

They probably can if they get better centers/power forwards that can defend and rebound.

 

[Sooner04]

It's hard for me to cheer for any other team, but I must admit watching the City celebrate last year was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My daughter works for the OKCPD, so she had a lot of up-close-and-personal pics and videos, which were very cool...

Try being a Sonics fan.
Ayton sucks. Everybody knew it.
The relationship between the players and officials would improve exponentially if the ejection became a thing like MLB.

 

[NickZepp]

The Wizards get the number 1 pick. Probably DeBantsa

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Yall think Wemby is getting suspended?

 

[BoulderSooner]

Yall think Wemby is getting suspended?

no but he should be for 1 game

 

[NickZepp]

Lakers season ends which means no more Sooners in the NBA this year. Good run for Reaves overall.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Lakers season ends which means no more Sooners in the NBA this year. Good run for Reaves overall.

They really put up a fight last night. The difference was Shai was the Closer, and LA's big two failed to make plays late. Reminds me of how MJ & Kobe used to end games. Everyone knew Shai was going to make the plays, and even when they doubled him, he made the perfect read. LA had no answer.....

 

[SoonerBounce13]

It would have been a fun series with Luka healthy

It will be interesting to see what the lakers do in the offseason