Comments on: Thursday Bolts – Three Freaking Straight Edition

By: Royce

Royce — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:10:22 +0000

@geoff Ah, very nice. Well done.

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:10:48 +0000

I’ve said it before, for this team I might go after Troy Murphy.

Or Charlie V.

By: Crow

Crow — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:05:15 +0000

The thing I’d tend to agree with from the bleacher report is possibly taking Hansbrough. You might clog the PF picture more but you let it sort out and trade some over time.

By: geoff

geoff — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:48:12 +0000

hi-5 to you for picking up the basketball jones question I sent the guys. Nice to see them recognizing RW as well.

By: Keith

Keith — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 04:31:07 +0000

@Steve H
Here’s the thing. I didn’t intend to say that OKC couldn’t land ANY free agents, just that they are unlikely to land top tier free agents. Yes, we have a wonderful young core, but there aren’t a lot of guys who want to spend the prime of their careers (when most good players first hit unrestricted free agency) rebuilding. And remember, when it comes to money, the current team can always offer more. There are only two reasons that top level players move in free agency. 1) Their current team and/or management is horrible, and they want out of a bad situation. 2) The lights and glitz of NY, Boston, or LA has drawn them out to bigger markets (and even then they have to be unhappy with their current team).

I don’t have anything against Oklahoma, I like it, a lot. But me liking it doesn’t change the fact that it’s still in the early phases of the NBA. Though it’s not one, it looks a lot like an expansion team from outside. Winning brings people (fans, media, value free agents), people open the door for money (for owners, other businesses, and sponsors), money brings guys who want to get paid (top level free agents). This isn’t an indictment of the state (like bitter Seattle-ites often say), this in an indictment of the system.

Kid Delicious and Hustle Russell (I’m a sucker for rhyme) will get us there in time, but that time isn’t quite yet.

Besides, there aren’t any good UFAs this year anyway. Boozer is good for what he does, but he’s undersized and a poor defender. He also is injury prone and not particularly fleet-footed. Not exactly a great fit here. Millsap is basically a younger, better version of Boozer, but he’s restricted. The most significant improvements could be made through a trade, anyway. So, it doesn’t really matter whether big names would come here on their own.

By: The real Mrs. Daily Thunder

The real Mrs. Daily Thunder — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:46:16 +0000

Come on.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:14:25 +0000

@Keith
I have to disagree about our ability to attract free agents- especially with the economic troubles hitting the NBA. Big named free agents want to get paid- it’s hard to generalize about star players as a group, because they are pretty far from fitting into any one mold- but getting paid has to be right up there with playing on a contending team as far as what makes an offer attractive. Everybody that knows anything about basketball acknowledges KD’s off-the-charts potential. I think the general perception in basketball circles is that we have a great young core with a ton of potential. THAT,coupled with having more money under the cap to offer than just about anybody else, has got to make us an attractive destination. I’ve read some pretty snide criticism of OKC as a “dust bowl”- but that’s just so much BS. Been to Dallas. And San Antonio. And Houston. “Quality of life” is the same or better in OKC- and our crowds are a lot louder.

By: Mrs. Daily Thunder

Mrs. Daily Thunder — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:47:13 +0000

Great job on the podcast Royce!

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:41:51 +0000

Put me squarely in the camp that does not want Crawford or Gordon. Period.

When I first became a basketball fan 20 some odd years ago, I was all excited about guys that scored the most, or did the most exciting things on the court, but much like Jax says above,after awhile you figure out that the defense needs to be solid. The Sonics spent 4 years figuring out that all the offensive firepower of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis doesn’t mean anything if you dont D-up. Dean Oliver did a study where he proved that the defense “doesn’t always win” the big games, it’s actually slightly tilted toward offense, but no “bad defensive teams” ever win anything. You have to at least be solid defensively. The Thunder haven’t been solid defensively all year until the last four. Putting shoot first guys like Crawford or Gordon on the floor with KD and Green would be about the worst thing you could do imo. You would essentially have the Wizards. Lots of big name scorers (Jamison, Butler, Arenas) and never get out of the first round because they can’t stop anybody.

No, we want solid, two way players around our young guys. There is definitely a blueprint that Presi is following with his wings and bigs. CJ Miles, Thabo, Weaver, Krstic (getting rid of Wilcox, Szczerbiak etc). Gotta play some defense.

By: MartzMimic

MartzMimic — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:55:56 +0000

I’m glad you clarified that Keith. When I read that “2 games under .500″ I was about to ask if you had watched “Crystal Darkness.” :)