#84: Just That Good
Are Thunder fans getting unrealistic expectations because of an easy schedule?
In a special editorial, Brent asks the question of why the Thunder are looking so dominant right now. Have the Thunder improved that much, or are we being fooled by an easy stretch of schedule? How have they gotten so much better with the same basic roster as last year?
Great points Brent. The ‘easy schedule’ argument isn’t valid because since March 1st of last year, the Thunder are 34-8 or 80.9 winning pct. That would equate to 66.4 wins in an 82 game season. Since 2000, only the ’06 Mavs won more than 66 games, i.e. it’s rare. But yet I totally agree that the team is far better now than they were at the end of last season so are the Thunder better than a 66 win team?? I don’t know if I would go that far but I think that they are the best in the league. I think you hit most of the reasons why they are better but I want to also mention team passing. I know that for whatever reason, the number of team assists is down but it really seems like the team passing has improved a lot. And team D. The Thunder are giving up 8 less points a game than last year.
Great to hear from you, Mark! You always bring fresh insights to the show. The D is much improved – in fact I saw the Thunder are holding opponents to the second-lowest FG% in the league (tied with the Lakers). And I agree about the passing, too. The assist numbers don’t seem to correlate, but I have seen us begin to rotate the ball around the perimeter quickly similar to what the Mavericks and other vet teams do. And the 3 point shooting actually came to mind on Wednesday when I saw KD drive and kick at least 3 times. It seems like we rarely had effective inside-out passing before this year.
Don’t wanna be mean but you guys gotta loosen up and stop like your reading off a script just a suggestion
Don’t wanna be mean but you guys gotta loosen up and stop like your reading off a script just a suggestion
Good points think that strong chemistry will bring home nba title
Thanks for the feedback, Rick. We appreciate all the help we can get. In our usual two-man shows we are ad libbing, but in a one man editorial I usually do read from a script! So good ears. The skill to read from a script but not SOUND like you’re reading from a script is definitely one I need to learn, and gives me great respect for the pros! Good suggestion.
I didn’t mean it in a negative way either your shows are great and I love listening
I think last season you debated whether or not Harden should start over Sefolosha. I think we can put that debate to rest now. Harden is clearly the better player over a much improved Sefolosha but his role is play maker on the second unit. The first unit is marginally better with Harden in it over Sefolosha but that 8 minute stretch in each half when Westbrook goes to the bench (around 4 minutes left in the first quarter to the 8 minute mark of the 2nd quarter) we need Harden to be the captain and playmaker. If he’s in the starting lineup, he’s got to rest during that stretch, too. Harden has started 2 games this season and the Thunder are 0-2 (Portland and LAC). Last night, Cook started ahead of him and I have to absolutely give Scott Brooks props for that move. Hats off to him.