We took a look at a list of goals for the entire Thunder team a couple weeks ago. But let’s get detailed. Let’s get specific. I’m going to dig in and hit on some individual goals for a few players that would define a successful season. So what meters for success should we set for Nick Collison and D.J. White?
Nick Collison
Restore his numbers to his previous two seasons. Last year was a down year for Collison. And before he got it going in March and April, it was a really down year. He got his numbers close to his career average by the end of it (8.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg) but for a while he was a around 5.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg. He did shoot a higher percentage from the field than ever (56 percent) which was very nice, but he also took two less shots a game. The ironic thing is that his PER finished right in line with his two best years of 2006-2008, but yet his numbers were down. Collison needs to be the rebounding force on this team and having a guy lead your entire team with just 6.9 a game is kind of stinky.
Seven rebounds a game. Likewise, he needs to get this number up. I put it at seven because I’m not sure how many minutes he’ll get with Ibaka and White now competing for time. But he’s always been a solid player and productive when he’s on the floor. He’s the worker on the team and the little plays he makes are surely appreciated. But depending on the improvements of Kevin Durant and Jeff Green in the rebounding area, 6.9 boards a game isn’t great and shouldn’t lead a team.
Ideal stats: 9.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg; 55 percent from the field, 75 percent from the line. Those numbers may actually be a bit ambitious for Nick. He could have a great season putting up six points and seven rebounds a game as long as he’s doing it efficiently. It’s not that OKC’s front line is stacked, but it’s just that there’s a couple players looking for minutes. Collison will likely be the second or third man off the bench unless someone else steps up and takes his minutes. Which is unlikely because Collison is valuable enough with the little thing to want on the floor for at least 20 minutes a night.
D.J. White
Play in at least 75 games. This is more a wish for good health and not winning a position battle. If Serge Ibaka beats him out and takes away his minutes, that’s fine. But more than anything, I want to see White healthy for a season. He missed 75 games in his rookie season with a benign growth on his jaw and even when he got back he’d lost a bunch a weight and wasn’t in great shape. He’s a nice player and a great bench guy, but OKC missed out on his services for most of last year. A full season and I think White could be a very nice bench player in the P.J. Brown mold for the Thunder.
Develop some semblance of a post game. He’s got a GREAT face-up game and elbow jumper. No problems with that. But he doesn’t do much on the block. Which is a little strange because that’s where he did most his damage at Indiana. Learn a baby hook, work on a turnaround jumper, figure out how to muscle an opponent down low. Just something. 
Bulk up. Because of the jaw thing, he lost a bunch of weight. As a result, he lost his junk in the trunk that he used to muscle opponents on the block and put on them to block out. During the offseason White has been working to put back some of that weight, but once camp and the games start, will he keep it on? If he wants to defend the big boys he’s going to have to be physical and he’s going to need the bulk to do so.
Ideal stats: 7.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 bpg; 50 percent from the field, 80 percent from the line. White’s stats are kind of hard to judge. He might see 20 minutes a game, he might see 10. It’s hard to know how many he’ll see. He’s going to be in the rotation, but will he be the ninth man or the seventh? Keep in mind, this is basically White’s rookie season. He only played in seven last season and while productive, he was basically handed to opportunity to play. The staff wanted to see what he had and they gave him the time to do it. It’s just hard to say what kind of time he’ll see this year. He’s a very nice player and I think he’s got a place on this roster with his face-up game, but I don’t know how much contribution he’ll have this year. He’s destined to have a Kurt Thomas/Malik Rose type career as a good shooter, good defender, good leader and good role player. So part of that will be accepting you job and doing it well, whatever it may be this year.
Sound off Thunderheads.
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dj white will be better then collison but maybe not this season, I hope he gets mins to prove himself and that we can blow out a few teams this year
I think that as far as Nick goes, it's also worth noting that he played with that big black cast on his finger for a good little while. This time last year, we were talking about whether Nick could be a 10/10 guy. I think that's possible, even with the competition for minutes. Nick's past the point of really talking about potential - aka the Chris Wilcox factor - but every team needs someone just like Collison.
@okcnba
I saw that. Pretty cool.
@Andrew
Thumbsup. And I don't think anything has been that outrageous. Collision bumping his numbers from 6.9 rebounds to seven doesn't seem that wild. D.J. White playing in 75 (if circumstances allow) seems reasonable. But I understand if people disagree for sure. Heck, that's the point of all this.
I have enjoyed all of these posts. One thing that is clear is that you write IDEAL stats. That is if everything goes right this is what we COULD expect, and I agree with you for the most part. DJ was a good player in college and should at the very least come off the bench and grab some boards for the thonda.... and collison should be his dirty self again, with hopefully an improved jumper or post game.
ROYCE, one of your bolts made it onto HoopsHype Rumors!
@Royce
Maybe for the bench guys you could translate the numbers into "per 48 minutes." Then guess a range of how many minutes they could get.
@Royce
I thought you were the "nameless blogger".
I am with you guys, who cares what their stats are if we win 60. Even if we were .500, I dont think I would complain(much)about who didn't hit your mark.
@Warren
Yep, that's pretty much it.
@Chas
This as well. The "goals" are more just little bars for success. Like you said, if Kevin Durant averages just 18 points a game but we win 60, I don't give a crap. I think these are semi-reasonable meters for a guy to shoot for. The idea is for him to hit that to "define success" but like you said, if a guy fails to hit his mark that I said (some random NBA blogger) but we win, then who gives a crap. The SEASON was a success and that's what matters.
I've never found Royce to be unreasonable. He's most likely seen as too apologetic for the Thunder players (a true homer like myself). These are just one fan's hopes for the players. Royce tends to take a holistic approach to how these guys are performing , by taking into accound what the team is trying to accomplish and not just one player. If Green doesn't improve his points but obviously helps the Thunder win more games, I doubt Royce will be calling for his head.
@Royce
I know what you mean. I think if DJ White took all of Collisons minutes, he would put up higher numbers across the board than what you put down. I really think that White could be close to a double double guy if he played extented minutes, but I don't think he will get those type of minuets this season. I hope he gets to that point soon though.
I don't think you can actully say a player is "underperforming" if you compare them to what "you" set as thier goals. I may be wrong, but I don't think anyone is going to compare the players actual stats with what Royce is putting down. I don't think these are predictions of what each player will do, but more of a "bar" of what each player "should" be trying to do. Then again, my wife tells me I am wrong all the time.
I was just wondering because if it's "clearly unlikely", and then later on you revisit where their bars were set, you might conclude that certain players are underperforming when in reality it was unlikely everyone could simultaneously meet their bars.
And I should also point out, with guys so young, improvement should be part of the natural progression. Etan Thomas and Kevin Ollie shouldn't be expected to improve their numbers big time. Collison's hopeful numbers are somewhat in line with his career averages.
@Gar
Of course it's "possible" but it's clearly unlikely.
I think a lot of folks have missed the idea behind these. These aren't supposed to be viewed in team terms. They are just separate, individual goals for each player. So naturally, goals for each player should include improvement, right?
@Warren
Exactly. That's why it was so hard to gauge him.
Royce, do you think it's possible for everyone on the team to increase their stats at the same time?
I am having a hard time with how DJ is going to make it on the floor with Nick and Green in front of him. I hope he can find his way into the rotation, but who are you going to take the minutes from? He has a good game and with the weight he has gained this summer, he should be a better low post player than he showed last. I just don't see much time for him unless someone gets hurt. (Or traded for Gortat).