This week we start our season preview with our Division Rival series. Over the next few podcasts we will be interviewing informed personalities from each of the Thunder’s Northwest division foe’s to see how our roster stacks up against theirs. First up, the Utah Jazz.
We were lucky enough to be joined by Jazz play by play and former Sonics’ post game show host and Northwest sports radio personality David Locke, and let me say he’s a perfect example of everything we are lacking in local sports radio around these parts. He doesn’t pull any punches and shocked your TGR hosts constantly with his opinions and reveals. We discuss Durant’s efficiency, the value of stats on a bad team, Lebron’s decision, the projected top 4 in the west, Carmelo’s trade demands, and much more. Listen, subscribe, and comment.
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First of all how did you guys let him off the hook so often after touting Utah's success without having nearly any top picks since '83 (as well as their inability to land free agents), and then damned every player outside of the top 5 in the draft? I'm glad you mentioned the Clippers pick, which btw loses its protected status in 2016.
Secondly, couldn't the same argument he made against Yao being unable to stop the 2-man game be said about Al Jefferson?
Third, last time I checked there's definitely no certainty D-Will will stay in Utah past 2012. In fact multiple sources have suggested he wants out.
Fourth and finally, I don't know if it's just me, but even if we do have a few injuries- I love the depth and adaptability of our team. Remember our team is probably one of the most naturally inter-changeable in the league.
Regarding history is against the darling teams I have one question; How did all the great teams become great? Didn't they have solid (Darling) seasons that put them on the map and build from there? The teams that Locke brings up had no staying power. They tried to make the leap from darling to champs in one year. Then they fell short and tried to rebuild all over again. Wheras, the Thunder are primed to take one step at a time so they will have Staying Power instead of making a drastic move to jump from #8 to #1 in our conference.
Consistent improvement and a steady hand will separate the Thunder from all those darling teams.
I'm not sure what to make of his argument about history being against the "darling" teams like the Thunder of this year, Blazers of last year, and warriors, mavs and wizards of the past. Is it enough to just say "none of those teams had a player as good as Durant"? I hope so.
Pau is NOT the 4th best player in the league. No question Howard is the best big man. Though I could definitely see making an argument for Gasol to be a top 10 player, that's a little less of a stretch.
Locke is a bit of an airhead.
Interesting podcast. The ranking of Pau as 4 is a little specious, if you ask me. I'm not sure how you can get away with that one. Sure he's good, but ahead of Wade or Howard? Not going to jump on that one.
As far as rating Kirilenko #6 on the basis of number of possessions he's involved in, I think that's entirely stupid. You may as well look at the number of possessions that Russ brings the ball up-court. By that metric, he's involved on every play that he's on. And looking just at defense, rather than a player's overall contributions is not going to produce an adequate idea either. By that count, Thabo will never lose his starting position unless Harden becomes an elite defender.
Serge Ibaka just linked to his Serge Ibaka Looks Strong article via twitter on here. Serge reads DailyThunder it appears!