There was an odd piece on Grantland yesterday talking about stats. Tom Scocca of Deadspin wrote about it: “Yes, if you want to get technical about it, J.J. Barea did have a teammate who is seven feet tall and has won a league MVP and who somehow beat out J.J. Barea for the Finals MVP award. But: grit and hustle! The Mavs were “outmanned” by every statistic by most of their playoff foes. Except their regular-season scoring margin, which was better than half their opponents’. And their 57 wins. Only one of their four playoff opponents had more. If you care about numbers.”
Hardwood Hype has 20 questions for the league: “Given the scrutiny and day-to-day reexamination of his value that he’s subjected to, should Russell Westbrook take a page from Ron Artest’s book and henceforth be known as “Blogosphere?”
Another great take on the Grantland thing, this one from Ziller.
The BIO convention in Washington DC (which is a big deal evidently) had some Oklahoma flavor: “At one end of the 1,600-square-foot OKBio space, a constant stream of people stopped to take photos of a life-size cardboard cutout of Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, which was one stop on a “scavenger hunt” that involved 16 organizations out of hundreds of exhibitors at the Biotechnology Industry Organization conference. Footprints affixed to the aisle floor led BIO show visitors from the entrance of the exhibition hall directly to the Oklahoma booth.”
This planking thing is weird. But naturally, Nate Robinson joined in.
Chris Broussard of ESPN.com thinks OKC should get Chris Paul: “Like you said, since there’s no official wish list for CP3 we’ll leave the field open. So I say New Orleans should trade him to OKC for Russell Westbrook. Chris may want a bigger market but he did really enjoy his time in OKC when Katrina forced the Hornets to move there temporarily. With Kevin Durant and James Harden to dish to, Paul would wreak havoc on the West as well as the league. He’d also turn Serge Ibaka into an alley-oop beast, not to mention get Kendrick Perkins several easy buckets a game. In OKC, he wouldn’t have to worry about Amare’s aching knees, and last year CP3 attempted just 11 shots a game, so there’d be no more ignoring KD in the waning moments. It’s a match made in heaven — if winning (and not locale) is what matters most. I must say this: I could have picked Orlando, which would be a swell destination with Dwight, but the Magic don’t have a realistic trade scenario that works so I nixed it.”
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says hope isn’t high for a deal by June 30: “For the owners, sources say the NBA’s legal team does not seem inclined to file a pre-emptive lawsuit — known as a declaratory judgment — asking a federal court to rule that the work rules it has proposed do not violate antitrust law. Such a move would strictly be made to assure the NBA a home-court advantage by putting the case in a court that historically has been pro-management in labor disputes. If the players decertify and file an antitrust lawsuit first, they could do so in any jurisdiction where the NBA does business or has a team — thus strengthening their chances of getting a pro-labor court. Given all that, the court of appears to be heavily tilted away from the possibility of a deal by Thursday night. So if you like lockouts, pull up a chair and get your popcorn.”
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I like CP3 but it wouldn't be a good idea to break up the team's chemistry.I'm only wanna trade for CP3 if Westbrook refused to sign an extension and CP3 said he wanted to play here. I dont know maybe I just don't wanna see such a good player go.
Broussard tries too hard to make stuff up just to keep up with the more popular writers.
“In OKC I have (a) chance 2 compete 4 a Championship, opportunity 2 share what I know w/ (a) young team, chance 2 learn how 2 run a top notch organization & unbelievable fans …”
The "chance 2 learn how 2 run a top notch organization" part makes me think that he might want to try out coaching or something along those lines. The guy has won two college championships and an NBA title. I say keep him around. Plus, this was awesome... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STwxuLnnFwE
Hey, I got something right. I thought it was going to be a year. Good to buy developmental time for Aldrich, Mullens, and Pleiss.
@ The Beard Knows
The rebounds are impressive, they started going down once we got rebounders in the frontcourt as well. Steals and blocks are gambler stats. They look good in the box score, but don't hold the weight presumed when it comes to actual team defense. Russ has trouble staying in front of people and is lost in screens. He can make up a lot of ground in screens, but there is a reason we consistently got torn up by teams that liked to play pick and roll basketball.
Sorry, I meant to say I wonder when the TERMS will leak?
Not surprised we signed him. I am surprised it wasn't for a longer deal. I wonder when the teams will leak?
The coaching thing would make sense. Nazr said when he got here that he would like to make it a permanent home. Sounds like Presti was like:
"Look dude, we really only see you on the court for another year, until one of these three white dudes we have can get on the court and contribute. After that, you wanna coach and play some golf? Cool. Sign here."
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
I think that's probably a good thing...I don't know if Nazr has 3 years left in him.
@ The Beard Knows
Yeah i think i remember him saying something about it.
@ gr8ball83
Has he expressed interest in coaching?
@Jax Raging Bile Duct
Wow...did not think we would do that.
@ Jax Raging Bile Duct
That is very interesting. I didn't think we would be able to sign him to just a year.
@ Jax Raging Bile Duct
Maybe he's gonna become a coach after this year. I thought we should have hired him as a coach this year, then if Cole didn't pan out as a backup, sign him halfway through the year to play out the rest of the season... Keep the roster spot open, keep Nazr involved, etc.
Dang - Darnell saying it's a one year contract extension. I'm surprised Nazr didn't go for a new 3 year deal. Maybe that CBA has him worried?
RW #1 rebounds, #3 steals, #3 blocks among PGs last year. How is Russ not much of a defender?
@DarnellMayberry
The Thunder and Nazr Mohammed have agreed on a contract extension
http://newsok.com/okc-thunder-signs-nazr-mohammed-to-contract-extension/article/3581375?custom_click=lead_story_title
NewsOK NewsOK
OKC Thunder signs Nazr Mohammed to contract extension. tinyurl.com/4yuwt8p
Oops..I lied. Looks like NO did make it, but got swept in the first round. No wonder I didn't notice.
okc baby :
TaoMaas :
okc baby :@ TaoMaas Are you serious? CP3, KD, Harden together
Yes, I am serious. CP3 averaged less than 2 assists per game more than RW, but Russ averaged 6 pts. per game more. Plus, if Harden doesn’t pan out like we think, could we lean on CP3 to help carry the Thunder the way Russ has? I don’t think so.
Here we go with stats again. Look at the total picture.
Yeah, well, the bigger picture is that I don't like stats all that much, either. I only tossed 'em in for those who do like them. This is pretty simple math, I think. Paul + one option = not in the playoffs. Russ + one option = conference championship. There was a time when I would have loved to have Paul on the Thunder. That time has passed.
I am a fan of the traditional point guard, so I'll go on record on saying I would have CP3 on my team in a heartbeat. I have been saying this since the offense started stalling. Westbrook isnt a natural point, he played great off the ball (when Maynor was on the court), why not allow him to get more minutes off the ball? It would suck to lose Westbrook for Paul, but I think Paul would make the team better.
@ The Beard Knows
Russ isn't much of a defender himself. Let's be honest about that. He has all the tools, but doesn't often utilize them. CP3 will create turnovers and is a smart, if not physically gifted, defender. He would fit in fine in our system, probably better defensively than Russ.
As for our crunch time "prowess," it's another issue of being honest. We won a lot of close games because we let teams back in to make it close (first half of the year) or just shut down their offense when ours stagnated (not a Russ thing). NOLA with CP3 has had a better offense in crunch time than any team could muster during the rest of the game. Our offense traditionally turns into KD and Russ taking turns laying bricks. That could definitely be improved.
@ The Beard Knows
I wasn't suggesting CP3 would make us a better "in the clutch" team, just that analysts have been using NO as the counter example of the "clutch-scorer" prototype of Kobe. Basically, NO was far more efficient with Paul passing to an open teammate than with Kobe taking a shot that everyone in the state knew he was going to take. Shocking revelation, I know. I don't actually want CP3 over Westbrook (it's kinda hard not to want CP3 at all, though, you know?). Mostly, I was trying to make a little joke about our crunch-time "problems" in the playoffs, which were mostly the result of poor play-calling and execution, not hero ball. Unfortunately, I haven't found the right font for sarcasm yet, so most of my attempted humor is falling flat.
I really don't think there is much improving to do at PG, SG or SF as far as the starting lineup is concerned. And when you look around for talent better than our current options at PF and C, there simply isn't anyone short of Dwight Howard who is both on the market, and a big enough improvement to justify breaking up a WCF's team..... and we all know that won't happen.
We could definitely run a more complicated offense with CP3. Him, Harden and Colli will run PnR. Floor spacing and efficiency would be a lot better.
TaoMaas :
okc baby :@ TaoMaas Are you serious? CP3, KD, Harden together
Yes, I am serious. CP3 averaged less than 2 assists per game more than RW, but Russ averaged 6 pts. per game more. Plus, if Harden doesn’t pan out like we think, could we lean on CP3 to help carry the Thunder the way Russ has? I don’t think so.
Here we go with stats again. Look at the total picture.
KEEP WESTBROOK!! DO NOT NEED CP3? DUMB SUGGESTION
@ sammasaaron
In the 2010-2011 regular season, OKC was the best "in the clutch" team in the league. How is CP3 improving that?
I think CP3 and Harden make a lot less sense than Russ and Harden. Harden's strengths fit the gaps of Russ's weaknesses. Harden is among the best passing SGs in the league already. I think that CP3's lost athleticism would seriously hurt the team defensively. With a more balanced offense and consequently more energy I feel that Russ is a lock for the NBA all defense team.
@ Keith
This. The Broussard article wasn't suggesting that OKC should trade for CP3, it identified OKC as the best destination for Paul if NO has to trade him. I still don't understand how the contracts are supposed to work unless we can extend Westbrook. I also think it's difficult to pull the trigger on this one for two reasons in particular. 1) As everyone has pointed out, no one is sure how serious CP3's knee injury is and what it means for his future as a player. 2) More important (to me anyway) is that Westbrook still has a lot of room to develop. The real uncertainty comes in the interaction of those two issues, making it nearly impossible to judge when Westbrook will surpass CP3 (or if he already has). I will say this, though; NO was apparently one of the most effective crunch-time scoring teams and most stat guys attribute that to Paul finding an open shot rather than a superstar trying to create and taking a contested shot. Do what you will with that.
I say sign Cook and Nazr, buy out Ivey and Vaden, and trade Nate away for a late draft pick or two. That gives the Thunder 2 open roster spots if they want to sign a FA and maybe an undrafted hopeful to help round out the 66ers roster.
I'm sure Presti has something far better in mind. But, it doesn't sound like they want to mess with any of the 10 rotation guys.
@ TaoMaas
Russ was considerably less efficient, so those 6 ppg don't mean much. Even the assist totals are iffy in practical comparison because Paul had exactly one legit option on his team (West). West is no KD. And really, no one else on the Hornets was even as good as Harden. You can't look at a Paul game and Westbrook game and not come away thinking Paul is a significantly better passer.
As for leaning on CP3 over Russ, isn't that what NOLA has been doing for years? CP3 has done a lot more, individually, for his team than Russ has.
@ anonymous
I don't think Orlando/NOLA would be able to ask for a true haul. You never get equal value when trading away a superstar. Further, the only reason those teams would trade is because they expect their players to walk. They are forced to recoup what they can get, not everything they want.
@ anonymous
I wouldn't trade Westbrook for CP3. CP3 is not the best pg in the league anymore. He is going to continue to show flashes of what he once was as he did against the Lakers. Injuries have taken their toll. He is still going to be in the league for a long time because of the way he conducts offenses, like a tiny Jason Kidd, but he is never going to be 1st team all NBA again. He is already started his long slow decline. Russ...who knows where his ceiling is?
okc baby :@ TaoMaas Are you serious? CP3, KD, Harden together
Yes, I am serious. CP3 averaged less than 2 assists per game more than RW, but Russ averaged 6 pts. per game more. Plus, if Harden doesn't pan out like we think, could we lean on CP3 to help carry the Thunder the way Russ has? I don't think so.
My take on the whole CP3 thing.. As much as I like RW, I would absolutely love a straight up trade if Paul didn't have the knee problems. I think if totally healthy over the long term, there's no doubt it would make this team more complete. But because there are the injury concerns I don't think there's anyway you can do it. The absolute last thing I would want to see is a Brandon Roy scenario, while at the same time Westbrook develops into even more of an explosive superstar with another team.
So, they most likely made an offer to Nazr. And, we know they made a qualifying offer to Cook. That's 16 roster spots. No?
So they have to buy out Vaden, Ivey OR Nate to sign both. Correct?
james1 :
TaoMaas :@anonymous But would Paul get enough points out of the Thunder starters to offset (and exceed) the scoring they’d be giving up in Russ? Frankly, I don’t think so.
We gave to the 4 games away to Dallas last year or that series would have gone 7. ar from now if we took a step back this coming year but no way right now.
Should say we gave 2 of the 4 losses away to Dallas or the series would have gone 7 games.
@ anonymous
It all depends on that knee. It's not worth it if Paul is missing 10-15 games every year and limits himself during the regular season. If he's healthy, if he's the LA series Paul and pre-2011 Paul, you have to make that trade.
@ Bryan
The money depends on the new CBA. Under current rules, we would have the cap to make the swap (we would be almost 11 million under the cap if we let Nazr and Cook walk, which is almost exactly the difference between Russ and Paul). Even the BYC issues wouldn't matter much because Russ's BYC number would be less than Paul's, and NOLA has more cap space than us anyway.
also, i understand spelling higher as hirer probably made me lose all credibility.
TaoMaas :@anonymous
But would Paul get enough points out of the Thunder starters to offset (and exceed) the scoring they’d be giving up in Russ? Frankly, I don’t think so.
I definitely think he would. I think we are too close to do something that drastic though. Our core is really young and improving and we were really close last year. We gave to the 4 games away to Dallas last year or that series would have gone 7. There is no calculated way to see how that would affect the team. There is no way Presti would pull the trigger on that deal. Maybe a year from now if we took a step back this coming year but no way right now.
I would still take Russell "Honeybadger" Westbrook over CP3 any day. The Thunder are built that way. Also how many lockouts can pro sports have this year. Let go for the trifecta!!!
@ TaoMaas
Are you serious? CP3, KD, Harden together
@Bryan
yeah, i'm sure they would ask for more, probably want harden as well, I wouldn't do that
@TaoMaas
With Harden in the starting rotation, I don't think thats that much of an issue. Plus I don't think CP3 is that bad of a scorer as some think. His FG% is actually hirer and is a better 3 point shooter than Russ. No, he wouldn't be able to get to the basket like westbrook, but I think what he brings would more than make up for that. Again, this is just talk because I dont see this trade happening, so I guess teh argument is moot. I have a rule do believe the opposite of what Chris Broussad says.
CP3 and D12 for Westbrook are dreams. Who wouldnt do that trade? Of course Nazr is signed. Hes our 4th best big right now. Presti is genius
@anonymous
But would Paul get enough points out of the Thunder starters to offset (and exceed) the scoring they'd be giving up in Russ? Frankly, I don't think so.
@dwill
If I'm not mistaken we won't have any capspace available until the 1st, but that is when the lockout begins.
@anonymous
A lot of people would do that trade. But the money doesn't work and I'm sure NO would ask for more than Russ.
DizzDai :
dwill :Is it a front loaded salary like Collisons? What genius did Presti due today??
I’m not sure how much cap space we have to frontload Nazr. If I’m not mistaken Collison took all the cap available. I honestly don’t think Nazr is going to be too pricey anyway. Especially if we are planning on him riding the bench in the near future.
Collison was for last season correct, would frontloading Nazr be for next seasons cap...or am i missing something?