Matt Moore of CBSSports.com on OKC’s offseason: “Re-signed Serge Ibaka on a bargain. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook got better. Drafted Perry Jones III on a steal late in the first-round. What else do you want? The NBA title? Well, that’s going to have to wait.”
Zach Lowe of SI.com on Kobe fitting in with the new Lakers: “But a lot of those plays, especially the isolation attacks, have a lower general efficiency than catch-and-shoot chances, shots off cuts and other spot-up looks. Even an efficient isolation player costs his team slices of points in the long run by overdoing the one-on-one stuff at the expense of better actions, particularly when the shot clock allows for those actions. Toss away enough slices, and you’re down 3-2 to Oklahoma City.”
Five players that should host SNL. What, no Serge Ibaka?
David Thorpe of ESPN.com on the Nuggets matching up with OKC: “With Iguodala, Corey Brewer, and Andre Miller, Denver has the horses to run fast while not sacrificing size, something that could pose a problem for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder like to go small with Kevin Durant at the power forward spot, so Denver can counter by playing zone and likely not get hammered on the glass — always a challenge when playing zone.”
Russell Westbrook on ESPN Radio. Interesting note: Westbrook says he almost ended up at Arizona State, playing with James Harden. Also, Westbrook managed to say “definitely” four consecutive times at one point.
Police recovered $20,000 in stolen stuff, which included an autographed KD jersey.
Sekou Smith of NBA.com on the Orlando pipe dream: “That doesn’t mean that Magic fans should spend the next couple of years pining away for Durant or any other superstar who might be available in free agency in 2014 … 2015 … or 2016 (which is already being dubbed the “Summer of Durant”). Wishful thinking like that won’t help the Magic in the meantime. It’ll only serve to make these rebuilding years even more painful, especially when the magic trick ends and they realize that it was all make-believe anyway.”
Hey, Danny Green still thinks OKC’s the favorite: “Green believes that this year the San Antonio Spurs will be better than in 2011 and will be contenders for the championship, but says Oklahoma is a big favorite over Los Angeles Lakers. Green noted that the Lakers have made a great team in the offseason, but still have to see them on the court.”
I knew Ibaka signed for less. Pause
Loved Russ's interview. That was fun.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/08/the-eric-maynor-situations/
Nets and Knicks new uniforms leaked on 2K13 pics. Have to say I'm not impressed with either.
Also, why can't they get the Thunder unis correct? There's always been something completely off about them.
Thank you Matt Moore for saying that Serge was signed on a bargain. Since few would listen to me on the last few posts concerning this, its glad that someone who gets paid to do this agree.
@SERGEant_Slaughter "Look someone agrees with me! Looooook!"
@justin_mia <-- he salty.
@justin_mia "It is not bad in a vacuum but if it prevents the Thudner from retaining Harden, it's terrible."
The Thunder are definitely signing Harden long term. I know they haven't yet but anyone who thinks that there is a chance that it won't happen barring injury, isn't paying attention.
@RodneyRosavelRusanWilson It is not bad in a vacuum but if it prevents the Thudner from retaining Harden, it's terrible.
Serge's contract isnt bad... It would have been nice if we signed him for 4 years, 42 mil, but its cool... the good thing is this is the nba, so even if his deal ultimately looks bad, we can always trade him to a team that will give up more than they should
@SERGEant_Slaughter I've thought Serge probably did sign for under market value. However, I also think the market is pretty inflated for big guys. *shrug*
@ou_sas Its all about supply and demand. Everyone wants a big man. They'll pay top dollar for one that has potential. Serge has it. He's just not showing it as fast as some ppl on ths thread would like to. But he's going to be ridiculous in the future.
@justin_mia Some of ibaka's problems are not easily fixable, especially when he wastes his offseason on non basketball related things.
@SERGEant_Slaughter I don't see how that is a "bargain" It is like saving 2 cents a gallon on gas, it is still too much.
@justin_mia @f5alcon yup!
Now I hope they sign Harden to a Max deal.
::Sits back in the recliner::
@SERGEant_Slaughter @f5alcon He writes a basketball blog, he must be correct. Moore has a lot of great thoughts but he's off base on this one. And yes, Presti lies all the time, it's part of being a GM and managing PR.
@justin_mia @f5alcon LOL...yes...now I officially give up. I respect credible people. If you say Presti is a liar and Matt Moore should know better... then I dont know what to say anymore.
@SERGEant_Slaughter @f5alcon He is only a bargain if he gets a lot better and that's not nearly as likely as someone like Matt Moore portrays IMO.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/20/the-inbounds-the-commonly-sensible-signing-of-serge-ibaka/
This is the article where he says, basically, that Ibaka is more likely to improve more than Harden in the future because he's not as good right now. He even goes so far as to say, "But there’s only so much better he can get." That's true for every player, but Ibaka's lack of fundamental understanding, awareness, etc. are taken for granted as things that will improve organically on their own with experience. Someone like Moore who I am sure has been watching NBA basketball for many years should know better than that.
@f5alcon Thus the "bargain"
@f5alcon @SERGEant_Slaughter Without raises, though.
@SERGEant_Slaughter top dollar is 14, and he got 12.75
@ou_sas @SERGEant_Slaughter It's a weird middle ground. I think the deal is just around where he is worth, give or take a few million. If he had gone to FA, his value would have been inflated. He certainly could have made more out in the market which would seem to imply we got a bargain. But the market is also inflated due to the dearth of big men in the league with the "potential" Ibaka has so he would have almost certainly received a contract for more than he is really worth.
If Ibaka were RFA now maybe he could have gotten more, but he's going to be RFA next season. Unless he blows up I don't think he would have gotten more than 4/48, and I don't think the odds of him blowing up are all that favorable.
@dancassidy35/FreeFestusFromGSW! @ou_sas @SERGEant_Slaughter If he was offered max it would have been 1 million more per year, so he didn't sign for max, but it was pretty close, much less of a deal than russ only taking 25% and not 30%
Cracked me up when Russ did the unintentional dis on Detroit.
That ESPN LA with Westbrook interview was really good.
"Where'd you get the [three-point celebration/guns]? Did it start in college?"
"Oh, no. I only took two three-pointers in college."
@novelisticbee0 I bet you always click straight onto the Russ stories :D
@cleandoe @novelisticbee0 Lol, that's exactly what I did.
@cleandoe Guilty. Lol
No shame in my game, though.
@novelisticbee0 It's rather incredible how much work he has put in to make himself what he is today. It's not right how much crap he gets considering how much effort he put into his game to get to where he is.
To add to that, I've always wondered WHEN he started doing it too.
You know, KD's got that whole humility rap going, but listening to Russ, you realize that it's not just KD. The whole team buys in to the work hard mantra that the organization is pitching.
@ou_sas The Thunder have always said that they're looking for particular types of players. Sure seems like "work ethic" is high on the list. They also have a group of guys who represent the team well. How many times have we heard KD give an interview and thought, "Damn, I'm glad he's on our team"...simply because he's saying all the right things, but not doing it in a fake way. I think this is partly why Harden's partying is sticking out like a sore thumb. Yes...he's a young millionaire and he's entitled to spend his money however he wants. But KD, Maynor, and others were at the yacht party, too, but their pics didn't make the headlines. It just reminds me of a birthday party I attended a few weeks ago. Everyone was drinking, partying, and having a good time...but only one guy took his clothes off and went skinny-dipping in front of friends, family, and co-workers. There's ways to party...and there's ways NOT to party, ya know? I'm not a prude, but a person has to be selective about what they do and where they do it.
@TaoMaas @ou_sas
Um, TaoMaas . . . skinny-dipping . . . didn't YOU have a birthday a few weeks ago? :)
@ThunderChick2010 Oh...good catch! lol Yes, I did. And this party was a "3-person birthday party"...mine included. Wasn't me skinny-dipping, though. Like I said, I'm no prude. I've done my share of skinny-dipping and hopping into hot tubs naked with other folks over the years. You just gotta pick your time and places. ;-)
@TaoMaas @ou_sas I'd skinny dip in front of friends, but never in front of family or co-workers. That's pass-out drunk level partying there.
@ou_sas Definitely, definitely.
Green with that UNC education. Pause.
SEVEEEEENNNNNNNNTTTHH!!!!!!!!!!!11
Suk on tht @eatsleepthunder
and what?!
Haha, Russ definitely loves the word "definitely".
The fact that I am on here commenting on my own is a very sad sad sign. A testament to the fact I have little other interests aside from hoops?!?!
@ThunderBelize Y u no join le raging conversation on Wales in le previous thread?
@ou_sas @cleandoe I was so excited to be first that I forgot to share it with the previous thread... failed my first poster exam... horribly!
@ThunderBelize y u no post le link in last thread?
First!
@ThunderBelize Tenth!