Daily Thunder.com #NBARank Recap: Kevin Durant second, Westbrook 9th

Layne Murdoch/NBAE/Getty Images

Another thing, another runner-up finish for Kevin Durant behind LeBron James.

Still, No. 2 isn’t all bad.

KD finished second in ESPN’s #NBARank project where the top 500 NBA players are scored on a scale of 0-to-10 by a huge panel of voters. It’s obviously not surprising, especially not after the last 12 months LeBron has put together. He’s gone from NBA pariah to the unquestioned most dominant player in the world. Honestly, the list really started at No. 2.

And the fact Durant has established himself there is impressive in its own right. To be ranked that high you can’t just be a scorer. You’ve got to be a player that’s seen as a contributor in all facets. That’s where Durant has taken his game. Good rebounder, a good creator, a good defender and a great scorer.

Last season Durant finished ranked sixth with a 9.62 average. This season his average is 9.70.

Oklahoma City had another top 10 player as Russell Westbrook checked in ninth, up from 15 in 2011. James Harden finished 26th and Serge Ibaka 41st.

Here’s a recap of how the whole team came out:

NR: Andy Rautins | Avg: N/A | 2011 rank: 471

496: Hollis Thompson | Avg: 1.53 | 2011 rank: NR

465: DeAndre Liggins | Avg: 2.02 | 2011 rank: 479

443: Hasheem Thabeet | Avg: 2.23 | 2011 rank: 376

426: Daniel Orton: | Avg: 2.36 | 2011 rank: 431

390: Cole Aldrich | Avg: 2.62 | 2011 rank: 425

383: Lazar Hayward | Avg: 2.67 | 2011 rank: 409

343: Reggie Jackson | Avg: 2.93 | 2011 rank: 422

306: Perry Jones III | Avg: 3.27 | 2011 rank: NR

286: Daequan Cook | Avg: 3.44 | 2011 rank: 275

190: Eric Maynor | Avg: 4.49 | 2011 rank: 157

120: Kendrick Perkins | Avg: 5.15 | 2011 rank: 95

117: Thabo Sefolosha | Avg: 5.16 | 2011 rank: 134

100: Nick Collison | Avg: 5.48 | 2011 rank: 115

41: Serge Ibaka | Avg: 6.93 | 2011 rank: 56

26: James Harden | Avg: 7.70 | 2011 rank: 58

9: Russell Westbrook | Avg: 8.76 | 2011 rank: 15

2: Kevin Durant | Avg: 9.70 | 2011 rank: 6

Biggest Riser: Reggie Jackson, who went up 79 spots. Second biggest was Cole Aldrich, who climbed 35 spots.

Biggest Faller: Hasheem Thabeet, who fell 67 spots. Only three other Thunder players fell actually: Eric Maynor (33 spots), Perk (25 spots) and Daequan Cook (11 spots).

Average Thunder Score: 4.49

Average Thunder Rank: 243.70

A Few Notes: The way I approached the voting was by setting a standard for a zero and a 10. LeBron’s a 10. Eddy Curry’s a zero. I gave three 10s: LeBron, KD and Dwight Howard. I gave six 9s: Westbrook, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade. For reference, I gave both Serge Ibaka and James Harden an eight and Nick Collison an 11.

A Few Facts: The Thunder were one of three teams with two players in the top 10… the most any team had in the top 100 was five, which OKC tied with multiple teams on… In terms of a “Big Three” the Thunder’s averaged a 12.3 ranking, while the Heat’s a 9.0 and the Lakers an 8.6… the Thunder were one of two teams (Lakers) with four players in the top 50… the Lakers top four averaged an 11.2, OKC’s a 19.5.

OBoyzOld Man

2 Like

Thoughts on our opening day rotation at the 4 and 5 spots?

Out-of-game-shape-Perk will start and rack up Ts at record pace, then get injured again in week 2 and miss extended games until January ala Thabo.

Serge will start at the 4. Nick will come in early and play a lot (its regular season, not playoffs).

Orten will be in Tulsa or Europe, leaving us Cole and HASHEEM.

Yes, we can and will go small early and often.

But - heaven forbid - what will we do if Serge or Nick go down to injury (recall Nick's injury woes 2 years ago, and he's not getting any younger)?

Zach99

Injuries let Miami discover how unguardable they are when they went small last year.

If we could go small without freaking useless Derek Fisher out there, I think we might discover something similar.

A lineup of Westbrook Thabo Harden Durant Ibaka playing together early and often next year might pay off big time in the playoffs.

Keith00

2 Like

@Zach99 Our smallball lineup is already dominant. The main issue is our big, not our wings. Perk can't run the floor to keep up with the lineup, Collison can't rebound, and Ibaka tends to get lost without Perk/Collison organizing the defense.

Our smallball unit I believe was by far our best unit all year, and was one of the best in the entire league. The issue with Miami was trying to use Ibaka to guard Battier or Perk to guard anyone.

Jooseppi

2 Like

@Keith00 It's a bit of both, but the bigs seemed to be the biggest determining factor in the playoffs, where the team played most of its small ball (they did in the regular season but not with as much regularity).

The Russ/JH/Thabo/Durant/Perkins lineup was positive against Miami, mainly because of better defense. The corresponding Ibaka lineup wasn't great against Miami but positive overall. Collison lineup didn't play much.

Russ/Fish/JH/Durant/Collison was outstanding against Miami. Sub Ibaka in and that lineup got shredded against Miami. The Perkins equivalent didn't play a lot against Miami but didn't do well in the little time it got.

The Fish smallball lineups didn't really kill OKC, and they were better than the likely two-big alternative against Miami, Thabo probably would have made those lineups even better.

Zach99

@Keith00 Yeah it was good, but the problem is Brooks didn't have faith to stick with it or the courage to start games with it .

He insisted on starting Perk against Miami. He insisted on bringing Perk back even when small ball was going well. He insisted on playing Fisher even though he brought nothing to the table offensively or defensively.

It's our best lineup and it will be better without Fisher out there this year I believe. I want Brooks to be forced to use it until not even he can deny how effective it is.

I'd like to see us become a predominantly small ball team. It works for Miami and we have the players to play similarly. Another reason to spend a lot of minutes in small ball is that it is probably the only way that PJ3 sees any significant minutes.

As to your point about Ibaka getting lost. I agree, let's get him out there without Perk or Collison for a bunch of minutes during the regular season and teach him to improve on that.

S4TISF4CTION

1 Like

@OBoyzOld Man Play PJ3.

OBoyzOld Man

@S4TISF4CTION Thank you for not suggesting Lazar.

327 comments

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Thunder S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FP0ua5xFw4

Best dunk ever. Jamal got Boykined.

New Suns court is going to look odd without new unis. There were supposed to be new ones this year but it doesn't look like they are going to get them:

http://www.nba.com/suns/video/2012/09/25/NewBasketballCourtTimelapsewmv-2227910/index.html

Wish teams would stop getting rid of purple.

One cool thing: the center logo reads the same from both sides: http://i49.tinypic.com/20hswp4.jpg

Tronchaser

@Jooseppi Purple is ugly. I like this trend.

ThunderChick2010

@Tronchaser @Jooseppi

Um . . . Chickasha . . . Purple Pride. :)

I think we were brainwashed . . . forced to wear and cheer for the purple/gold our whole lives.

@ThunderChick2010 @Jooseppi A couple of people I know went to high school with live in Chickasha, and post all their CHS pics of football kids/cheerleaders.

I though about blocking them. :)

j/k

Jay Cutler

Hey Scotty,

You're not returning my calls. You're still psyched for dinner right? Hope you like beef bourguignon.

#athleticwhitemenwhoarealsofoodies #jayandscottybrooksstrikeback

Scott Brooks

@Jay Cutler Why do you think we're friends? I'm Scott "F'n" Brooks. I took OKC to the Finals on my back!

You're Jay Cutler...

#WillBeEatingWithBrady #GoPractice

OBoy

@Scott Brooks @Jay Cutler

it's ok @S4TISF4CTION plenty of sane people have conversations with themselves.

A bit late on this, but I think Cleveland is having open tryouts for their o-line if anybody is interested.

This comment has been deleted

@supreme35 But they can't block a run.

kennygee90

Have yall ever seen this clip..Someone showed it to me and it got me LMAO ..Reggie evans is disturbed mane ! lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOw_ogBVmdo

Barry Amenema

@kennygee90 Reggie Evans knows how to ball?

Sustainable Parameters

@kennygee90 Please go to the principal's office and get a late pass

Thoughts on Sebastian pruiti's role with the thunder? I dont know if him being a video analyst means a lot to our schemes or whether he'll just be another advance scout?

Speaking of Brooks, which is it - Scottie or Scotty?

I know one is an annoying, ankle-biting lap dog. The other is a whiny 8 year old brat at the playground.

Re-listened to entire Presti presser today at normal speed. Spoiler correction: Harden does NOT sign extension, nor does Maynor. Brooks convinces Presti to sign Fish to guaranteed 5 year deal.

@OBoyzOld Man the bad part about this post is that I know you are not a drug user.

@OBoymuzik Correct, but I did sit through every 2012 playoff game, asking "why is Fish still in the game?"

@OBoyzOld Man this is true

Eggs Benedict

I'm curious what everyone here thinks would be a suitable post-game fine for flopping! What do you think?

Show highlights of the worst flops from the last week in every NBA arena to the tune of "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman" or maybe "Loser" by Beck.

ou_sas

@Eggs_Benedict Having to wear one of Sager's suits.

@ou_sas @Eggs_Benedict or one of Russ's outfits for a day

@Eggs_Benedict have Kelly CRoll's voice piped through your Skulll Candy headphones non-stop for 24 hours.

@Eggs_Benedict Having to submit to a post-game interview, every game, with Doris Burke.

@OBoyzOld Man @Eggs_Benedict How dare you slander the name of Doris Burke? I'd give my life savings to be post game interviewed by her, especially to be "interviewed" by her. Me and her would make some lovely, basketball lovin', mixed race childrens

El Prez

I don't equate Doris Burke with erotic fantasies, but she seems like a pleasant woman with smarts. I'm actually impressed you would consider Doris Burke as your soulmate. I didn't realize you were so deep.

@OBoyzOld Man @Eggs_Benedict If you dont find her attractive you need help. You must be a Catholic Priest or Boy Scout Captain who likes boys. She is gorgeous, athletic build but still has a phatty, knows and plays ball herself, She's 19 yrs older than me but I aint mad. That just means provided we both live to the same age, I'll have 2 decades to spend the end of my life on blue pills with a 21 yr old who is just with me for my money

@DennisBerry @Eggs_Benedict You, my friend, are in desperate need of professional help. :)

@Eggs_Benedict public humiliation.

@Eggs_Benedict

Gotta help clean the arena.

@ThunderChick2010 @Eggs_Benedict "One million dollars." -Jeff Van Gundy

Does anyone have the link to that Russell Westbrook high school highlights video

beelieve035

@DennisBerry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haq_JS0YFXk

This the one?

neo12

@novelisticbee0 @DennisBerry Pretty incredible how much he's developed his game since college. I followed him throughout ucla, but that video just reminded me how limited he was at ucla. He was just considered a defensive stopper. and now? he's the honey badger.

@novelisticbee0 Thanks. I guess that's it. I could have sworn BallisLife made an all high school one of him

@DennisBerry @novelisticbee0 i've seen other ones but truthfully they were pretty boring. lots of breakaway layups and stuff like that.

Guys we definitely could have pulled a "Fun With Dick and Jane" at Raising Canes today and gotten James to accidentally sign a contract extension. http://twitter.com/RohdeOK/status/251480279707942912/photo/1

EatSleepThunder

@OBoymuzik Please sign this totally non suspicious paper james.

Sure thing.

HA WE JUST SIGNED YOU TO A 10 YEAR DEAL WORTH $2 AND A HAM SANDWICH!

@EatSleepThunder I was thinking more along the lines of writing a contract onto a basketball or thunder jersey and tricking him into signing on a line.

How disappointing...my Ferris Bueller Day Off never got off the ground. I wish I would have worked instead all things considered. Maybe this NFL game will somewhat salvage it for me. When I was younger--the Ferris Bueller Day Off just seemed to come naturally. It was an omen early when I picked up a few things at a Dollar General and 'tried' to pay with a check that goes through the machine immediately. The woman clerk had no idea what she was doing and it took almost twenty minutes to complete the transaction. She wouldn't let me pay by cash as it became apparent this machine has been her nemisis before. She started cursing at the machine and told it she was going to hurt it...sigh. Kind of set the tone right there and then. I wonder if I hadn't had my karma set in reverse by this woman if my day would have gone better.

@El Prez Avoid Dollar General at all cost. Dollar Tree is the ticket. Their hiring standards are significantly lower, and everything's a dollar...which is nice.

We don't have a Dollar Tree in Deer Creek--jist the Dollar General asyleum. It's amazing they can stay in business.

@El Prez Fortunately, your Deer Creek Dollar General (Portland and 2nd, right?) conveniently has a liquor store in the strip center right next door. Coincidence? I think not.

@DennisBerry @El Prez *waits for El Prez to ask what a rack is*

@El Prez You know it only costs 20 racks to franchise and open one of those? I was seriously contemplating it at one point. Problem is, their profit margins obviously aren't so favorable selling everything so inexpensively

@El Prez

Your wife, wise to your patio furniture-destroying ways, put her up to it.

@El Prez Too bad dollar generals probably don't have great video surveillance. I would love to see that footage

@OBoymuzik @El Prez Dollar General surveillance is a dude with a sketch pad.

Surveillance? Shit I had to yell for her to come from the back of the store to come take my money. It's like that every time I go in there though...like every one of their employees has graduated from the Dollar General Misfit Academy.

The veins were popping in my neck. It was kind of like Nicholson trying to order that tuna salad sandwich in Five Easy Pieces. It was pathetic. She did everything wrong. Left me alone at the counter waiting for several minutes. Left several items off the intial bill. Then the check machine debaucle. But I bit my lip. I didn't go into a road rage like tsunami. But I was done for the day with any hopes of capturing any Ferris Bueller magic.

Trackbacks

ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 | Low Vig Reduced Juice Sportsbook says:

September 27, 2012 at 6:26 pm

[...] Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran& [...]
ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 - Sports Radio Broadcasting says:

September 27, 2012 at 7:42 pm

[...] — Petar Serafimovski (@Petar_Sera) September 27, 2012 Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran [...]
ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 says:

September 27, 2012 at 10:11 pm

[...] Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran& [...]
ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 | NEWS of the SPORT says:

September 28, 2012 at 1:52 am

[...] — Petar Serafimovski (@Petar_Sera) September 27, 2012 Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran& [...]
ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 | Sur LeWeb says:

September 28, 2012 at 5:19 am

[...] — Petar Serafimovski (@Petar_Sera) September 27, 2012 Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran& [...]
ESPN.com NBA Player Rankings: 1-5 | News Talk One says:

October 5, 2012 at 7:29 pm

[...] — Petar Serafimovski (@Petar_Sera) September 27, 2012 Kevin Durant finishes second in #NBARank, plus a recap of the whole team: dailythunder.com/2012/09/nbaran& [...]

#NBARank Recap: Kevin Durant second, Westbrook 9th

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