THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

[videobastard]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

Im happy for the thunder especially durant. Its refreshing to see a new team representing the west and having the oppurtunity for success.

[Riddler]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

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http://www.nba.com/video/channels/tnt_overtime/2012/06/06/20120606_top5_inside_5.nba

I've never seen Timmy complain about the officiating in a game before.

And when he does you just know the officiating was awful.

[fluent2332]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

What? He's not even complaining in that video. He even said the reason they got calls was because the Thunder were being aggressive and attacking. Maybe I'm missing something...but I wouldn't classify that as "complaining about the officiating".

Anyway, the last 4 games played out the same way. Spurs had no answer on defense for the Thunder when they got rolling. All those big leads the Spurs had were fools gold, because once the dust settled and the crazy run stopped, the Thunder would be right back in the game. Thunder played better defense and have a dynamic offense, but their defense is really what won them these games. They also may be peaking at the right time. I don't know if the Heat or the Celtics can beat them in a 7 game series right now. It's going to be a monster of an NBA Finals no matter who gets there in the East.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

BTW, Slim Thug is definitely mad. Search his Tweets concerning this fellow below

[The 24th Letter]

Grown *** man/ professional basketball player throwing up sets and talking G....c'mon Beard

[da ThRONe]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

As much as drafting/scouting is a skill, it's also luck. Every team tries to be like OKC but you need to have a lot of things come together. Now, since Durant, OKC has had 13 draft picks and 3 they have kept and are worth something in Harden, Westbrook, and Ibaka. Two of those are top 5 picks so each year OKC was a subpar team in the drafting of those two additional players. Not taking away the success but OKC but it's no where near easy and it's not like OKC has made some new discovery. Need a lot of things to go on your side.

I wasn't trying to minimize the "luck" factor that goes into building a title team through the draft. However you have to be patient enough to put yourself in a position to get lucky. Far to often teams rush and choose to try and build via trades and FA because they have a guy like Durant that they feel have the ability to be a superstar.

[23]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

So if that's the case why aren't more teams being patient and trying to build via the draft? My Hornets are talking about bypassing a complete rebuild job and instead looking to reload. It's not just the Hornets either. Teams seems to be afraid of too many draft picks and/or too much youth on the roster at one time.

How often do teams get players on the caliber of KD WB and Harden's talent level so close to eachother? For some teams thats like once in a lifetime to get one, if that.

Its not just a good draft OKC had, and come on, Durant was a no brainer anyway.

[da ThRONe]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

How often do teams get players on the caliber of KD WB and Harden's talent level so close to eachother? For some teams thats like once in a lifetime to get one, if that.

Its not just a good draft OKC had, and come on, Durant was a no brainer anyway.

Once again I get the luck factor. However the assumption that WB, Harden, and Ibaka being on the team as pure luck seems some what disrespectful to the GM. He made that happen and deserves credit for it. And that's what I'm kind of getting at. You have to stay patient, trust the front office ability to evaluate talent, and have a coaching staff in place thats willing to develop the youth. Most franchises don't seem willing to do that for whatever reason.

[23]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

Once again I get the luck factor. However the assumption that WB, Harden, and Ibaka being on the team as pure luck seems some what disrespectful to the GM. He made that happen and deserves credit for it. And that's what I'm kind of getting at. You have to stay patient, trust the front office ability to evaluate talent, and have a coaching staff in place thats willing to develop the youth. Most franchises don't seem willing to do that for whatever reason.

Im not claiming luck...because those guys still have to pan out

Im saying its not everyday that you find a KD in the draft to build around, and a PG and a shot blocking big man... all of those things in a combination are hard to find... its not always just patience

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

I would wager OKC would have taken Oden #1 if they had that pick... and things would be a lot different...

Everything is timing and a lot of it is luck, but credit to teams like SA and OKC and even Minnesota to an extent...

[da ThRONe]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

Im not claiming luck...because those guys still have to pan out

Im saying its not everyday that you find a KD in the draft to build around, and a PG and a shot blocking big man... all of those things in a combination are hard to find... its not always just patience

Cool there's no sure fire way to build. We see the Nets gamble on Williams may pay off my blow up in their faces. We saw Miami free up cap space and secure the team they have. We see Dallas making similar cap clearing moves and that could blow up in their faces. We see the Wizards with top picks for years and still no success. What I'm taking about is for a team in OKC's (or my Hornets) position it the best way to try and build a complete team. Even if you don't luck up a snag the superstar.

[23]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

Some of those teams are making moves to not pay the luxury tax, not necessarily for building purposes

I dont think OKC would've picked Oden, but I say that because there was no indication of them ever wanting him, and I'd say KD was a more touted player coming out because of what he was currently doing

Not to say Oden wasn't because I thought he'd at least have a career, but KD had guys getting fined commenting on him about how good he was before he left college.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

I'd say about 60% of drafting well is all about patience.

But the thing with having patience is that it's not going to fly anywhere else or in the big markets(which is what I think Throne is getting at). FWIW, Ibaka was the 24th pick in his Draft.

[23]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

I'd say about 60% of drafting well is all about patience.

But the thing with having patience is that it's not going to fly anywhere else or in the big markets(which is what I think Throne is getting at). FWIW, Ibaka was the 24th pick in his Draft.

Development is patience, but picking someone like KD is hardly patience.

Like I said, teams dont get players like him very often

I understand Tony Parker and Manu werent lottery picks either... but these are two different things

[wwharton]

Re: THUNDER vs. SPURS - 2012 WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS THREAD

Development is patience, but picking someone like KD is hardly patience.

Like I said, teams dont get players like him very often

I understand Tony Parker and Manu werent lottery picks either... but these are two different things

They weren't but Duncan was a no brainer as well. I get exactly what you're saying, and I understand what throne's saying too. I just don't think he's completely getting it out right.

You can't just say "patience" bc it's not every year even a top 2 pick pans out to a top 2 or 3 player in the league. When that star is what's missing on a team, patience can't do a damn thing for you. Maybe fans and the media should be patient and realize that guy just wasn't available to be had, and that it's damn near impossible to get one in a trade. But we can talk about Ibaka, Harden and Westbrook until we're blue in the face... the Durant pick is the key and that's all luck.

However, building a team around that guy does require some patience and trades/FA pick ups play a role as well but there's a balance... you can't/shouldn't just abandon the draft, and some teams do trying to "win now". That's where da throne is right. But the Wizards example is a good one. They got lucky and won the draft twice and one year Kwame Brown was thought to be the best player available. The other, Wall appears to be a good pick but not necessarily the D Rose superstar at this point. There's A LOT of luck that has to happen before smart and patient decisions can turn a bum team into a champion.