Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Love all of the deals you did, seems like they made sense for every team. Also some real-life mimicking in there too, though the T-Wolves didn't get as fleeced in this deal as they did in real life.
Bengals
UNC Tar Heels(Football and Basketball)Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Haha yeah, I wanted to get some legit moves made as it makes it more interesting to have some teams rebuilding while others are really contending. There was no way I could get the same deal done for Gobert that happened in real life but felt like I got pretty damn close.Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Holmgren, Thunder Take Off in Season Opening Win Over Pistons
First overall pick Chet Holmgren (31 pts, 22 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 8 blk) started at the center position and showed off all the skills that made him the guy the Thunder took to start the draft. Early in the game he got a switch on to Cade Cunningham (22 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast, 1 stl). As he backed him down, the double came. With the poise of a 10-year veteran, he found Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (19 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) open in the corner for a long two.
The Oklahoma City Thunder were one of the worst defensive and rebounding teams in the league last year. Chet Holmgren changes that immediately. This was his first block of his career - sending back a Jerami Grant (11 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl) layup attempt. His length is such a deterrent at the rim that even when he wasn’t blocking a shot (which was rare as he recorded eight on the night), he was heavily disrupting shots in the paint.
The other OKC rookie - Max Christie (2 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl) is known as a three-point specialist. On his first touch, he caught above the break and had Kelly Olynyk (2 pts, 3 reb, 1 ast) running out at him to contest the three. Christie quickly put it on the deck, drove past the lumbering big man and finished with a reverse layup on the left side.
Editor’s Note: Christie has the best three-point shot on our roster but he’s got the fastest damn release I have ever seen! Going to take some getting used to but once I do, he won’t be having many 0-6 shooting nights!
Cade Cunningham was about all the Pistons had on offense and while he scored 22 points, including this jumper over Lu Dort (9 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl), he did so on 23 shots. The lack of talent around Cunningham needs to change fast or else Detroit could run the risk of him wanting out.
While Chet Holmgren got the crowd on their feet early and often, Lu Dort wanted to get in on the celebration as he loaded up the bow and arrow after drilling a triple over Sadiq Bey (7 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl).
The crown for best young player in the league officially got passed from Cade Cunningham to Chet Holmgren on this play in the 4th quarter. Cunningham was continuing to attack on offense and went at Holmgren. As they both ascended into the air, Holmgren seemingly levitated higher and higher. He didn’t just block the shot; he snatched it out of the air! The look on Cunningham’s face said it all: Holmgren is a force to be reckoned with!Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
In addition to smith falling, where was Keegan Murray? Not in the draft? Or he's just not good in this created class?
Love the FA headlines graphics, really cool.
Those are major trades. Maybe the Knicks will finally be good. Perhaps Conley is the veteran presence the Pelicans need.
Favors has gone from being re-signed to a DNP: Coach's decision! Is he trade bait at this point?
Holmgren was awesome, and seems like the primary reason you won the rebounding battle. Are you in trouble if he is not grabbing boards one game??The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
No Keegan Murray or Shaedon Sharpe in the class I downloaded so I’m going to try to create them in the fictional class I’ve downloaded.
I was pretty happy with how the graphic came out. I really need to get back into keeping with the graphic theme of the dynasty.
Some serious deals for sure. I’m hoping that Utah can find a diamond in the rough with any of the young guys they got. They have a haul of draft picks too and some vets that contenders would want so they aren’t done dealing yet I’m sure.
Favors opted in to a player option and then regressed hard this season. He’s currently a $10m mentor for Chet Holmgren lol but we will see if he earns some PT down the line.
Chet is a monster on the glass between his rebounding skill and immense size. Pokusevski being added into the starting lineup also helps on the glass as well because he’s crazy long too. Chet did most of his damage on the offensive glass and putbacks. If he isn’t dominating like that, it’s a completely different game for sure.
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Oh man, flurry of updates. Chet is looking like the real deal! Him and SGA seem like a great duo.Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
I’m home on summer break (I’m a teacher) and with no kids at home yesterday and me being on a juice cleanse and not able to run or workout, time was plentiful lol.
Chet is certainly exactly what we needed. If I can figure out how to get him open looks from three, look out! Holmgren, SGA and Giddey are going to have a lot of fun playing together for sure! I see a couple triple-doubles in Giddey’s future this season if that first game showed anything.
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?The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
After that first game of the season I’ve decided it’s time to bump up the difficulty and we are officially on Hall of Fame. Does anyone have sliders to suggest (XBOX One, if that matters) or do you guys think it would be best to stick with default for now and tweak as I go?
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Because I'm on 2K20, I don't have suggestions for 2K22. However, I always spend way too much time in the sliders section of OS, reading about the sliders, commentary, and then start with one of those sets and tweak based on my experiences and what other slider sets recommend.?The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
What a debut by Chet, that's gotta be up there with one of the greatest rookie rebuts ever
Bengals
UNC Tar Heels(Football and Basketball)Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
May have an article idea about some of the best rookie debuts since 2000 and where Chet compares on that list. [emoji16]
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
As the NBA calendar turned to the 2022-2023 season, so did the playoff odds for the Oklahoma City Thunder. After finishing with the worst record in the league last season, they found themselves with a rare win this time in the form of the draft lottery. With the top pick they selected Chet Holmgren and, after just one game played, have seemingly turned the tide of their franchise immediately.
In his NBA debut, Holmgren did not disappoint not only the Thunder fans but the NBA fans around the world waiting in anticipation of his first action as a professional hooper. Leading the team to a win over 2021’s 1st overall pick Cade Cunningham, Chet unleashed a stat line that is unheard of in rookie debuts: 34 minutes, 31 points, 22 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, 8 blocks, 3 turnovers, 15-19 FG and a +/- of +21. That type of line is usually reserved for NBA All-Stars that have been honing their craft in the league for years and routinely put on virtuoso performances. But for a rookie to do that in their league debut? Unheard of.
In comparison, here are some of the rookie debut stat lines from the top picks over the last two drafts:
Cade Cunningham (109-123 L vs. CHI): 35 min, 26 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 3 TO, 7-16 FG, 5-10 3PA, -1
Jalen Green (108-116 L @ GS): 33 mins, 27 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 2 stl, 2 blk, 6 TO, 11-22 FG, 5-14 3PA, +6
Evan Mobley (107-122 L vs. BOS): 33 min, 2 pts, 9 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk, 3 TO, 1-5 FG, -17
Scottie Barnes (112-73 W vs. OKC): 23 mins, 15 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk, 7-16 FG, +22
Josh Giddey (73-112 L @ TOR): 26 min, 2 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 5 TO, 1-8 FG, -18
Franz Wagner (107-103 L @ CHA): 29 min, 14 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 2 TO, 6-13 FG, 2-6 3PA, +8
Jonathan Kuminga (116-108 W vs. HOU): 25 min, 21 pts, 10 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 2 TO, 6-12 FG, 4-5 3PT, +5
J.D. Davison (72-117 L @ NYK): 26 min, 12 pts, 1 reb, 5 ast, 1 blk, 3 TO, 4-14 FG, 2-3 3PA, -24
Paolo Banchero (90-106 L @ SAC): 27 min, 11 pts, 12 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk, 1 TO, 5-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, +11
Only two of these even compare to how Chet played against Cade’s very own Pistons: Cunningham’s career-opening loss to Chicago with 26/10/5 and Kuminga’s win against Jalen Green’s lowly Rockets with 21/10 and a block. While others had some solid performances, Cunningham and Kuminga definitely shined brightest among these first outings but are still light years away from the numbers Holmgren posted.
How about some of the top rookie debuts since the year 2000?
Damian Lillard (116-106 W vs. LAL in 2012): 35 min, 23 pts, 3 reb, 11 ast, 1 stl, 6 TO, 7-17 FG, 1-4 3PA, +16
Brandon Jennings (86-99 L @ PHI in 2009): 34 min, 17 pts, 9 reb, 9 ast, 5 TO, 7-16 FG, 2-5 3PT, -9
LeBron James (92-106 L @ SAC in 2003): 42 min, 25 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast, 4 stl, 2 TO, 12-20 FG, -9
Michael Carter-Williams (114-110 W vs. MIA in 2013): 36 min, 22 pts, 7 reb, 12 ast, 9 stl, 1 TO, 6-10 FG, 4-6 3PT, +12
Of those four mentioned above, Holmgren’s game is clearly better than both Lillard’s and Jennings’ without a debate. While LeBron James’ may not have put up the gaudy stats that Chet did, the hype to perform at a high level immediately weighed heavy on his shoulders and he performed admirably against a Sacramento Kings team that, many have forgotten, were actually really, really good. But, based on pure numbers and game outcome, the nod would go to Chet over The King at least for this one time.
The only rookie debut since the Year 2000 that would rival Holmgren’s near triple-double is a near quadruple-double by Michael Carter-Williams of the Philadelphia 76ers. His incredible efficiency throughout the game combined with having his fingerprints on damn near every play - offensively and defensively - while playing against the LeBron James-led Miami Heat team (sans Dwyane Wade due to injury)...this is tough to beat.
So who do you believe had the best rookie debut in the last 22 years? Is it Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren or Philadelphia’s Michael Carter-Williams? Or are you a blind follower of LeBron James and have to argue he is the best no matter what? Drop it in the comments below so we can rip your take to shreds!Comment
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Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]
Only a handful of those rookies got wins. I think Holmgren's game was awesome, though the near quadruple-double for MCW against that loaded Miami team is worth noting. They won and it takes a lot of maturity to get 12 assists, 9 steals, and only 1 turnover on efficient shooting. MCW's may be more impressive given the context, but that doesn't take away from Chet's game.?The Bulgarian Brothers - a story of two brothers (Oggy and Dinko) as they coach in the NCAA and the NBA.
?Ask me about the Xbox Ally handheld - I'm on the team that made it.Comment
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