Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Look at these Thunder. You might get 6+ wins this year and end up with Keegan Murray

There's clearly a style of play for this team and it's fun you've figured it out.

Ugh, 6 wins and Keegan Murray would be a huge disappointment lol. We need to do worse (in the win column) and better (in the lottery) to make this season worth it!

Well we need to get up and down the floor and I think we have been rebounding the ball better lately allowing us to run. We certainly haven’t figured it all out and playing against an absolutely putrid defensive team like the Bulls made us look much better than we really are.

With a back-to-back from Chicago to Detroit, we have a couple starters that will be sitting out the game against the Pistons…


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[marshdaddy]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Great presentation as always. Shai is absolutely cooking, my goodness. At this rate I wonder what godfather offer someone would throw at you to try to get him. Have to imagine you're standing pat with him, but hypothetically what would it take for you to trade him?

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Great presentation as always. Shai is absolutely cooking, my goodness. At this rate I wonder what godfather offer someone would throw at you to try to get him. Have to imagine you're standing pat with him, but hypothetically what would it take for you to trade him?

As a GM in any game and any sport, I’m very loyal - almost to a fault - with most of my players, especially the stars. To trade Shai it would take a Godfather of an offer for me to ship him out of OKC. I’ve gotten trade requests for him throughout the season, most of the time it being Sacramento trying to move Sabonis and a pick to me for him.

Being a Celtics fan, if Boston were willing to move Tatum I might do that deal but for realism’s sake, I’ll probably end up keeping SGA in that scenario as well.


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[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Cade Punctuates Win Late with Clutch Buckets





As he does every night, Lu Dort (13 pts, 4 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl) was tasked with defending the best perimeter player on the opposing team and tonight it was the #1 overall pick and presumptive Rookie of the Year Cade Cunningham (18 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl).



Getting out to the corner on the break, Cunningham was able to hit Saddiq Bey (20 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast) for a wide-open look from three.



With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (rest) out for the game, Tre Mann (22 pts, 1 stl) got his first start of the season and had arguably his best game. Asked to be the lead scorer, Mann did not disappoint as he poured in 22 points on 8-16 shooting including 6-11 from three, many of which came over taller defenders.



Another recipient of increased playing time due to SGA being inactive was R.J. Hampton (15 pts, 1 reb, 5 ast) who also had his best scoring output on the season. Able to use his speed and quickness in the open floor, Hampton was able to get out in front of the pack and throw down a dunk with the Pistons trailing and watching.



Hampton was able to find his three-ball as well as he gets himself a clean look from the right wing after Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (6 pts, 6 reb) screens and rolls, taking both defenders with him. Hampton connected on three of his five three-point attempts in a sign that shows how valuable he could be on offense for this team.



Robinson-Earl was doing all the dirty work as he hit the glass hard, this time on the offensive end. Like a pogo stick, after snatching the rebound and hitting the ground he was back in the air almost immediately and slamming home one of his three buckets on the night.



Josh Giddey (13 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) got a taste of what life would be like without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and found that it is difficult to be The Man. While flirting with a triple-double, he recorded four turnovers and missed 11 of his 16 shots including this block by Kelly Olynyk (3 pts, 4 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk). With the defense keying in on Giddey, he found it hard to get loose for easy looks.



One of the few buckets he did get to fall was this shot-clock beating pull-up from about 12 feet after driving across the top of the key and shaking free from his defender.



Without Derrick Favors (rest) in the lineup, Isaiah Roby (8 pts, 10 reb, 1 stl, 1 blk) was thrusted into the starting lineup and got thoroughly outplayed by Isaiah Stewart (16 pts, 14 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 4 blk). Beef Stew was a perfect 8-8 from the floor including catching and finishing this lob over the Thunder big man that had the Detroit crowd in hysterics.



Saddiq Bey found himself with another wide-open triple, this time from the top of the key, after Josh Giddey got hung up on a screen by Saban Lee (4 pts, 3 reb, 6 ast, 3 stl). These types of defensive mistakes have plagued the Thunder all season long.



While Josh Giddey took it personal when he went up against the Houston Rockets’ rookie guard Jalen Green, Cade Cunningham seemingly locked in on Giddey on this one and wanted to make sure everyone knew who the Rookie of the Year would be. Hounding Giddey up the floor, Cunningham would peel him just over half court, take it down the other end and finish with authority, staring down Giddey on the way back on defense.



What makes Cade so special is that as a point-forward, he is able to just dribble the ball up the floor and pull-up for three like this triple. If nobody picks him up he is not afraid to let it fly.



Jerami Grant (17 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) had an effective and efficient night but none of his points were louder than this two-handed slam that saw him nearly propel into the stands as he hung and swung for all to see.



What has been written about him for his short NBA career, Marvin Bagley III (8 pts, 9 reb, 1 ast) shows little-to-no effort on defense as he allows R.J. Hampton to get freek for another three-point attempt. A clutch bucket in the 4th quarter allowed the Thunder to keep it close down the stretch.



Just working harder than everyone else on the floor, the Thunder forced a missed shot but Isaiah Stewart muscled Isaiah Roby out of the way, snatched the rebound and slammed it home. With the game going back-and-forth late in the 4th, these types of 2nd chance opportunities are backbreakers.



Mighty Mouse climbs the ladder! With just under two minutes remaining, Tre Mann breaks free, darts down the lane off the dribble and finishes with two hands to give the Thunder a 1-point lead!



After banging a corner three (shown as the header photo), Cade Cunnhingham and the Pistons got a stop with about 40 seconds remaining. A two-point lead and the ball, Cunningham took the shot clock down to eight seconds before making his move. With some tight ball handling and a nifty escape dribble going to his right, Cunningham lost Dort in the lane, stepped back and buried another clutch bucket to give the Pistons a 4-point lead with under 20 seconds remaining.



After an OKC timeout, the play was drawn up to get Giddey the rock at the top of the key to try to get a quick two. When he was draped by Jerami Grant, Lu Dort quickly went to his 2nd option and found Tre Mann in the corner. With a sliver of space, Mann caught and fired over an outstretched arm of Cade Cunnhingham and buried the three to make it a 1-point game!

After having to intentionally foul, Cade walked up to the line and buried the only two free throws he would attempt in the game. A last second, desperation heave by Mann would bounce off the backboard, securing the 3-point win for the home Pistons.

[studbucket]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

I know Detroit is not good, but playing them that close without SGA or Favors shows how much better you and the team are getting.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

I know Detroit is not good, but playing them that close without SGA or Favors shows how much better you and the team are getting.

I definitely agree, but I think that it may be time to up the difficulty to the next level as I shouldn't be competing with any team without SGA in the lineup like we did in this one.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Bamba, Magic Punish Thunder With Size and Length





Feeling fresh after getting to sit out the Detroit game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (12 pts, 5 reb, 9 ast) may have had live legs but struggled to score efficiently on the night as he hit on just six of his 18 shot attempts.



With SGA struggling, Josh Giddey (20 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast) looked to carry the team as he led with 20 points and 11 boards. He’s been incredibly shifty in the lane and able to get to the rim easier as the season wears on.



Even though his shot wasn’t falling SGA was still doing all the little things including blocking this Robin Lopez (8 pts, 4 reb, 1 blk) layup attempt to save another easy two in the paint.



You expect the top scorers to score against you but when you give up easy buckets to the lesser talented offensive players, that’s a problem. Chuma Okeke (6 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl) got an easy dunk here as he was able to get baseline with little resistance for the throw down.



The Magic were taller, longer and bigger than the Thunder and attacked the paint all night including this soft left-handed hook by Wendell Carter Jr. (15 pts, 9 reb, 1 stl) over Darius Bazley (10 pts, 9 reb, 1 stl) and Josh Giddey.



With the Magic loading up in the paint to keep Shai from scoring, he was able to make some timely passes to shooters to get some quick looks. With Markelle Fultz (10 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast) peaking into the lane, SGA finds Tre Mann (15 pts, 1 ast) in the corner for a quick-trigger triple.



Trying to bring the team back in the 2nd half, Gilgeous-Alexander showed no fear attacking the rim against the much taller, much longer Mo Bamba (18 pts, 9 reb, 3 blk) as he shielded him off and finished with ease against the Orlando big man.



A rare Aleksej Pokusevski (4 pts, 4 reb, 1 blk) bucket as he received an underhand scoop pass through two defenders from SGA for an easy flush at the rim.



Many times the OKC perimeter scorers thought after getting by their man they had an open layup only to have it smacked off the glass by the Magic like Mann getting victimized here by Lopez.



After successfully protecting the rock against Fultz’ defensive pressure, R.J. Hampton (5 pts, 4 reb, 5 ast) got the team into its offense and was able to find Tre Mann for an open three-ball.



Finding himself in the starting role for the rest of the season, Isaiah Roby (15 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast) will get plenty of opportunities to show he deserves to stick around in OKC after this season. This long three-pointer shows his versatility and ability to space the floor from deep, a skill that would be hugely valuable to this team with SGA and Giddey scoring on the interior.



After cutting the lead to eight in the 4th, this pull-up jumper by Cole Anthony (17 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) for the old school three-point play killed any momentum the Thunder had at a possible comeback.

[studbucket]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Love the screenshot of SGA's dunk. You only got outrebounded by 11, which I expected to be more based on the height difference.

Has Dort been any good this year? My memory is that he's not effectively hit three pointers and I don't remember him being the difference maker in any games, while 3-4 other guys have shown up in meaningful ways this season.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Love the screenshot of SGA's dunk. You only got outrebounded by 11, which I expected to be more based on the height difference.

Has Dort been any good this year? My memory is that he's not effectively hit three pointers and I don't remember him being the difference maker in any games, while 3-4 other guys have shown up in meaningful ways this season.

SGA got up and was flailing his legs so it was evident he was energized for this game. Unfortunately he struggled throughout the game and played arguably his worst scoring game of the season.

Editor’s Note: we upped the difficulty to superstar prior to this game. As a result, I realized I had A LOT of bad habits that I need to break like constantly trying to drive down the sideline and go baseline or spamming turbo on the break.

Very true we didn’t get beat up as badly as we have on the glass, it’s just the large disparity of 2nd chance points that really killed us in this one.

Lu Dort has been good-not-great throughout the season. I think I leaned on him to shoot threes too often this season when he is really only god in the corners and it has plummeted his percentage. Then on defense he has been pretty good but his height really limits how effective he can be. Pretty sure he’s a free agent so we will probably try to bring him back at a reasonable number but wouldn’t be heartbroken if we lose him.


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[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

With just about two weeks of games remaining and just a few games remaining on everyone's schedule, it's time to take a look at the standings across the divisions and conferences to get a feel for who is in and who is out of the playoff chase as well who is already counting their ping pong balls!

[trekfan]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

The playoff race is interesting, but I'm more interested in the lottery race -- OKC looks like they've got a good shot at being bad enough for a top pici, but Dallas and Houston are (surprisingly) in the same boat.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

Isiah Roby and Thunder Flex On Blazers in Portland





It was clear early that this game was going to be a battle between Damian Lillard (36 pts, 2 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast, 3 stl) all night long. After an early bucket, SGA points directly at Dame to let him know “It’s on!”



The very next possession, Lillard answered back with a deep triple. The fans could sense they were in for a treat of a game between the two franchise point guards.



Shai had an answer to the answer as he came down on the next possession and hit a stepback 2-pointer over Lillard.



With Derrick Favors shut down for the season, Isaiah Roby (16 pts, 8 reb, 1 stl, 2 blk) has played incredibly well in his spot with endless energy on the glass including this offensive rebound for a putback dunk.



The Thunder were daring any Blazer not named Damian Lillard or Joe Ingles (13 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast, 1 stl) to shoot the three. The two aforementioned Blazers combined for 8-15 from deep while the rest of the team was just 1-14, the one being Anfernee Simons (7 pts, 1 ast, 1 stl) from the top of the key.



Josh Giddey (16 pts, 6 reb, 4 ast) had it going early with slippery moves in the lane for bucket after bucket including this evasive up-and-under layup around Kris Dunn (8 pts, 3 ast).



Not only did he create a ton of open space, Lillard showed incredible body control on this fadeaway jumper for an easy deuce as Giddey struggled to keep up with him on this switch.



On top of his 31 points, SGA led the team in assists with seven including this easy look to Roby for a two-handed jam. After drawing the switch on the screen, Gilgeous-Alexander knew he had Drew Eubanks (10 pts, 12 reb, 1 blk) dead to rights and was going to make an easy play.



After the success of the play prior, SGA draws another switch and immediately tells his teammates to clear out. The Thunder star had Eubanks dancing at the top of the key before blowing by him for an easy 10-foot pull up in the lane.



Even without the ball in his hand, Lillard was incredibly active and the heady Ingles finds him on a backdoor cut for an easy layup as many of the Thunder defenders were glued to their man, not showing any help.



In the waning seconds of the third quarter, SGA gets past Dunn on the baseline, rises up and throws down over Justice Winslow (4 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast) for the hoop and the harm. The free throw made it a 19-point Oklahoma City lead at the end of three quarters.



The 4th quarter was Dame Time as he poured in bucket after bucket against the reserves of the Thunder to make the game closer than Coach Mark Daigneault would have liked. With about 90 seconds left in the game and Lillard sinking another bucket to make it a 6-point game, the starters all came back in the game. A couple stops and a token free throw later, the Thunder left Portland with a win.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

The playoff race is interesting, but I'm more interested in the lottery race -- OKC looks like they've got a good shot at being bad enough for a top pici, but Dallas and Houston are (surprisingly) in the same boat.

After that last game, the race for the bottom is tight, tight, TIGHT! Are we playing too well for our own good or will the basketball gods look down on us because we are playing out the string and not actively tanking?

[studbucket]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

You won the rebound battle that game. Portland really missing an interior presence without Nurkic.

Re: lottery, your odds are the same as long as you are bottom three, and it seems like it would take a remarkable finish to not finish in the bottom three, right? In the standings I think you were 2 games "ahead" of everyone else before the Portland win.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Thunder Up! Rebuild in OKC [NBA 2k22]

You won the rebound battle that game. Portland really missing an interior presence without Nurkic.

Re: lottery, your odds are the same as long as you are bottom three, and it seems like it would take a remarkable finish to not finish in the bottom three, right? In the standings I think you were 2 games "ahead" of everyone else before the Portland win.

No Nurkic was definitely helpful. This was the first team that we had the size advantage pretty much across the board and it definitely showed. It was great to get our bench some legit run and, as you can see, Vit Krejci is one of the worst players in the league lol.

I completely forgot about the flattened lottery odds and I believe the bottom 4 teams all have the same chance at landing the top spot so we should be good.


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