Kevin Durant Leaves OKC- Joining Warriors

[Cassity14]

That's true, but when you don't have good backups / a good bench, what are you suppose to do? When your third option on the ball is Dion Waiters, what you are suppose to do? Exactly what they did, keep shooting because no one else on the team is going to be draining shots. Foye, Singler, Waiters, Roberson? Lol. Laughable.

Like I said they got a few good bigs around them, but every other part of the team is lacking.

I think you're really downplaying the role players that team has. Foye and Waiters were big parts of them beating San Antonio. Watching Roberson defend, I think he's on the very short list of best defensive players in the league.

You can't simply dismiss "A few good bigs," when that includes a trio of young, high quality players who compliment one another extremely well. One of which is a premier shot blocker who stretches the floor offensively.

Picking up an outside sniper isn't all that difficult - just ask the Cavs. The Thunder are really only missing that from being a complete roster.

I'm not sleeping on Cameron Payne as a quality backup coming down the pipeline either.

 

[czvo]

Thunder showed their inadequacies when they were up 3-1 to GS and lost the series.

This statement makes no sense. The Thunder showed their inadequacies when they took possibly the best team of all-time to the very brink of elimination. THEY LOST TO A TEAM THAT WON 73 GAMES BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS. There were games in that series that they absolutely demolished them. If they showed any inadequacies, it was that they weren't as good as an historically great team.

I think a lot of people are overrating them in here. For one I do not believe they are a good TEAM, I believe they have Westbrook and Durant, and that's ALL that's made them good.

Jesus Christ. If the Thunder weren't a good team, then what the hell is a good team anymore. This gets back to the idea @Rich has thrown out where people think either you win the championship, or you suck. It's asinine and flat out wrong. The Thunder were a damn good team this year. There should be no question about this.

Sure Adams, Kanter, Ibaka can be useful, but where's the rest of the team? Where's the bench? Where's the hardened veterans?

Dude, WTF were you watching this postseason? I just don't even know how to answer this question. Adams and Ibaka are a little more than useful. And what do you mean the rest of the team. You just listed off 5 players. Teams typically go 8 deep in the playoffs. Roberson proved he is capable of of playing at a high level deep into the postseason, and Waiters is fine for the role he's in.

And what do you mean where are the hardened vets? KD, Russ and Ibaka ARE the hardened vets. THEY are the guys that have been through the wars. Unless you're saying they need someone like Kendrick Perkins, which is idiocy.

Personally, if I was Durant, I'd be trying to get the hell out.

Which is explains why your post doesn't make sense.

As nasty as Westbrook is, he's a ball-hogging, dominant, hard-headed player, that seems to be more interested in getting his most of the time.

He led everyone in the playoffs in assists per game by a wide margin and was second in the regular season. You are making things up that aren't based on facts.

Durant is not getting any younger, and routinely getting ousted every single year out of the playoffs (only making it to finals once), has got to be wearing on the guy.

Let's go through this, shall we?

2011: WCF - lost to the eventual champion Mavericks
2012: Finals - lost to the eventual champion Heat, obviously
2013: WCSF - lost to the Grizzlies (Westbrook went down R1, Harden already traded)
2014: WCF - lost to the eventual champion Spurs (Ibaka calf injury)
2015: No playoffs (KD out with broken foot)
2016: WCF - lost to 73-win Golden State in 7


Look, only one team is going to get to the finals every year. Its really, REALLY hard just to get there, let alone win it. Just ask LeBron. Using this argument against KD is as dumb as using the 2-4 finals record against James. KD has "routinely" been ousted from the playoffs because EVERYONE gets "routinely" ousted from the playoffs. It probably does bug the hell out of him. He wouldn't be the player he is today if it didn't. But that doesn't mean you leave a very good situation for... well, I don't know because all of these posts refuse to throw out other, reasonable options.

 

[czvo]

What's stopping him from going to GS?

This is the ONLY reasonable destination that makes sense from a winning standpoint. Only thing stopping him would be how much he cares about the public's perception of him

 

[Kizzle]

Why would he want Jimmy Butler?

So he doesn't have to guard LeBron anymore

 

[Kizzle]

Is go to GS if I were him


Idk what the caps looking like but Ima just assume Rey's have to lose Green and basically the whole bench to give him the 30 mil he deserves.


I'm so surprised no one else has tried to fit 3 max contracts on a team but LeBron.

 

[cavsfan889]

As nasty as Westbrook is, he's a ball-hogging, dominant, hard-headed player, that seems to be more interested in getting his most of the time.

that's a pretty accurate statement. Don't care what the numbers are, when the games on the line those costly turnovers in game 6 cant happen. not 1 2 3 but 4 turnovers! hes just not a PG, that's the problem. Hes more like a SG that likes to score, he cannot run an offense and or be trusted with the ball in clutch. I would never want a pg on my team that I cant trust with the ball. Durant probably cant wait to get the hell out OKC, westbrook will not allow him to reach the status he wants to be. Once Durant leaves OKC in the offseason, I fully expect them to not even make the playoffs.

 

[czvo]

that's a pretty accurate statement. Don't care what the numbers are, when the games on the line those costly turnovers in game 6 cant happen. not 1 2 3 but 4 turnovers!

The first "turnover" happened with 1:45 to go. There were 5 seconds on the shot clock, the Warriors were guarding KD 30 feet from the basket, and he wasn't doing anything. Russ tried to make a play, and Iggy got him on the way up (these are typically recorded as blocks, so it's interesting they count it as a turnover). Either way, can't put it on Russ because he's trying to make a play when no one else will.

The second "turnover" happened with 55 seconds left. That was the play where Green clearly hacked him on the arm, but the refs missed it, and it went off of Russ. Now we're blaming Russ for officials missing an obvious foul?

The third "turnover" happened with 37 seconds left. That was the play where Durant got the rebound, and instead of taking off into the open space in front of him, he tried to shuffle it to Russ. Russ had it for less than a second before Green got his hand in there to knock it away. To me, this turnover is incorrectly attributed to Russ. This turnover is all Durant's fault.

The last "turnover" happened with 12 seconds left. Westbrook tried to force a pass crosscourt to avoid a 5 second call. This one is on Russ. He should have used his last timeout. Have to give some credit to Curry though. He did a great job hanging back and baiting it.

So, to sum up, watch the game.

hes just not a PG, that's the problem. Hes more like a SG that likes to score, he cannot run an offense and or be trusted with the ball in clutch.

This has no basis in reality.

I would never want a pg on my team that I cant trust with the ball.

Opinion.

Durant probably cant wait to get the hell out OKC, westbrook will not allow him to reach the status he wants to be.

He was the MVP of the damn league. A 7-time all-star, 5-time all-NBA 1st team, 4-time scoring champion. His team, in large part because of he and Russ, is a championship contender. What is Russ holding him back from exactly? Unless your answer is mutating into godzilla, the answer is nothing.

 

[cavsfan889]

He was the MVP of the damn league. A 7-time all-star, 5-time all-NBA 1st team, 4-time scoring champion. His team, in large part because of he and Russ, is a championship contender. What is Russ holding him back from exactly? Unless your answer is mutating into godzilla, the answer is nothing.

that was like three years ago. This current season he isn't even getting close to mvp anymore. Curry, Leonard, Lebron all ahead of him. No way should any of these players but curry be ahead of Durant in MVP voting. Love leonard but Durant is a much better player offensively which is not being displayed in a sloppy run offense by WB. He is waisting hes years in OKC, he'd atleast be getting some mvp titles on a team like boston, Washington, Miami where he'd have an offensive system around him and getting him the ball in transition. OKC offenses is ISO WB ISO WB and the occasional Durant jumper off a screen when WB has no lanes to work with. OKC also hasn't got that team enough weapons to be a real contender. Hes given them 9 seasons, that's more then enough time. The only time they had some serious weapon was when the made the finals and got waxed, but then turned around and sold to the highest bidder. Durant was openly frustrated when Robertson passed up those open shots against GSW in game 7, as he should have been.

Theres articles out there that Durant has alrdy told his agent to send a list of players to the Celtics among other teams what kinda of players he expect these teams to acquire to have a chance at him. Theres actually some fans out there who think WB is a better more valuable player then Durant, that's crazy.. WB is overrated, and when Durant leaves that will be evident.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

What's stopping him from going to GS?

Pride

If he doesn't have any of that, then I guess nothing.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

OKC needs about one SG that can hit a damn open shot, and a good role-player who can also hit an open three, from owning the West.

That is a much easier project for KD than joining another team in flux with all the variables big FA signings cause.

My brother and I were talking about JR and he mentioned the possibility of the Thunder offering him a contract.

What kind of a team do you think they'd be with JR as their starting SG and Roberson coming off the bench?

 

[Rich]

that was like three years ago. This current season he isn't even getting close to mvp anymore. Curry, Leonard, Lebron all ahead of him. No way should any of these players but curry be ahead of Durant in MVP voting. Love leonard but Durant is a much better player offensively which is not being displayed in a sloppy run offense by WB. He is waisting hes years in OKC, he'd atleast be getting some mvp titles on a team like boston, Washington, Miami where he'd have an offensive system around him and getting him the ball in transition. OKC offenses is ISO WB ISO WB and the occasional Durant jumper off a screen when WB has no lanes to work with. OKC also hasn't got that team enough weapons to be a real contender. Hes given them 9 seasons, that's more then enough time. The only time they had some serious weapon was when the made the finals and got waxed, but then turned around and sold to the highest bidder. Durant was openly frustrated when Robertson passed up those open shots against GSW in game 7, as he should have been.

Theres articles out there that Durant has alrdy told his agent to send a list of players to the Celtics among other teams what kinda of players he expect these teams to acquire to have a chance at him. Theres actually some fans out there who think WB is a better more valuable player then Durant, that's crazy.. WB is overrated, and when Durant leaves that will be evident.

Cause that's what is important, winning some MVP trophies. Never mind those teams don't have the talent do what the team he's currently on just did, he'll get another MVP or two!

Listen to his interviews. He's not leaving.

OKC also hasn't got that team enough weapons to be a real contender.

Hello? Are you currently living in this reality where they were THIS close to making the Finals? Like, what the fuck are you even talking about here? If they weren't "real contenders" who in the hell is? Boston?!?!?!? Washington?!?!?! Good heavens, you're not making sense.

 

[Jscc]

My brother and I were talking about JR and he mentioned the possibility of the Thunder offering him a contract.

What kind of a team do you think they'd be with JR as their starting SG and Roberson coming off the bench?

Man %$#^ off OKC. JR needs to be a Cav for the rest of his career.

 

[czvo]

that was like three years ago. This current season he isn't even getting close to mvp anymore. Curry, Leonard, Lebron all ahead of him. No way should any of these players but curry be ahead of Durant in MVP voting. Love leonard but Durant is a much better player offensively which is not being displayed in a sloppy run offense by WB. He is waisting hes years in OKC, he'd atleast be getting some mvp titles on a team like boston, Washington, Miami where he'd have an offensive system around him and getting him the ball in transition. OKC offenses is ISO WB ISO WB and the occasional Durant jumper off a screen when WB has no lanes to work with. OKC also hasn't got that team enough weapons to be a real contender. Hes given them 9 seasons, that's more then enough time. The only time they had some serious weapon was when the made the finals and got waxed, but then turned around and sold to the highest bidder. Durant was openly frustrated when Robertson passed up those open shots against GSW in game 7, as he should have been.

Theres articles out there that Durant has alrdy told his agent to send a list of players to the Celtics among other teams what kinda of players he expect these teams to acquire to have a chance at him. Theres actually some fans out there who think WB is a better more valuable player then Durant, that's crazy.. WB is overrated, and when Durant leaves that will be evident.

 

[Rich]

And by the way, the argument that he could go somewhere else and have an offense built around him and win some MVPs, that would qualify as leaving for reasons other than winning, which he may do. But it's not cause he's trying to go somewhere and win.

 

[Lyst]

This statement makes no sense. The Thunder showed their inadequacies when they took possibly the best team of all-time to the very brink of elimination. THEY LOST TO A TEAM THAT WON 73 GAMES BY THE SLIMMEST OF MARGINS. There were games in that series that they absolutely demolished them. If they showed any inadequacies, it was that they weren't as good as an historically great team.




Jesus Christ. If the Thunder weren't a good team, then what the hell is a good team anymore. This gets back to the idea @Rich has thrown out where people think either you win the championship, or you suck. It's asinine and flat out wrong. The Thunder were a damn good team this year. There should be no question about this.




Dude, WTF were you watching this postseason? I just don't even know how to answer this question. Adams and Ibaka are a little more than useful. And what do you mean the rest of the team. You just listed off 5 players. Teams typically go 8 deep in the playoffs. Roberson proved he is capable of of playing at a high level deep into the postseason, and Waiters is fine for the role he's in.

And what do you mean where are the hardened vets? KD, Russ and Ibaka ARE the hardened vets. THEY are the guys that have been through the wars. Unless you're saying they need someone like Kendrick Perkins, which is idiocy.




Which is explains why your post doesn't make sense.




He led everyone in the playoffs in assists per game by a wide margin and was second in the regular season. You are making things up that aren't based on facts.




Let's go through this, shall we?

2011: WCF - lost to the eventual champion Mavericks
2012: Finals - lost to the eventual champion Heat, obviously
2013: WCSF - lost to the Grizzlies (Westbrook went down R1, Harden already traded)
2014: WCF - lost to the eventual champion Spurs (Ibaka calf injury)
2015: No playoffs (KD out with broken foot)
2016: WCF - lost to 73-win Golden State in 7


Look, only one team is going to get to the finals every year. Its really, REALLY hard just to get there, let alone win it. Just ask LeBron. Using this argument against KD is as dumb as using the 2-4 finals record against James. KD has "routinely" been ousted from the playoffs because EVERYONE gets "routinely" ousted from the playoffs. It probably does bug the hell out of him. He wouldn't be the player he is today if it didn't. But that doesn't mean you leave a very good situation for... well, I don't know because all of these posts refuse to throw out other, reasonable options.

Everyone is routinely ousted from the playoffs? Oh my fault I thought that one team wins every year. I guess there's no winner?

And not only one team is going to get the finals every year, 2 teams are.

KD is by many is rated as a top 5 player in the NBA, possibly top 3. Him only making it to the finals once has to say something.

Exceptional players should EXCEL. You're basing your whole opinion on the fact that it's really hard to get to the finals and win because other teams are really good too. Guess what, that didn't stop Lebron James from making it to the finals how many times? If you are OK with getting near the top of the mountain but never reaching the peak EVERY SINGLE YEAR, sure, stay on the Thunder.

BTW, KD RUSS and IBAKA HAVE NEVER WON A FCKING CHAMPIONSHIP. They are not champions, they do not know what it takes to be champions. So yes they are vets and all, but when I say hardened vets I'm talking about guys that have been there and done that, to be there on the court and locker room pushing the young players in the right direction.

"Its really, REALLY hard just to get there, let alone win it." That's a loser mentality.