Deadspin Team Preview: OKC

[Jef]

http://shots.deadspin.com/2014-oklahoma-city-thunder-preview-a-photo-essay-1648983382/+kylenw

:bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

[russwest0]

Steven Adams The Big Kiwi :bowdown:

[Demitri98]

Adams :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

But Brooks is a dumbass and will start Perkins regardless.

[russwest0]

Adams :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

But Brooks is a dumbass and will start Perkins regardless.

My prediction for our opening day lineup:

Westbrook/Roberson/Morrow/Ibaka/Adams

[KyleKong]

Adams :bowdown: :bowdown: :bowdown:

But Brooks is a dumbass and will start Perkins regardless.

It's better that way IMO, gotta have constant bench production to be a top team.

I'd be willing to bet that Adams will get more minutes coming off the bench than Perkins starting too.

[russwest0]

It's better that way IMO, gotta have constant bench production to be a top team.

I'd be willing to bet that Adams will get more minutes coming off the bench than Perkins starting too.

lmao, no it ain't better that way. especially with durant out. perkins is completely useless on offense and one of the worst help defense bigs in the league. he makes his money as a post defender and nothing else, thus should be coming off the bench only when certain matchups dictate it.

adams will take much more pressure off of the rest of the team on offense, in transition, on the glass, and on defense.

[KyleKong]

lmao, no it ain't better that way. especially with durant out. perkins is completely useless on offense and one of the worst help defense bigs in the league. he makes his money as a post defender and nothing else, thus should be coming off the bench only when certain matchups dictate it.

adams will take much more pressure off of the rest of the team on offense, in transition, on the glass, and on defense.

Mmmkay I can unstated that. I was thinking about productive offense but for defense that makes sense.

[russwest0]

I understand the element of keeping more talented guys on the bench completely though and agree with it in certain instances. In OKC we've seen it happen often.

I just think the starters need to contribute in all areas, offense and defense. Hence why I never wanted Harden to start, but Sefolosha wasn't really a fix either (at least recently) because of his horrid offense.

It looks like this season, unless Brooks phucks it up, OKC may have the best two way starting 5 in the league once Durant gets back.

Westbrook/Morrow/Durant/Ibaka/Adams looks like a damn good and damn near unstoppable lineup. Hopefully thats who we start, but I bet Roberson stupidly gets the nod over Morrow, because Brooks. :facepalm

[Demitri98]

My prediction for our opening day lineup:

Westbrook/Roberson/Morrow/Ibaka/Adams
You underestimate the stupidity of Scott Brooks.

http://www.mandependence.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/emperor-palpatine-300x217.jpg

That's what it will be, but IMO they should run:

Jackson/Westbrook/Roberson/Ibaka/Perkins

and pull Perk, Lamb and Morrow off the bench.

[chips93]

My prediction for our opening day lineup:

Westbrook/Roberson/Morrow/Ibaka/Adams

roberson is more of a SF than lamb no?

he played PF in college

[russwest0]

roberson is more of a SF than lamb no?

he played PF in college

Roberson has been getting developed as a slashing 2 guard who can defend 1-5.

He's actually a really good player. His DRTG last season for a rookie was insane. He started like 30 games due to injury and did a great job. In one game vs the Lakers, the Lakers won the tip, Kobe brought the ball up, and then Roberson instantly ripped it from Kobe to feed it to Russ for the jam. OKC won in a blowout.

He's an amazing defender, rebounder, and he just knows how to get easy points on offense. I love Roberson but we need more of a perimeter shooter to compliment Russ and KD with the starting unit, so I'd prefer that Roberson come off the bench.