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[champs99and04]

Simply amazing basketball. Be damned if you miss it.

 

[bear]

This series has been some of the highest level of play I've seen. It's really been awesome to watch.

 

[huskyharry]

Outstanding plays by both teams. Parker was on fire first quarter...Durant was superb all game

 

[aceboon]

whoever comes out of the East better hope they can get in a title this year because the Thunder look to be on the verge of forming a dynasty barring injury.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Capt Jack was on fire too... I wish we could've been a Game 7

remember the comments after game 1 & 2, Pop was the best coach ever, Spurs play pretty basketball etc..... well OKC made some serious adjustments. congrats to them

 

[Scoe]

Capt Jack was on fire too... I wish we could've been a Game 7

remember the comments after game 1 & 2, Pop was the best coach ever, Spurs play pretty basketball etc..... well OKC made some serious adjustments. congrats to them

The Thunder won this series, the Spurs I thought played well, the Thunder withstood any type of momentum the Spurs had.

 

[DaddyChoc]

The Thunder won this series, the Spurs I thought played well, the Thunder withstood any type of momentum the Spurs had.

I agree... good series

 

[WisePig]

So who would you rather have as your big 3 : Durant, Westbrook & Harden or James, Wade & Bosh. I know Bosh has been injured but I just think Durant, Westbrook and Harden work better as a team. Wade and James both need the ball on offense to contribute.

Maybe Pierce, Garnett and Rondo/Allen if they were all young and healthy?

 

[Adios]

whoever comes out of the East better hope they can get in a title this year because the Thunder look to be on the verge of forming a dynasty barring injury.

Good news for LeBron!

 

[Chin Diesel]

Spurs really showed their age the longer the series went.

Tim Duncan is one of my favorite NBA players ever, but he literally cannot set a legal screen anymore. Every time he gets set and then flexes the hips and sticks his butt out.

Durant is just starting the prime of career and for the next 8-10 years he's going to do some incredible stuff. He won't challenge Wilt's 100 pt game, but he's going to start getting 50 point games a few times a year and I wouldn't be surprised for him to hit 60 or 70 points. He can go 20-30 from the field with a bunch being 3 pointers and still knock down 10+ FT's.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Scariest part is he's 23.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Feels like this is the start of major dynasty for OKC. Durant and Westbrook are a great foundation and Harden has really come into his own this year. Pieces fit other than Westbrook having a little too much of a gunner mentality but that's also what makes him great and Durant is a perfect unassuming superstar to match with Westrbrook's excess swagger and not have a selfish reaction to touches. Ibaka is no bit piece either, kind of like Ben Wallace on the Pistons teams. I'd say that's who they are similar to in terms of having the right pieces and OKC's core could be better especially since they have a superstar with Durant (> Rasheed Wallace or Westbrook > Billups?) and all are young, growing together = more championships.

I simply never watched San Antonio this year. Last night they seemed overhyped and merely what I thought they were. Duncan reaching deep and Parker matured, but Ginobli isn't where he once was, Selfosha a good but limited role player, Kawhi Leonard a rookie and other than Stephen Jackson nothing else on that team. So for them to match greatness from OKC they needed career games from Parker, Duncan and Ginobili. They got 2/3 last night but still couldn't pull it out even though Jackson was also near perfect. If the Celtics get past the Heat is there any chance OKC doesn't slaughter them?

 

[tykurez]

Feels like this is the start of major dynasty for OKC. Durant and Westbrook are a great foundation and Harden has really come into his own this year. Pieces fit other than Westbrook having a little too much of a gunner mentality but that's also what makes him great and Durant is a perfect unassuming superstar to match with Westrbrook's excess swagger and not have a selfish reaction to touches. Ibaka is no bit piece either, kind of like Ben Wallace on the Pistons teams. I'd say that's who they are similar to in terms of having the right pieces and OKC's core could be better especially since they have a superstar with Durant (> Rasheed Wallace or Westbrook > Billups?) and all are young, growing together = more championships.

I simply never watched San Antonio this year. Last night they seemed overhyped and merely what I thought they were. Duncan reaching deep and Parker matured, but Ginobli isn't where he once was, Selfosha a good but limited role player, Kawhi Leonard a rookie and other than Stephen Jackson nothing else on that team. So for them to match greatness from OKC they needed career games from Parker, Duncan and Ginobili. They got 2/3 last night but still couldn't pull it out even though Jackson was also near perfect. If the Celtics get past the Heat is there any chance OKC doesn't slaughter them?

It's all going to depend how the play the next couple years. If Harden continues his high level of play, he's going to want to get paid ... and I believe after next year he's up for a new contract. They might be able to afford to keep him, but perhaps at the expense of being able to fill out the roster with guys like Ibaka. You'd have to wonder if they could take a small step down from Harden if his value is too high and keep the other pieces on the team somewhat more skilled. We've all seen how the Heat can struggle at times without a good enough supporting cast.

 

[DaddyChoc]

It's all going to depend how the play the next couple years. If Harden continues his high level of play, he's going to want to get paid ... and I believe after next year he's up for a new contract. They might be able to afford to keep him, but perhaps at the expense of being able to fill out the roster with guys like Ibaka. You'd have to wonder if they could take a small step down from Harden if his value is too high and keep the other pieces on the team somewhat more skilled. We've all seen how the Heat can struggle at times without a good enough supporting cast.

yup...

 

[aceboon]

Both Ibaka & Harden will need to be paid big money. Luckily for the Thunder Westbrook & Durant both took long term deals instead of the 3 year deals that Bron, Wade, & Bosh took at their first opportunities for extensions after their rookie deals were up. I'd imagine they will amnesty Perkins since he's making big money thru the end of 2015. I think they will be able to keep both as long as they fill out their roster with cheap vets/young role players but if it did come down to choosing one over the other I would keep Ibaka. Expanding offensive game and you're not going to find many weakside shot blockers like him. One interesting angle I saw on another site was what if Harden was offered to a team in the lottery in order to draft Jeremy Lamb or Terrence Ross and get your SG replacement on a rookie deal again who for now would only be asked to knock down jumpers after Westbrook/Durant attract most of the defense attention and hopefully develop into something more than that.

 

[bmayuc]

It's all going to depend how the play the next couple years. If Harden continues his high level of play, he's going to want to get paid ... and I believe after next year he's up for a new contract. They might be able to afford to keep him, but perhaps at the expense of being able to fill out the roster with guys like Ibaka. You'd have to wonder if they could take a small step down from Harden if his value is too high and keep the other pieces on the team somewhat more skilled. We've all seen how the Heat can struggle at times without a good enough supporting cast.

Luckily, they have aquired almost all their major parts through the Draft, meaning they retain their Bird Rights and can pay them all the max. Yes they would reach the tax threshhold, but they have the option of signing all of their homegrowns(durant, harden, ibaka,westbrook) to as much money as it takes. A core like that will easily make back the money, plus contend for titles every year for the next decade.

Amazing job by ownership/management/coaching staff/players in OKC... And Seattle weeps.

 

[bmayuc]

Luckily, they have aquired almost all their major parts through the Draft, meaning they retain their Bird Rights and can pay them all the max. Yes they would reach the tax threshhold, but they have the option of signing all of their homegrowns(durant, harden, ibaka,westbrook) to as much money as it takes. A core like that will easily make back the money, plus contend for titles every year for the next decade.

Amazing job by ownership/management/coaching staff/players in OKC... And Seattle weeps.

By the way Ibaka is Garnett, 15 years ago. Smooth 15-18 footer, Amazing defender, length, athleticism, work ethic. I'd take his peak over 99% of other centers in the league.

 

[UConn990411]

Ibaka's is a really good young player, but he's not close to Garnett of 15 years ago. (Heck, he's not close to Garnett at age 36.)

 

[Dogdeacon]

Luckily, they have aquired almost all their major parts through the Draft, meaning they retain their Bird Rights and can pay them all the max. Yes they would reach the tax threshhold, but they have the option of signing all of their homegrowns(durant, harden, ibaka,westbrook) to as much money as it takes. A core like that will easily make back the money, plus contend for titles every year for the next decade.

Amazing job by ownership/management/coaching staff/players in OKC... And Seattle weeps.

And recent Grantland article about Harden indicating they chose him because he has a team mentality and places winning far ahead of individual stat type acheivements. He'll want more money sure, but I think the odds are decent that he'll choose to stay in OKC.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7982195/the-many-faces-oklahoma-city-thunder-guard-james-harden

 

[EricLA]

How old is Perkins? 28? He's not that old and seems like he could be good for them for a number of years. he's not a huge offensive performer, but is the same height as Ibaka, and Aldrich. Maybe they try to develop Aldrich? he's really young too. none of their centers are elite, but when you have Durant, Westbrook, Hardin, and Ibaka, i'm not sure you need an elite center...

 

[RichZ]

Don't watch all that much NBA during the regular season -- a quarter or two at a time, once or twice a week maybe. And haven't gotten to see much of OKC at all this year. Never realized how good a rebounder Durant is. He had what, 13 or 14 last night? just about every one was a position rebound, not an 'out jump your ' rebound. And of course his shooting is just sick.