333 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

OKC moves on to the Finals. Will be favored vs. either Boston or Miami.

[SportsGuy]

Going to be tough for either team to beat OKC.

[DJ MC]

It really is amazing what that organization did, going from winning 74 games over three seasons as they went through the worst team relocation in NBA history, to taking those three top-five picks and adding in some smart picks later along with good trades and building a Western Conference champion in basically five years.

I think almost everyone outside of New England, South Florida and Washington state will be rooting for them.

[SportsGuy]

It really is amazing what that organization did, going from winning 74 games over three seasons as they went through the worst team relocation in NBA history, to taking those three top-five picks and adding in some smart picks later along with good trades and building a Western Conference champion in basically five years.

I think almost everyone outside of New England, South Florida and Washington state will be rooting for them.

Sam Presti. Came to Seattle from SA, where he learned how a well run organization works and has become one of the best GMs in basketball.

[mweb08]

It really is amazing what that organization did, going from winning 74 games over three seasons as they went through the worst team relocation in NBA history, to taking those three top-five picks and adding in some smart picks later along with good trades and building a Western Conference champion in basically five years.

I think almost everyone outside of New England, South Florida and Washington state will be rooting for them.

They got lucky with Durant, but the other top 5 picks were controversial and turned out to be brilliant.

[SportsGuy]

It really is amazing what that organization did, going from winning 74 games over three seasons as they went through the worst team relocation in NBA history, to taking those three top-five picks and adding in some smart picks later along with good trades and building a Western Conference champion in basically five years.

I think almost everyone outside of New England, South Florida and Washington state will be rooting for them.

They got lucky with Durant, but the other top 5 picks were controversial and turned out to be brilliant.

I dont remember Westbrook being controversial. He was a top 5 talent going into that draft.

There were mixed reviews on Harden though.

[mweb08]

They got lucky with Durant, but the other top 5 picks were controversial and turned out to be brilliant.

I dont remember Westbrook being controversial. He was a top 5 talent going into that draft.

There were mixed reviews on Harden though.

He wasn't a consensus top 5 guy. Lots of talk about how he didn't have a position or a jumper.

Of course if he picked the next guy selected, the Thunder would still be in a good position. Westbrook's UCLA teammate Kevin Love.

[SportsGuy]

I dont remember Westbrook being controversial. He was a top 5 talent going into that draft.

There were mixed reviews on Harden though.

He wasn't a consensus top 5 guy. Lots of talk about how he didn't have a position or a jumper.

Of course if he picked the next guy selected, the Thunder would still be in a good position. Westbrook's UCLA teammate Kevin Love.

Every mock draft I saw had him in the top 5.

[mweb08]

He wasn't a consensus top 5 guy. Lots of talk about how he didn't have a position or a jumper.

Of course if he picked the next guy selected, the Thunder would still be in a good position. Westbrook's UCLA teammate Kevin Love.

Every mock draft I saw had him in the top 5.

Links?

Scott Van Pelt just said that people thought he was a reach as did someone else recently.

[SportsGuy]

Every mock draft I saw had him in the top 5.

Links?

Scott Van Pelt just said that people thought he was a reach as did someone else recently.

http://nbadraft.net/...mock_draft.html
http://www.mynbadraf...-NBA-Mock-Draft
http://walterfootbal...badraft2008.php
http://sports.espn.g... ... aft-080520
http://www.usatoday.... ... -draft.htm
http://basketball.re... ... ay_edition)
http://www.insidehoo...ock-draft.shtml

Those have him going 6-8. I know I saw some in top 5(could have been earlier in the process though?) but its not really much of a stretch to say a guy is a top 5 guy who goes 6-8.

Either way, I don't see how you can call him a controversial pick by any means.

[Pedro Cerrano]

I recall Westbrook not really being all that controversial. People saw him, generally, as a guy that could go in the mid 10s in the first round. I liked him in UCLA because he was a hard worker and played tenacious defense and I felt had great court awareness (plus I'm sort of a homer for UCLA bball players -- Kareem and whatnot). The Harden pick turned out to be very very good as I don't think anyone had him at #3 overall in his draft class.

[mweb08]

http://nbadraft.net/...mock_draft.html (#6). Sonics taking B. Lopez

http://www.mynbadraf...-NBA-Mock-Draft (#8) Sonics taking B. Lopez

http://www.nba.com/d...board/mock.html (#6) Based on consensus, Sonics taking Lopez or Bayless

http://www.nba.com/b...ock_drafts.html (#8) Sonics taking Love

http://www.usatoday.... ... -draft.htm (#6) Sonics taking Mayo

http://bleacherrepor... ... irst-round (#14) Sonics taking Lopez

http://sports.espn.g... ... aft-080520 (#7) Sonics taking Bayless

[mweb08]

Links?

Scott Van Pelt just said that people thought he was a reach as did someone else recently.

http://nbadraft.net/...mock_draft.html
http://www.mynbadraf...-NBA-Mock-Draft
http://walterfootbal...badraft2008.php
http://sports.espn.g... ... aft-080520
http://www.usatoday.... ... -draft.htm
http://basketball.re... ... ay_edition)
http://www.insidehoo...ock-draft.shtml

Those have him going 6-8. I know I saw some in top 5(could have been earlier in the process though?) but its not really much of a stretch to say a guy is a top 5 guy who goes 6-8.

Either way, I don't see how you can call him a controversial pick by any means.

I think you may be thinking of controversial as a word with more meaning then I intend. A lot of people did not think he was a top 5 player or should be picked by the Thunder, that means by definition, that it was controversial. I'm not saying that people were outraged by it or anything.

[mweb08]

Looking back at mock drafts and rankings, Harden was really no more controversial than Westrbook based on what I saw.

My point was simply that they could have easily gone a different direction with both picks and that a lot of people would have. They nailed both picks where most would not have.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Fox Sports SW: Thunder may have long reign in West
http://www.foxsports...498&feedID=3677

[Oriole85]

Looking back at mock drafts and rankings, Harden was really no more controversial than Westrbook based on what I saw.

My point was simply that they could have easily gone a different direction with both picks and that a lot of people would have. They nailed both picks where most would not have.

If you go against the grain and it works out, isn't that a good front office? If you are going with consensus picks, no real great strategy there.

[mweb08]

Looking back at mock drafts and rankings, Harden was really no more controversial than Westrbook based on what I saw.

My point was simply that they could have easily gone a different direction with both picks and that a lot of people would have. They nailed both picks where most would not have.

If you go against the grain and it works out, isn't that a good front office? If you are going with consensus picks, no real great strategy there.

Yes, that's the point I was trying to make.

[bnickle]

Heat- Thunder is clearly the premier Finals series. The one I would say always had the chance to be the most exciting with both "Big 3" and just their explosive styles overall. Should be fun and I of course will be rooting hard for the Thunder.

GOnna predict Heat in 7 . I'm just going with experience here.

[BSLChrisStoner]

I'll take the Thunder in 7, should be a fun series. Both teams racing up and down the court.

[mweb08]

I'll pick later, but I am very much looking forward to this series.

The Thunder are the better team imo, but I'll have to think about it more.