Surrounding them with no shooters, especially those Russ teams, was malpractice.

Always with hindsight but that team even post Harden was still good enough to win a chip. They just happened to bump into a team with the greatest shooter of all time. And some frequent mental lapses from Russ and KD didn’t help.

And even if they managed to make it past Golden State, the King was waiting for them in the finals. Wrong place, wrong time for that team is all.

I think the era also played a part. Kd/russ were playing right smack in the peak of superstar isoball era and it was only after the warriors showed us how effective the Strength In Numbers style was that teams started changing their style.

Even when we had the flawed ok3 era with russ/PG/Melo they wouldve theoretically worked but no one could buy in to a similar system we have now.

People wont admit this but Shai has a similar quality to steph and duncan where they go out, play ball, and let the coach do their job to make everyone else shine.

OKC’s front office is widely credited, but is Shai’s leadership severely understated?

OKC right now is so deep.

Their bench players are about to have serious offers soon though.

Kd/Russ are not better leader/franchise than Shai that’s the true reason.

On top of roster construction, the Thunder offense was a basic “your turn, my turn” offense until Billy Donovan became the coach in the final season of the KD/Russ duo in OKC.

Definitely and the leadership is so so good with SGA, Caruso. 

I can still remember when Kanter didn’t set a proper screen to Russ on 2016 Game 6, KD visibility frustrated and shouted at him for that, during the end of the game. 

I am not seeing any of those now in this team. 

I don’t want to jinx it.  But yeah. OKC as team is very supportive to each other now. 

Also had some unfortunate injuries during multiple playoff runs.

Lmao, Celtics contributed to that mistake.

Perkins is the reason why we got KD Warriors

It’s such an unfortunate trajectory for him too. When he was with OKC he was universally loved by the league and fans, and a lot of people thought he was “too nice”.

Maybe the Sonics?

We appreciate his contributions and what he did for the franchise. That’s it.

We were legit contenders, just one game away. Choking the lead was brutal, but not angered us. It was his move to warriors which just was appalling, the only rival in the west and the one who gobsmacked us. Not only did it kill our championship hopes, but it created a dynasty for the warriors. It was a total bitch move, and his meltdown with OKC fans post that move was even bitchier (for lack of a better word).

Most people don’t know this, but both teams actually play basketball as well

Some guys in our ownership group are oil rich, Joe Lacob drives his cars, I think. If you think it through, the comparisons never end.

Actually, going by their names, the thunder play in a city but the warriors play in a state.

debatable

Snake eating its own tail

Haha nice!

They have dray, you have dort. Uncanny

Nah, different kind of unlucky.

These generational teams only happen every 20 years. ‘96, ‘16, ‘36.

So you guys were 10 years too early to fit the pattern.

Yes, I believe he was only Akeem at the time

The rockets happened

His change of pace is one of the best I’ve ever seen…

I remember seeing him in person a couple of years ago, I was amazed by how quick and smooth he was when he’d drive by defenders. Like how tf could anyone guard that? And now he’s changed his game a bit, and he relies on a lot more step backs and stop/go change of pace stuff… And that’s also incredible to watch in person. Combining all of those skills, I genuinely don’t understand how anyone can hope to slow him down on offense.

You think he’d be better than Kobe with that? People downplay his 3 peat because he was the 2nd best player but I don’t think you can sleep on that.

This is a universal Thunder fan experience

His best seasons were before and after KD got there. Skyfucker Curry in 15-16 was best Curry.

That’s a great comparison with the big fundamental. He rarely dunks or goes for high-flying plays, but he’s perfected what he does so well.

It almost looks slow or lazy sometimes how he gets his shot, but he has gotten really good at building most of his plays from the same base- if that makes sense?

He has insane balance, so it seems like it’s hard to read the play from hip movement or shifting weight. It could be a drive to a lay-up, pull up jumper, dish, or step-back three.

Say what you will about our state but dem kids learn arithmatec.

They might change the rules, but historically, it’s been max one player from each team per expansion draft even if there are 2 expansion teams drafting 

The last time the NBA had two expansion teams, they could only select one player total from each of the other teams. Seems like it would go the same way this time. 30 teams = 15 players for each expansion team, filling their rosters.

The Thunder could also trade a draft pick or two to get one of the expansion teams to pick a specific player, thus protecting everyone else. That’s happened before.

You get to protect 8 players if I’m not mistaken?

Felt like that tbh. Typo though lmao, forgot Dray

I’m just glad we got at least one ring before Wemby takes over.

I seriously can’t wait to see them in the playoffs at some point, whether this year or the future, gonna be some good ball

Just lowkey wish the two teams could’ve been in different conferences so that they can meet in the finals instead of CF. Actually be what the Warriors and Cavs were in the 2010s without any snake interruption.

Mavs were there too until it all blew up 😭

GM is key, would not be surprised to see lakers new ownership throw a stupid contract his way

I thought he was still a year out.

Eventually OKC will bleed away some of this depth or suffer the second apron penalties. But still it’s hard to see how they aren’t competitive for a very long time

they barely won the first one and suddenly we are talking 3 in a row??

Thought it was two?