2010-11 NBA Playoffs / Finals

[jdpapa3]

Imagine how good the Thunder would be if they replaced that scrub Perkins with better all-around players like Green and Krstic.

Geez, hanging your hat on what was the Thunder's 6th or 7th best player today..interesting.

It had nothing to do with Westbrook, Durant, and Harden dominating I'm sure.

So, put Green and Krstic back on that team.  Are they as good?

I say no.  There's a reason they were expendable.

The problem is fit. Kevin Durant is a 3 and Jeff Green's best position is at the 3. If they had just moved Ibaka to the starting 4 a while ago, they'd have been all set with Krstic at the 5 with new addition Nazr.

They did go to a last second shot in game 6 against the champions last year with Harden as a rookie and it was the first playoff series for most guys on the team, including their 3 best players. Harden and Westbrook made leaps this year...this was always going to be their progression.

[barefacedmonk]

Chicago's offense worries me a little. Boozer played well in the last game...hope he can do more of the same tonight and in the series.

[JoT]

Imagine how good the Thunder would be if they replaced that scrub Perkins with better all-around players like Green and Krstic.

Ha. Well...it is what it is. Perk is on his way to the Western Conference finals and us? Knocked out in 5 games in the 2nd round. SMH.

yea because memphis is just as good as Miami is and Perk would have put the whole team on his back and rondo with a dislocated elbow and carried them past the heat.....

and we could have had 9 mil tied up in a one way player who has had major injury concerns and looks as slow as a 38 year old shaq, what an awful trade

You do realize nothing you just said matters right? Because the fact is Perk is on his way to his conference finals and we are not. Period.

Perk would not have helped beat the Heat and everyone including many who were anti the trade believed it too. The OKC is playing so well is because everyone is playing their respective positions. Ibaka was not in his right spot and is now playing it. Perk fit the mold because that helped the rest of the team go back to where they belong and felt comfort at. Jeff can play PF, but he's not a natural nor a comfortable at the he PF like he would be at the SF and it didn't help that the scoring champion and face of the franchise was in the exact position he plays better in.

No disrespect towards Perk at all and congrats to his team making it, but truthfully looking at what this team went through I knew they weren't gonna win. THis team had too many injuries and didn't even play a whole game with the team completely healthy this year.

Also before people go and bash Green let him have some time and get to know the system and the players more. He came at a difficult time and had to adjust to a new role, new environment, and a new system. If he still plays the way he did in the season then people could have a reason to bash, but let him get some due time and fully learn the system.I feel he would've been better coming in during training camp then in the middle of the season.

[Roy H.]

The problem is fit. Kevin Durant is a 3 and Jeff Green's best position is at the 3. If they had just moved Ibaka to the starting 4 a while ago, they'd have been all set with Krstic at the 5 with new addition Nazr.

I don't think so (and obviously, neither did Scott Brooks or Sam Presti).

The lineup of Perk / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westbrook gave up 99.62 points per 100 possessions.

The lineup of Krstic / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westrbook gave up 114.11 points per 100 possessions.

That difference is defense is vast.  For perspective, the 99.62 defensive rating is better than Chicago's (which was first in the league).  The 114.11 would have been worst in the NBA, 1.5 points per 100 possession worse than Toronto's league worst.

The Thunder have also been one of the best defensive teams in the playoffs, leading all playoff teams in FG% against.  To chalk that up to coincidence, or to "they would have been fine with Krstic next to Ibaka", just isn't in tune with the reality of the situation.

[Who]

Very much looking forward to the Conference Finals. Two exciting matchups.

Chicago vs Miami and Dallas vs Oklahoma. Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

[barefacedmonk]

The lineup of Perk / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westbrook gave up 99.62 points per 100 possessions.

The lineup of Krstic / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westrbook gave up 114.11 points per 100 possessions.

That difference is defense is vast.

[dang]...that is indeed a vast difference.

[barefacedmonk]

Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

Me too. What do you think of the Boozer and Bosh match up? Who has the advantage there? Boozer's injury has to be a cause of major concern for Chicago.

[Redz]

Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

Me too. What do you think of the Boozer and Bosh match up? Who has the advantage there? Boozer's injury has to be a cause of major concern for Chicago.

It's a great conference Finals matchup.  In shifting back to becoming just a hoops fan, not a Celtics loving fool, you have to be excited the matchup.

[barefacedmonk]

Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

Me too. What do you think of the Boozer and Bosh match up? Who has the advantage there? Boozer's injury has to be a cause of major concern for Chicago.

It's a great conference Finals matchup.  In shifting back to becoming just a hoops fan, not a Celtics loving fool, you have to be excited the matchup.

In some ways I'm enjoying this more than watching our games...no pressure since we aren't in contention anymore...no more worries about the matchups, refs, non calls etc.

[jdpapa3]

The lineup of Perk / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westbrook gave up 99.62 points per 100 possessions.

The lineup of Krstic / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westrbook gave up 114.11 points per 100 possessions.

That Krstic lineup got 121 minutes...

Perkins defenders don't really have a lot of ground to stand on when it comes to how he is playing right now. The Thunder have been significantly worse on both sides of the ball while Perkins has been on the court in the playoffs. He looked decently fluid in the first couple of weeks after the playoffs, but is just immobile at this point.

Thunder with Perkins on the court in the playoffs:
103 ORtg
106 DRtg

Thunder with Perkins off the court in the playoffs
111 ORtg
99 DRtg

They are better when he's off the floor, and his post up defense is well below average as he's letting up 1 ppp on post ups.

[jdpapa3]

The Thunder have also been one of the best defensive teams in the playoffs

And who's been one of the teams that has been better than them on defense, you ask? Our Perkins-less team.

[Roy H.]

The Thunder have also been one of the best defensive teams in the playoffs

And who's been one of the teams that has been better than them on defense, you ask? Our Perkins-less team.

I'm missing your point, I guess.  Presumably, adding Perk at center in place of BBD would have made our great defense even greater.

[ejk3489]

The lineup of Perk / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westbrook gave up 99.62 points per 100 possessions.

The lineup of Krstic / Ibaka / Durant / Thabo / Westrbook gave up 114.11 points per 100 possessions.

That Krstic lineup got 121 minutes...

Perkins defenders don't really have a lot of ground to stand on when it comes to how he is playing right now. The Thunder have been significantly worse on both sides of the ball while Perkins has been on the court in the playoffs. He looked decently fluid in the first couple of weeks after the playoffs, but is just immobile at this point.

Thunder with Perkins on the court in the playoffs:
103 ORtg
106 DRtg

Thunder with Perkins off the court in the playoffs
111 ORtg
99 DRtg

They are better when he's off the floor, and his post up defense is well below average as he's letting up 1 ppp on post ups.

Edit: nevermind

[Who]

Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

Me too. What do you think of the Boozer and Bosh match up? Who has the advantage there? Boozer's injury has to be a cause of major concern for Chicago.

I have no idea what to expect from Boozer in this series. Health wise.

I hope he's alright. It would be a shame if an injury ruined the Bulls postseason. At least he had a quality performance to finish off the Hawks in the last game. That has to give the Bulls some optimism about Boozer's health heading into this series.

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I don't expect Boozer and Bosh to go head-to-head all that much in this series.

Joel Anthony will likely draw the Boozer assignment and Noah will probably cover Bosh on the other end of the floor. Good thing too because Bosh struggles against physical interior scorers like Boozer and Boozer struggles against any type of quickness (Bosh great first step + face up game).

Overall, I think the two players will balance each other out. Assuming Boozer is healthy.

[barefacedmonk]

Can't wait for the Bulls game to start.

Me too. What do you think of the Boozer and Bosh match up? Who has the advantage there? Boozer's injury has to be a cause of major concern for Chicago.

I have no idea what to expect from Boozer in this series. Health wise.

I hope he's alright. It would be a shame if an injury ruined the Bulls postseason. At least he had a quality performance to finish off the Hawks in the last game. That has to give the Bulls some optimism about Boozer's health heading into this series.

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I don't expect Boozer and Bosh to go head-to-head all that much in this series.

Joel Anthony will likely draw the Boozer assignment and Noah will probably cover Bosh on the other end of the floor. Good thing too because Bosh struggles against physical interior scorers like Boozer and Boozer struggles against any type of quickness (Bosh great first step + face up game).

Overall, I think the two players will balance each other out. Assuming Boozer is healthy.

Thanks.

I'll be happy if Boozer and Noah are active in the paint. Get Miami in foul trouble.