Why I can't root for the OKC Thunder

[pearljammer10]

They are an up and coming team, no doubt championship contenders
But for some reason I can't stand them

Number one is that I hate the way they utilize Durant. He's one of my favorite players, but the offense isn't run well at all. They make Durant basically like a Ray Allen, running off picks like he's a role player. And that annoying iso offense. People can complain about Paul Pierce's iso ball, but that's only for a few times during the game. Durant does it basically the whole game. He is one of the best players in the league, and you utilize him on isos and running off screens? Thats horrible

The other reason, is that they play too pretty. They don't have that gritty toughness and are basically a jumpshooting team. Like game 2 against the Lakers. When they were down, instead of driving the ball to draw fouls or feed the post, they just preceded to shoot jumpshots and contested 3's. Its also annoying that they have Durant and Westbrook just trading isolation plays like its streetball. Yes they are very talented enough to iso, but a great defensive team can always neutralize that

And lastly, its Westbrook. He's just a shooting guard masquerading as a point guard. Its his ego that thinks he's the best player on the floor. He tries to take over the game too much and just leaves Durant waiting on the wing. I honestly think Westbrook should play the 2 and Harden play the 1. Harden is the better playmaker


Does anyone else not like them? Or maybe its just me

Durants the leading scorer in the league... OKC is a legit title contender... what else would you like them to do to utilize Durant? Change their system and game play to make him and the team worse?

[Chris]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

[Potapenko Boxout]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

[indeedproceed]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

They're all fake tough guys. the thing that bothers me is when guys (like Garnett, Perkins, Chris Paul, etc..) pretend like its not fake.

You gotta be crazy to be a 'real tough guy' with the penalties you get, but that's why the only real tough guys who will throw down are, in fact, crazy. Artest, S-Jax, etc..

[Potapenko Boxout]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

They're all fake tough guys. the thing that bothers me is when guys (like Garnett, Perkins, Chris Paul, etc..) pretend like its not fake.

You gotta be crazy to be a 'real tough guy' with the penalties you get, but that's why the only real tough guys who will throw down are, in fact, crazy. Artest, S-Jax, etc..

i'd rather have any of those fake tough guys to the real tough guys you mentioned.

[Chris]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

They're all fake tough guys. the thing that bothers me is when guys (like Garnett, Perkins, Chris Paul, etc..) pretend like its not fake.

You gotta be crazy to be a 'real tough guy' with the penalties you get, but that's why the only real tough guys who will throw down are, in fact, crazy. Artest, S-Jax, etc..

i'd rather have any of those fake tough guys to the real tough guys you mentioned.

On the C's, yes, but on a secondary team to cheer for, I prefer the legit crazy guys.  Artest has jumped the shark, but when I am looking for a non-C's team to cheer for, I like guys who are truly crazy, I like teams that overachieve, I like teams who are business-like, and I like underdogs. 

[indeedproceed]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

They're all fake tough guys. the thing that bothers me is when guys (like Garnett, Perkins, Chris Paul, etc..) pretend like its not fake.

You gotta be crazy to be a 'real tough guy' with the penalties you get, but that's why the only real tough guys who will throw down are, in fact, crazy. Artest, S-Jax, etc..

i'd rather have any of those fake tough guys to the real tough guys you mentioned.

On the C's, yes, but on a secondary team to cheer for, I prefer the legit crazy guys.  Artest has jumped the shark, but when I am looking for a non-C's team to cheer for, I like guys who are truly crazy, I like teams that overachieve, I like teams who are business-like, and I like underdogs. 

Interesting point regarding Artest. He did jump the shark for me. I was a fan of him, even as a Laker, spurred on from his short but awesome stint with the Rockets. Not really anymore.

S-Jax I didn't like before he just mailed in his entire time with Milwaukee, I liked him less after.

[OsirusCeltics]

They are an up and coming team, no doubt championship contenders
But for some reason I can't stand them

Number one is that I hate the way they utilize Durant. He's one of my favorite players, but the offense isn't run well at all. They make Durant basically like a Ray Allen, running off picks like he's a role player. And that annoying iso offense. People can complain about Paul Pierce's iso ball, but that's only for a few times during the game. Durant does it basically the whole game. He is one of the best players in the league, and you utilize him on isos and running off screens? Thats horrible

The other reason, is that they play too pretty. They don't have that gritty toughness and are basically a jumpshooting team. Like game 2 against the Lakers. When they were down, instead of driving the ball to draw fouls or feed the post, they just preceded to shoot jumpshots and contested 3's. Its also annoying that they have Durant and Westbrook just trading isolation plays like its streetball. Yes they are very talented enough to iso, but a great defensive team can always neutralize that

And lastly, its Westbrook. He's just a shooting guard masquerading as a point guard. Its his ego that thinks he's the best player on the floor. He tries to take over the game too much and just leaves Durant waiting on the wing. I honestly think Westbrook should play the 2 and Harden play the 1. Harden is the better playmaker


Does anyone else not like them? Or maybe its just me

Durants the leading scorer in the league... OKC is a legit title contender... what else would you like them to do to utilize Durant? Change their system and game play to make him and the team worse?

No because they're type of iso running off picks style would only work on teams inferior to them
They are a better team then the Lakers, but if the Lakers didn't choke, they would be tied 1-1

If they play that style against a formidable defensive team like the Spurs, they would get destroyed IMO

[bdm860]

I really hate the attitude Perk has brought to that team.  He has turned into a charicature of KG with his antics, and it has completely rubbed off on the team.  They have become a team of whiners and fake tough guys, and it has ruined them for me.

so they've gone from a loveable non-contender to a contender and now you don't like them? makes no sense to me.

not sure how to differentiate between being a fake tough guy or a real tough guy in the nba, either. that's played out.

They're all fake tough guys. the thing that bothers me is when guys (like Garnett, Perkins, Chris Paul, etc..) pretend like its not fake.

You gotta be crazy to be a 'real tough guy' with the penalties you get, but that's why the only real tough guys who will throw down are, in fact, crazy. Artest, S-Jax, etc..

i'd rather have any of those fake tough guys to the real tough guys you mentioned.

On the C's, yes, but on a secondary team to cheer for, I prefer the legit crazy guys.  Artest has jumped the shark, but when I am looking for a non-C's team to cheer for, I like guys who are truly crazy, I like teams that overachieve, I like teams who are business-like, and I like underdogs. 

Interesting point regarding Artest. He did jump the shark for me. I was a fan of him, even as a Laker, spurred on from his short but awesome stint with the Rockets. Not really anymore.

S-Jax I didn't like before he just mailed in his entire time with Milwaukee, I liked him less after.

Artest was awesome before the Lakers.  That crazy, unpredictable, underdog.  It was like Mike Tyson trying to single handedly take down the entire Imperial Army.   He storms through the fortress on his own, right into the Darth Vader’s lair, past all his guards, walks right up to Darth Vader.  Now you’re thinking, is he really going to knock Darth Vader out with one punch and single handedly restore peace to the universe?  You know you’re all cheering for him to do it too.  (I've never seen Star Wars, does that analogy work?).

That was Ron Artest vs Kobe.  Has any player ever so nonchalantly run across the court to confront a mega-star like Kobe (or any player for that matter)?  Players may shout from a distant, have their teammates hold them back, maybe even do a little pushing or shoving in the heat of the moment.  But nobody is crazy enough (and that’s crazy in a good way) to confront Kobe like he did.

Then there’s the rumor that Artest broke Jordan's ribs playing a pickup game, after Artest got mad and body slammed Jordan.

How can you not cheer for that guy?

Then he ruined it all and went over and joined the darkside.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypPX_MfxfG0

[LarBrd33]

I won't root for them until Seattle gets their NBA team back, simple as that.  Also I don't like Russell Westbrook, I think he's very overrated.

I live in Seattle.  I agree with this stance.  I want to root for the THunder (I love Durant and obviously have a soft spot for Perk), but it would kill my friends out here who were hardcore Sonics fans.  Seeing the thunder win a title just a few years after Oklahoma stole them from Seattle would be incredibly depressing.

I moved out here in 1995 when I was about 13 years old.  This was right before everyone had personal computers and the internet.  The Celtics stunk and I was in the dark about what they were doing aside from maybe checking the newspaper.  So I was a huge Sonic fan for a few years (Pitino coming on board coincided with us finally getting the internet... from that point on I either watched the Celtics on TV or listened to every game via internet radio).  My dad and I pretty much had season tickets and the Sonics were contenders.  They made it to the finals against Jordan.  It was terrific.  So you gotta realize that my peers out here grew up rooting for an awesome Sonic team that just kept falling short year after year after year.   Most of them were in complete denial about the Sonics leaving until they had already left.  This would just kill them.  My best is 29 and he had been going to games with his dad since he was 3 years old.  He was obsessed with the Sonics.  He's the type of guy who literally sheds tears when his team loses a big game... or at the very least locks himself in his room and refuses to do anything for a day.  If the Thunder win a title he might jump off the space needle.

Also, the fans in Oklahoma are the least deserving group of fans in the league.  None of them had to root for a struggling team.  It's their 4th year and every year has been sugar and fluff.  The heck with them.  

[CelticG1]

I hate teams that get half their points at the line and I hate how coddled these young guys are much like blake griffin

[RyNye]

My only problem with the Thunder is Russell Westbrook. I really strongly dislike him. Everything about his attitude and his style of play rubs me the wrong way. He's talented, but incredibly stupid (in terms of bball IQ) and egotistical. No team is perfect, but so many of their losses this season (at least from games I've watched) were almost single-handedly his fault, as down the stretch he just throws up mid-range jump shots without trying to pass it or even get open for a decent shot. Really, really, irritating.

Also, as for people complaining about "fake tough guys," shut up. Seriously, shut up. It is such an immature and unrealistic perspective to think that someone is a fake tough guy because they trash talk during a sporting event and don't follow it up with a fight. By saying stuff like that you are essentially just puffing out your chest to prove how macho you are. So shut up. Being tough has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not you start confrontations like Ron Artest, or trash talk and get in your opponent's head like KG. If you want to talk about that, that's GAMESMANSHIP.

Real tough guys don't lose their cool because someone is getting physical with them. Ron Artest is NOT a tough guy. He is just crazy. Fighting and all that is a STUPID thing to do, and shows that you are WEAK. A strong, tough player rises above petty, immature squabbles, and anyone who thinks that you are a "fake tough guy" if you aren't starting fights is as mature as a 4th-grade bully.

[StartOrien]

I won't root for them until Seattle gets their NBA team back, simple as that.  Also I don't like Russell Westbrook, I think he's very overrated.

I live in Seattle.  I agree with this stance.  I want to root for the THunder (I love Durant and obviously have a soft spot for Perk), but it would kill my friends out here who were hardcore Sonics fans.  Seeing the thunder win a title just a few years after Oklahoma stole them from Seattle would be incredibly depressing.

I moved out here in 1995 when I was about 13 years old.  This was right before everyone had personal computers and the internet.  The Celtics stunk and I was in the dark about what they were doing aside from maybe checking the newspaper.  So I was a huge Sonic fan for a few years (Pitino coming on board coincided with us finally getting the internet... from that point on I either watched the Celtics on TV or listened to every game via internet radio).  My dad and I pretty much had season tickets and the Sonics were contenders.  They made it to the finals against Jordan.  It was terrific.  So you gotta realize that my peers out here grew up rooting for an awesome Sonic team that just kept falling short year after year after year.   Most of them were in complete denial about the Sonics leaving until they had already left.  This would just kill them.  My best is 29 and he had been going to games with his dad since he was 3 years old.  He was obsessed with the Sonics.  He's the type of guy who literally sheds tears when his team loses a big game... or at the very least locks himself in his room and refuses to do anything for a day.  If the Thunder win a title he might jump off the space needle.

Also, the fans in Oklahoma are the least deserving group of fans in the league.  None of them had to root for a struggling team.  It's their 4th year and every year has been sugar and fluff.  The heck with them.  

I'm summarizing a point made by an old Sonics employee in this fantastic Sonics article

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/2012/05/03/confessions-of-a-sonics-employee-howard-schultz-was-cheap-cared-about-rich/

Seattle fans have the right to be angry that their team got hijacked. But one important thing to remember is that it was the OKC owner who brought in the strong management team that has turned this team into a contender.

Yes, Durant was a layup for them, but Westbrook and Harden were both picked well before they were initially projected and Ibaka was a diamond in the rough.

I don't see an indication that previous management would've been capable of making similar decisions. In fact, the loss of their team kind of supports that they weren't.

So again, I understand being upset about the ways things played out but I don't think it's right to project the thoughts that 'this would be our team if they were still in Seattle.'

[thestackshow]

Thunder are Americas sweethearts, how can you not root for them?

Small market? Check

Humble well liked players? Check

Basically 20 year old kids? Check

Perkins!? Check

They are everything an NBA team should be, well mannered, humble, and they just play the game, they dont come with a bunch of drama like other teams.

How could you not root for them?

Outside of the Celtics, the Thunder are my favorite team.

[ianboyextreme]

I cant root for them because of their lying scumbag of an owner. The guy is the king of weasels. I also dont love their style of play. I like their players though.