Basketbal reasons Boston vs Oklahoma (who wins)

[TheBigTicket23]

Was just wondering, which team is better, let's say top 9 guys

Westbrook
Oladipo
Durant
Sabonis
Adams

Robertson
Kanter
Waiters
Ilyasova or Foye

Billy Donavan

VS

Thomas
Bradley
Durant
Crowder
Horford

Smart
Brown
Olynyk
Rosier or a big at vet-min or sth or Yabusele.

Brad Stevens

I would lean slightly to Oklahoma although I do think our team will be more balanced and better suited for team basketbal. Next to that we have more assets although I would not count out Sam Presti finding another steal in some draft.

The teams look more or less even with Durant. Money wise, tax income is less in Boston than in Oklahoma. Boston is a bigger market. Even choice....

Rationally I still think he will try 1 more year with OKC to become a FA again in '17 with the cap raise. However if he really does not want to go through this again he might pick us. What an exciting 24h, it's yesterday with Horford and the KD meeting all over again...

[vjcsmoke]

You are penciling in a rookie, Sabonis, into Oklahoma's starting 5 and making an argument that's a better starting lineup?  SMH.  Meanwhile Horford is a 4-time all-star.  What has Adams done?

[NHCelticsFan]

Boston has a much more balanced lineup.  Our players really compliment each other.  The only two things we were missing were a legit big, which Horford is on both sides of the ball, and a go to scorer in the same line as Pierce.  KD would fill that role while helping to make everyone else better.

Our team is also better from top to bottom (with KD added) as there is less drop off as you go down our roster.

You also left Jordan Mickey off the list!

[TheBigTicket23]

Ye thought about Mickey, he will be nr 9 or 10 on our team perhaps...

@vjcsmoke, i dont know who they wanna start. They could go with Durant at 4 and Robertson at 3... or with Kanter and Adams both. They do not really have a pure PF with the departure of Ibaka. Ye maybe Ilyasova but not sure they are going to start him.

[NHCelticsFan]

I would be very tempted to start Mickey for the C's

With Durant:

IT
AB
KD
Horford
Mickey

While that lineup lacks a physical big, and probably would struggle to rebound, it would be extremely athletic and versatile defensively.  This lineup would also be a nightmare offensively as everyone can shoot and the spacing would be incredible.

Without KD you would start Jae at the three.  Similar to last years lineup but with the improvement of Al.  You could also start Amir in place of Mickey.  Jordan has been said to be the first guy in the gym for the C's and it was reported last year that the C's were trying to find ways to give him NBA minutes.  I wouldn't sleep on him being a big part of this team.  He could get an opportunity early with KO out while recovering from shoulder surgery.

[Pucaccia]

Take away Durant from both lineups and Boston will win more games.

[Chris22]

You left out the fact that we own Brooklyn's draft picks for the next two years.

[PAOBoston]

I would be very tempted to start Mickey for the C's

With Durant:

IT
AB
KD
Horford
Mickey

While that lineup lacks a physical big, and probably would struggle to rebound, it would be extremely athletic and versatile defensively.  This lineup would also be a nightmare offensively as everyone can shoot and the spacing would be incredible.

Without KD you would start Jae at the three.  Similar to last years lineup but with the improvement of Al.  You could also start Amir in place of Mickey.  Jordan has been said to be the first guy in the gym for the C's and it was reported last year that the C's were trying to find ways to give him NBA minutes.  I wouldn't sleep on him being a big part of this team.  He could get an opportunity early with KO out while recovering from shoulder surgery.

So Mikey goes from basically getting no minutes to starting? Based off what exactly? He has to earn rotation minutes first.

[TheBigTicket23]

You left out the fact that we own Brooklyn's draft picks for the next two years.

eeh I did post we have more assets than them, which are obviously the BKN picks which should be top 5 in both years, if not #3 in '17 for sure!

[mahonedog88]

In an attempt to not be just another biased Cs fan, I genuinely do believe that roster talent alone, Durant would go with the Thunder.  I question though whether deep down Durant truly believes he can win a title with Westbrook on his team.  I've said for years now that the two of them, despite all that talent between them, just don't fit together and they'll never win a title as long as they're together.

I aaaalmost got proven wrong this past season, but my theory holds true.  Some has to go on the coach, but they were having the same problem under Scotty Brooks...when it becomes crunch time and the score is close, more often than not the ball stops moving and it becomes a 2 on 5 game.  Westbrook just doing iso stuff looking to score, then Durant doing iso stuff looking to score, than right back to Westbrook to repeat the pattern.  It's had to have been maddening to watch as a Thunder fan the last 5-6 years.

I would like to think that Stevens wouldn't allow that to happen too often.

[Surferdad]

In an attempt to not be just another biased Cs fan, I genuinely do believe that roster talent alone, Durant would go with the Thunder.  I question though whether deep down Durant truly believes he can win a title with Westbrook on his team.  I've said for years now that the two of them, despite all that talent between them, just don't fit together and they'll never win a title as long as they're together.

I aaaalmost got proven wrong this past season, but my theory holds true.  Some has to go on the coach, but they were having the same problem under Scotty Brooks...when it becomes crunch time and the score is close, more often than not the ball stops moving and it becomes a 2 on 5 game.  Westbrook just doing iso stuff looking to score, then Durant doing iso stuff looking to score, than right back to Westbrook to repeat the pattern.  It's had to have been maddening to watch as a Thunder fan the last 5-6 years.

I would like to think that Stevens wouldn't allow that to happen too often.

Right, but also because the C's would not have Westbrook on the team.  He is the reason their offense looks the way it does.

[mqtcelticsfan]

You are penciling in a rookie, Sabonis, into Oklahoma's starting 5 and making an argument that's a better starting lineup?  SMH.  Meanwhile Horford is a 4-time all-star.  What has Adams done?

We have nobody that compares to Westbrook, though. I think it's fairly even between the two rosters.

[Chris22]

We have Brooklyn's first round picks the next two years.
OKC doesn't.
Plus, who wants to live in Oklahoma?

[straightouttabahstun]

You are penciling in a rookie, Sabonis, into Oklahoma's starting 5 and making an argument that's a better starting lineup?  SMH.  Meanwhile Horford is a 4-time all-star.  What has Adams done?

We have nobody that compares to Westbrook, though. I think it's fairly even between the two rosters.

 That may be our selling point though. We don't have Westbrook. We have Isaiah Thomas, who is WAY less likely to play hero ball to win the game if Durant is on the team. KD will more than likely get the last shot. Always. That's not the case with Westbrook.

[Celtics4ever]

They have the better team, I think.   We have great fans and more history.