Woohoo. Just found this thread -- as it doesn't show up in the front page.

GO WARRIORS.

I know we faced terrible competition last night, but things looked encouraging. Doesn't hurt that Klay had a career game -- if only he could be more consistent. I love the way our defense looks now with D. Lee and Bogut as big bodies inside and Iguodala defending the perimeter. Let's see how it goes against the Clips tonight.

So, Mike, you were right about Westbrook, it just took a serious injury for him to figure out how to play point guard. Loving the assist tallies he's posting now and he's basically averaging a triple double these days. That opening few minutes of the Denver game he was on fire with passes setting up Ibaka, and continued passing well the rest of the game. I'd say he's the complete package now. I never thought he could get there, but like I said, perhaps it was only because of the injury, giving him time to think and learn.

I try to like Reggie Jackson, but he tries to bull his way around on offense. The other day he got himself into foul trouble by getting 3 offensive fouls all charging. He had to sit a lot due to having 4 fouls. That was our loss @ Washington.

One other thing I'm not liking is the Thunder used to have excellent free throw shooting, but lately we've had a lot of 60-75% FT shooting games where in the past a sub-75% FT game was the exception. Seems to have been like this at least since the new year, perhaps somewhat before. I think perhaps this is the combination of Steven Adams shooting 62% and Reggie Jackson seems to miss a couple any time he gets 4+ FT attempts.

Loving the development of Ibaka. I'm hoping Westbrook and he will continue what Durant and he are doing currently with the pick and pop and develop it further. Can you imagine having Ibaka doing screen roll with both Durant and Westbrook at even half the ability level of Stockton/Mailman. Unlike Stockton, Durant and Westbrook have confidence in their shot, and this may be early, but I think Ibaka might be the better jump shooter between him and Malone. What Ibaka lacks is the killer instinct going to the rim like Malone had.

I didn't say they were exactly like Stockton and Malone, now did I? I said even half as good would be potent since either Durant or Westbrook would be off the ball waiting to launch a three or cutting to the basket.

Stockton was a pass first point guard, fact. His career average points per game is only 13.1.

I think Jackson will stay low contract backup at OKC, but I wouldn't miss him if he moved on. He's not talented enough for a big contract. I like Steven Adams, but he needs a lot of work, mostly staying out of foul trouble.

edit: Perhaps you didn't see the Westbrook of this season. He's being much more pass oriented while also still being aggressive with scoring himself. As I said in a post earlier in this thread he's gone from Westbrick to a fully rounded, though still a little turn-over happy point guard that can also score like an all-star if the situation requires.

To continue shoutbox thread, I think Fish's first release, by the Jazz, was without trickery.  LA had good doctors, and its not like he was going to go to the Clippers.  It's not like he was jumping ship to be with a contender, Utah and LA were on pretty even footing that year.  LA was three games up, both were tops in their division in strong WC, Utah was knocked out in conference semis by LA.  If they could have paid a legitimate star 13M a year instead of AK, they would have been my favorite that year.


Some of the later stuff seems a bit more fishy.  Coming to the Mavs right after a title for example, (possibly) only to leave when it turned out they weren't going anywhere. 


It would be interesting if he used his daughter as an excuse every time but from what I know, that's not the case.  I haven't exactly followed it with a hawk's eye, my eye is usually on the East.