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OKC Thunder Christmas Day Round Table – memories, gifts and resolutions

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Dec 24, 2016; Cocoa Beach, FL, USA; Thousands turn out on Christmas Eve morning in Cocoa Beach to watch hundreds of surfing Santas hit the waves. The event started eight years ago when George Trosset went surfing in a Santa suit with his son and daughter-in-law. The event has ballooned into a major Christmas event supporting Grind for Life and the Surf Museum. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via USA TODAY NETWORK
Dec 24, 2016; Cocoa Beach, FL, USA; Thousands turn out on Christmas Eve morning in Cocoa Beach to watch hundreds of surfing Santas hit the waves. The event started eight years ago when George Trosset went surfing in a Santa suit with his son and daughter-in-law. The event has ballooned into a major Christmas event supporting Grind for Life and the Surf Museum. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Dec 19, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is announced in the opening lineup prior to action against the Atlanta Hawks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) is announced in the opening lineup prior to action against the Atlanta Hawks at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Next up is New Years Eve – what should the Thunder’s resolution be?

Eric Snyder: This New Year the Thunder need to resolve to get off of the NBA Fence. Are they going to go young and rebuild or are they going to chase a title around Westbrook? This team doesn’t have enough young talent to do both things at once. So, its time for Presti to make a decision one way or the other. Otherwise, the Thunder will become stuck inside the “Grizzlies/Clippers Cycle”: Promising Roster, Flashy Players and Postseason Disappointment.

Cole Hixon: It’s a cliche they say often, but “just get better everyday.” They are the second youngest team in the NBA and have a lot of room for internal growth. As for a resolution for Billy Donovan, stop playing 5 bench players all together. It doesn’t work even a little bit.

 Joshua Lea:  Close out tight games, they can’t lose close games. It hurts them in the standings and it will haunt them in the playoffs. The Thunder must starting winning the crunch-time games.

Heather Koontz: Presti needs to resolve to finding the loophole in the previously mentioned ‘no returns for Singler’ clause. But as a whole, I think the team needs to make the collective resolution to move on from the KD nightmare of July 4, 2016. True fans understand that this is a building block year. We don’t expect a championship. And our support won’t waver.

Tony Heim: Unpopular opinion alert…let’s stop trying to contend this year. After watching the Warriors this year, I’ve given up hope for the next three seasons. It’s time to look towards 2020, when the cap is going to be huge and Steven Adams/Victor Oladipo will be on tiny contracts. I’m not saying trade Russ, but…

RELATED CONTENT: Round Table P1 – Create  Westbrook’s next T-shirt/bib

Chris Hughes: I think the a New Year’s resolution would be to make sure we don’t have a repeat of the KD saga from the summer. I think it’s probably OKC’s defining memory now as a franchise since the move from Seattle, and it’d kill to see us lose another one of our top players for nothing over the next seasons.

Casimir Cuffy: My New Years resolution has to go to Russ. Before the season started he was on record saying that he shot too many three pointers last year, but yet so far this season he is on pace to shatter his pace from last year. He has to stop shooting so many for real.

Rich Condon: GETTING HELP FOR RUSS. Seriously, the dude is at almost 50 percent usage rate and has around 50 percent of the team’s assists. If this keeps up, even Russ is going to crash.

Yaman Khabbaz: The Thunder’s resolution should be to improve their free throw and three-point shooting. They’ve been pretty bad on both levels compared to the rest of the NBA (27th in both FT% and 3P%) and surely they would have a better record if their shooting from the FT line and from beyond the arc improves.

Jeremy Lambert: Shoot better. And like all resolution’s, they’ll begin to shoot better for a game or two before breaking it.

Tamberlyn Richardson: Though I believe Payne and Oladipo’s return will greatly enhance the ball movement, I also believe Sam Presti needs to be proactive. With a top 10 defense and the potential to improve on offense are the Thunder one small forward away from moving up the ladder? If the answer to that question is yes, than resolve to make the move now, so the team benefits and Westbrook isn’t broken by March.  And, for Donovan, resolve to give Alex Abrines consistent playing time.

Well that completes the Christmas Day Round Table Series. The TI Team hope you enjoyed it and encourage you to enter your own thoughts in the comments section. To  catch the other 2 segments in the series

Part 1 – Creating Westbrook’s next  t-shirt/bib, projections and the triple-double march

Part 2 –  Ideal Thunder Dinner Companion, Gifting OKC roster with an economical addition

As you process the tryptophan here’s our Christmas Day Preview to get you set for tip-off.

Next: Christmas Day Round Table - Pick a Thunder Dinner companion and what's your burning question?

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And, to everyone, the Thunderous Intentions Team wish you Happy Holidays and hope you enjoy the Christmas Day games.

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