OKC Thunder in the news: Westbrook shaded with #6 rank, but makes top 5 backcourt

Welcome to OKC Thunder in the news for Saturday September 16, featuring topical news on your favorite squad.

OKC Thunder in the news September 16 offerings addresses the big number six elephant in the room. Another ranking however finds Russell Westbrook and Andre Robertson in the top five club.

SI’s The Crossover ranks MVP sixth:

Opinions are meant to be debated, particularly when it comes to sports. Sure, there are stats analysts and pundits can use to make their arguments. But, when dissecting top players in a comparative fashion there is no end of numbers at our disposal. So, when Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney released the annual The Crossover top 100 list there was bound to be debate.

In fairness to these masters of the craft the selection isn’t simple. How do you compare a sub 6′ Isaiah Thomas for example to the 7’3″ Kristaps Porzingis? Moreover, these projections are based on determining what each NBA player will do in the coming season. Therefore, how much weight should be given to a player returning from injury?  Or, in the case of several top stars changing addresses, how do you determine chemistry and fit on a new squad. Conversely, several stars have lost key contributors which inevitably increases individual work loads.

The debate:

In spite of that,  to place reigning MVP Russell Westbrook at sixth  seems short sighted. After all, the OKC Thunder brought in another star talent in Paul George which conceivably improves Westbrook’s opportunities. Moreover, upgrades of Patrick Patterson and Raymond Felton should also equate to an easier path for Westbrook. Yet, Golliver and Mahoney drop Westbrook from his fifth rank last season to sixth this year.  Their reasoning to place Stephen Curry and James Harden specifically ahead is somewhat disconcerting.

In particular the manner in which James Harden and Russell Westbrook were marked is contradictory.  Westbrook gets punished for his ‘Martyr-Ball’ play style and questioned for his ability to play with another star (George). Yet, James Harden gets the benefit of the doubt that he and new teammate Chris Paul will meld seamlessly. On one hand, the Crossover team cite last year has nothing to do with the new assessments, then simultaneously give Harden extra points for last seasons production.

Stating the obvious – Dwight Howard might disagree about Harden’s ability to work with another star. Sure Chris Paul is a guard, not a center, but this might be an even more difficult transition.

Suffice to say, I could offer countless stats and reasoning on why my opinion makes more sense, but it’s still just an opinion. Yesterday, I dove into the top ten and offered further rationalization on said opinion.

More Fuel:

"Okay- let’s be clear  I’ve got a bone to pick with Ben Golliver.Obviously the ranking of Curry, Harden and Westbrook will draw the greatest debate. Golliver was asked to explain why Harden ranks ahead of Westbrook. He quickly reasons the list is indicative for where the players are projected to perform this season, not last year. Then in his next breath states the reason Harden got the nod over Westbrook is because he made his teammates better last year. Hello – Mr. Golliver – did you also look at the talent on the court Harden had to work with? Additionally, are you taking into consideration Harden and Paul are both ball dominant guards?  As a result,  the pair will  not only need to develop chemistry and rhythm, but also ascertain who’ll take the final shots in crunch time?"

Westbrook, Roberson ranked in top 5 backcourts:

The OKC Thunder impressed Bleacher Report’s Adam Fromal to place them top 5 in his NBA backcourt ranking. Like The Crossover scribes this ranking automatically presumes Harden and Paul will recognize immediate success.

More from Thunderous Intentions

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• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

Call me crazy, but aren’t Harden and Paul both used to having the ball in their hands? Further, the key area the pair will need to adapt is in clutch time. Perhaps they’ll adapt seamlessly, but an oft quoted phrase is players return to natural habits when put in pressure situations. This fact alone should offer enough reason to hold off skyrocketing the pair to the mantel of best backcourt from the get.

Here’s two excerpts from Fromal’s article:

Westbrook and Roberson:

"Let’s just get this out of the way now.Russell Westbrook, the league’s reigning MVP who’s now providing an encore to a season in which he averaged a triple-double, is quite good at the whole basketball thing. Now that James Harden has moved back to the 2, the conversation about the NBA’s best point guard should revolve around this Oklahoma City Thunder floor general and Stephen Curry."

Harden and Paul:

"If you have any concerns about how these two guards will coexist on the Houston Rockets, don’t.Seriously. Just stop it. Chris Paul and James Harden are both used to operating with the ball in their hands. They thrive when functioning as the central point of attack, probing a defense until they’re able to get to their favorite spots. For Paul, that’s a mid-range zone, where he can either continue breaking down the opposition off the dribble, knock down a pull-up jumper or find a teammate. For Harden, that’s either behind the arc or at the basket itself. Under the supervision of noted point guard whisperer/head coach Mike"

To catch the entire article and find where each team ranks check out Fromal’s full Bleacher Report article here.

OKC Thunder represented at Oklahoma State Fair:

Training camp is just around the corner and Thunder Nation members are anxious counting down the days.  But, for those who can’t wait to get their fix the Oklahoma State Fair offers an early opportunity.

Brett Dawson of News OK elaborates:

"Fans attending the Oklahoma State Fair can get a taste of Thunder flair.The Thunder Girls, Thunder Drummers and Storm Chasers will engage with fans and hand out pocket schedules this weekend. The OG&E ThunderBolt, an interactive experience that includes a photo booth, trivia station and more, will be set up at 14 Flags Plaza through Sunday."

Check out Dawson’s full article for more details on timing and scheduling.

That wraps up OKC Thunder in the news for September16. Don’t fret if you can’t make it to the fair to get your team fix, just make Thunderous Intentions a daily stop and we’ll keep you primed as we build toward season start.