OKC Thunder playoff roundtable part 2: Awards, ARob and predictions
The Thunderous Intentions annual OKC Thunder playoff roundtable is back. Part two features award talk, Andre Roberson‘s future and so much more.
The annual Thunderous Intentions OKC Thunder playoff roundtable is back. Part one ran earlier today and this second part features awards talk, the future of Andre Roberson, and what the fallout will be should the team fail to get out of the first round.
As such a few scribes from the Thunderous Intentions writing team congregated to answer ten burning questions entering the postseason. Here’s the second group of five questions some of the Thunderous Intentions writing team tackled.
Future tweaks barring a deep playoff run?
If the Thunder fails to reach the conference finals what specific area of the team would you change?
Sinjin Snopczynski: If the Thunder miss the conference finals, they shouldn’t change anything drastically. The core of Westbrook, George, Adams, and the now sensational Jerami Grant should give fans hope that the Thunder can only improve on this year’s successes. They definitely need to add more shooting, however, and depending on what happens with Nerlens Noel in free agency, they may need to find a new backup center as well.
Tailor Finney: I wouldn’t necessarily say a trade needs to be made, though we could always benefit. I think our chemistry is at a high point and we shouldn’t mess with that. Consistent rotations are most important to me, which could come with a coaching change. We need a more consistent back-up Center, we’ve seen Adams’ stamina struggle a bit in the bottom half of this season and that was worrisome.
Alex Mcewen: If Sam Presti wants the Thunder to be a shooting team, he must bring in shooters. If he will not, or cannot attain more shooting, they should ditch the current philosophy and begin to utilize their strengths.
Rylan Stiles: I think Steven Adams is really the only move you can trade if you are going to make one. It is clear that he is a great number four option, but the problem is OKC needs that number three option. With the idea of shipping off the beloved big man for a Bradley Beal or someone who can be that number three option, hit tough shots, and even create some so it is not all on Westbrook and George.
Steven Maichak: There are no roster changes needed, and I really mean that. The Thunder have all the pieces they need to be championship contenders for several years into the future. They just need Terrance Ferguson to become a true 3-point sniper and their supporting cast in Nerlens Noel, Abdel Nader, Markieff Morris, etc. to step up their game another few clicks.
Tamberlyn Richardson: Following practice, OKC Thunder fans learned Paul George‘s shoulder injury could keep him out of Game 1. That changes the dynamics of this question. In part one I alluded to getting the young talent more in season run. Granted toiling away in the West is a nightly harrowing adventure which often doesn’t allow for experimenting or patience.
But, with the payroll of the OKC Thunder if they don’t develop their existing assets the stars will always be forced into doing more. Sam Presti and Billy Donovan need to take a page out of the Raptors, Nets and Kings playbooks and commit to these youngsters because in my humble opinion that is where the next stage of growth for the OKC Thunder will come from.