Oklahoma City Thunder Press Conference

AngryBanana · Post by **AngryBanana** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 7:44 pm

Hello everyone!!! I think y’all are going to start calling me the five minute man (just like my third wife...) I am part of the pizza eating contest down at Fat Boy’s Pizza in 20 minutes!

So lets begin with last year. I felt our squad last year was finally the team I had envisioned when we traded for Eckbert all those years ago. We won 60 games and won the division. We played GREAT! Pete finally balled out and our other players were great complimentary players. We had to trade Clifton early on, but we had to. There were too many mouths to feed and he needed an opportunity to be an alpha for a team. Unfortunately, we ran into the Heat in the playoffs and did not go the way we thought. Love and learn.

In the offseason we had three picks. I really was hoping either the Pels or Rockets would fall off the cliff this season and I’d get a top 10 pick, but no go. So we drafted some more depth and built up our bench which did need some help. We then were fortunate to get Damion Williams in UFA, so I believe our team between the draft and FA is actually stronger and deeper than last year.

So for this year I plan on rolling out Pete, Nate, Eckbert and then either Jackson or basil in the two slot and then Damion or Vincente In the three spot. I think any of the above options is a great choice. I believe the division will be stronger this year, but I still am hoping for 55+ wins and hopefully a top 4 finish in the conference. My goal this season is to get past the first round and then go from there. And with that, ask all the questions while I prepare both of my bibs for the contest.

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garbageman · Post by **garbageman** » Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:48 pm

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You mention that despite your roster getting deeper, you predict less wins due to a stronger division. Which division rival do you think made the greatest gains this year? Which one is the biggest threat to you retaining the division title?

AngryBanana · Post by **AngryBanana** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:49 am

.

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AngryBanana · Post by **AngryBanana** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:50 am

garbageman wrote:Sham Smith, Bulls.com: You mention that despite your roster getting deeper, you predict less wins due to a stronger division. Which division rival do you think made the greatest gains this year? Which one is the biggest threat to you retaining the division title?

I think the Heat and Spurs always find a way to be good, just like their real life counterparts. Also, I hate to say this, but the Knicks actually managed to make a decent move or two... they MIGHT clear 30 wins this season.

I also think it will take time for me to figure out my rotation and gameplan, which will effect me as well. I used 55 as a base but I could easily see at least a 5 pt swing both ways.

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Keepit100 · Post by **Keepit100** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:02 am

Alex Sayuck - Laser Eye Basketball Magazine

You have created a winning culture in OKC over the past three seasons only to bow out in Round 1 in back-to-back years? Do you feel any extra pressure to get over the hump this year?

AngryBanana · Post by **AngryBanana** » Sat Oct 26, 2019 11:09 am

Keepit100 wrote:Alex Sayuck - Laser Eye Basketball Magazine

You have created a winning culture in OKC over the past three seasons only to bow out in Round 1 in back-to-back years? Do you feel any extra pressure to get over the hump this year?

I think we really were not a good team until last year. Two years ago we relied WAY too much on Eckbert. Last year we should have beaten the Heat but didn’t. So yeah, there is pressure for sure because we are a team that can go a long way. We do not want to be a team known for playing well in the regular season and shutting down every year in the playoffs.

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false9 · Post by **false9** » Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:26 pm

Do any of your expectations change with the Winkler/O'Connor deal?

AngryBanana · Post by **AngryBanana** » Sun Oct 27, 2019 2:56 pm

false9 wrote:Do any of your expectations change with the Winkler/O'Connor deal?

This was a very hard choice to make trading away Eckbert. He has been the pulse of this team since the day we acquired him. Our team will miss him deeply, and he will be a cherished member of the Thunder for years to come. We wish him the best moving forward.

We felt that for the long term sustainability and health of this team, we needed to get Eckbert’s contract off our books. Having Hord star at Center next to Nate, we expect a very small drop off in production. Obviously, his offense willl not be as good as Eckbert, but the defense will be great. Also, with the addition of O’Connor we believe our teams offense will be more explosive and allow Pete to show off his full tool chest.

I hope, based on these things, that this move will be a win-win for us both short and long term.

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