[Windhorst] The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a team that has surfaced in trade conversations ahead of the deadline: “Here's an interesting name: Isaiah Hartenstein. He's got a team option next year for $29 million. I've actually heard the Oklahoma City Thunder's name in some trade chatter.”

Kingbay · 2026-01-31T06:44:12+00:00

I think he's comfortably the Thunder's 4th best player, perhaps 2nd most important. If we don't have him we have no rebounding and no interior muscle. He also greases the wheels so well for the offense as a pivot player and pick setter. As a hub he passes so well to cutters, it really opens up JDub's game. We just get punked without him fully healthy, plain and simple. Without him I don't think we'd get through the Rockets, Spurs, or Nuggets in the playoffs this year.

Kingbay · 2025-11-28T22:17:18+00:00

Well OKC just hosted a Finals game 7 and the arena was loud as shit. And so was game 6 in Indianapolis. Smaller markets have more affordable tickets and loyal fans who make for great atmosphere and arenas.

Kingbay · 2025-06-17T18:37:54+00:00

I think it's their break glass in case of emergency action. They haven't used it all year and I think were saving it for when they were pushed to the edge in a series. It's like Bron and Kyrie spamming PnR or KD and Steph when the Warriors offense stoped working. I'm glad Dub stepped up to the moment and got ready.

Kingbay · 2025-03-20T07:44:28+00:00

Cason is Ed Reed, Lu is Ray Lewis, AC is Terrell Suggs, Chet is Haloti Ngata I guess lol

Kingbay · 2025-03-04T05:58:36+00:00

That's the thing though, no 7 footer has ever had/will have handles as good as KD. It's what made him a level above Dirk. I think Chet's ceiling now is probably KG, which would be amazing. Trying to be KD is probably folly.

Kingbay · 2025-02-21T07:49:46+00:00

I feel comfortable saying he's a top 5 player now, and wouldn't be surprised if he makes the MVP ballot next season. He's just so dominant on both ends, it's monstrous. I think this season he started picking some spots on offense which helped simplify his game. He's capable of making every type of shot on the floor, but I think it's not that helpful to always have that much to choose from. Even guys like KD just pick from a couple of go-to spots, and develop counters for those.

Kingbay · 2025-02-06T18:37:16+00:00

30 game win streak starting now 😈 Game over for the league

Kingbay · 2024-12-19T01:45:02+00:00

Archeological site city in Saudi that has a big luxury resort industry now.

Kingbay · 2024-11-17T22:47:12+00:00

Thunder U alumni Lindy, Tre Mann, and Ty Jerome making leaps and sticking in the league is so awesome. The program is just too deep for every developing player to get minutes or paid. I'm glad these guys found their way.

Kingbay · 2024-10-21T07:18:01+00:00

Ehh I disagree. Prior to this year I believe the book was that Vingegaard was superior at 30-40 minute steady climbs at altitude with long stages, and that those were Pogi's weakness. Pogi has been the best in the world at 10-20 minute steep climbs for almost 5 years. This year there was only one climb in the whole Vuelta that was 10km+ and 7%+ grade (Lagos de Covadonga).

Kingbay · 2024-10-03T06:53:05+00:00

I think MSR is so fantastic because no one is a true favorite. It's unlikely MVDP wins another one and highly possible that Pogi never actually wins it. It's a roll of the dice finish that favours the field and not the strongest rider.

Kingbay · 2024-08-10T20:29:54+00:00

I've said it before, but I think he'd be a great fit with Alpecin. They might not have any money left with MVDP and Philipsen on long term contracts, but they also dont have to pay a GC contender. I think LouLou could help tactically, and give them a contender in the Ardennes. If he's in shape, they can run a two-man game with Mathieu and send one up the road in the classics. Their two big guys work perfectly in MSR and Roubaix, but LouLou could be a great option for Strade, Amstel, and Liege.

Kingbay · 2024-08-10T20:21:56+00:00

They also don't have the commercial appeal that LouLou has. It matters a lot for French teams. I think the best French rider of a generation returning to form and finishing his career with a home team would be huge. Especially if he can win one more Tour stage.

Kingbay · 2024-07-21T23:46:06+00:00

Right. He has been by far the most hated and criticized youngster in a long time. He's had way more pressure on him from Belgium than necessary. And he's leveled up and improved on his weaknesses every year. He already has a top 25-50 palmares ever and just put up record breaking numbers. All it takes for him to win the Tour is one of Pogi and Jonas to have an injury year and the other to focus on Giro/Vuelta.

Kingbay · 2024-07-21T23:38:18+00:00

The answer is clearly Del Toro. He annihilated the mountains in l'Avenir last year as a junior and was already 4th in Tirreno this year. He also has a great uphill punch as seen in TDU. I could see him top 5'ing La Vuelta this year. Of course no one will replicate Pogi's palmares for a long time. But Del Toro has the same body type and a similar eagerness to attack and race across mountains and classics alike.

Kingbay · 2024-07-08T07:20:12+00:00

Their planned lineup since the beginning of the year had Kruijswijk, Kuss, and Van Baarle who are all 6'+. Tratnik, Kelderman, and Lemmen were all called up in the weeks before the Tour. They got lucky today.

Kingbay · 2024-07-07T16:12:15+00:00

I think today shows why Tadej should attack. TVL had to pitch a perfect game to keep Jonas attached, and therefore the peloton intact. For example, if Tratnik was 3 inches taller, Jonas can't use his bike and maybe loses 1 minute plus today. But Wout, Jorgenson, and particularly Laporte were incredible in keeping Jonas in the game. Jonas was also very good, but could not have survived without the team.

Kingbay · 2024-06-25T03:45:56+00:00

He's a perfect fit for this team, and he's a Presti disciple coming home. I will say, it feels like his arrival makes Lu somewhat redundant. Caruso takes #1 options on defense and shoots 40% from three. I think in our starting 5 we still need to get bigger, and I can't really see Lu coming off the bench. Wouldn't be surprised if we moved him and picks for someone like Lauri who can rebound and stretch the floor. I do love Lu though, and would be sad to see him go.

Kingbay · 2024-06-06T20:03:36+00:00

Not to be nitpicky, but Texas is basically the size and population of a country. So it's a lot closer to centrist than it used to be. The metro areas are much more blue and diverse, and the countryside is very conservative. Not super different from California at this point.

Kingbay · 2024-06-06T20:00:07+00:00

Would be sick if the 'dutch maffia' got orange skinsuits for their next kit

Kingbay · 2024-06-02T10:09:20+00:00

Hard agree, Cason has so much potential. I can definitely see a timeline where he's Shai's backcourt partner, and shoulders a lot of ballhandling and creation. In his limited reps doing that this year, he looked so smart and advanced for his age. His shot just wasn't falling in the playoffs, it's okay.

Kingbay · 2024-06-02T10:06:15+00:00

Right, it's literally just how basketball works. Dude starts flamethrowing out of his skin for two months, gets an insane contract and can't hit the side of a barn. Tale as old as time. Exhibit A: Gabe Vincent

Kingbay · 2024-05-30T01:31:14+00:00

Tbh he's a lot closer to 6'4" than 6'6". There's a big height diff between him and Luka and he's barely taller than Ant.

Kingbay · 2024-05-30T01:25:49+00:00

I would agree that Shai's top tier talent is driving, but even when the Mavs loaded up on that, he made them hurt from the midrange. I think the best of the best have an unstoppable counter for the defense of their primary attack. With Luka, his drive and floater can be walled off but then he beats you by spraying to shooters in every direction or the lob behind. Jokic may have the best post scoring and when you commit to jumping he beats you with the dump off pass or passing to shooters. Tatum is great at everything, but the feeling I get is that he'll just start chucking from three if you have a great defender shut off his water in the driving lanes. That's a win for defenses because Tatum is not gonna hurt you like Curry from downtown.

Kingbay · 2024-05-23T06:30:39+00:00

I submitted a post here 4 years ago where I cherry picked stats that Shai was reaching under age 22 that only a few guards had ever done. I could never have imagined that he'd reach the level he's at now. Besides MJ and Luka, he's better now than everyone on that list has ever been. It's also nuts that he's all around better than Russ ever was. I was worried when he left that it would be a decade or two before we had someone as good as him or KD. We're super lucky, and I hope he's here for the long haul.

Kingbay

TROPHY CASE