Thunder at Suns: Pregame Primer

vs.

OKC Thunder (44-17, 19-11 road) at Phoenix Suns (32-29, 18-11 home)

TV: FS OK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 9:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 109.7 (1st), Suns– 106.5 (7th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.0 (10th), Suns – 106.1 (20th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (6th), Suns – 92.4 (9th)

View from the enemy: Valley of the Suns

Does it seem like I’ve been saying that this game is needed as a bounce back quite a lot recently? It probably does, because I have. The Thunder have lost most of their games in the last month, which means there have been lots of unfortunate opportunities to need to bounce back with a win. Well, another one is here and it’s in Phoenix against a desperately desperate Suns team. Phoenix coming in: The Suns played on Monday whipping the Blazers.

Three Big Things

1. Did I say they need to bounce back? They need to bounce back.

2. No Grant Hill. That has to make KD relatively happy. Hill has been one of the better defenders on Durant the past couple seasons and with KD struggling against the Clippers, it will be nice to get a break from having a solid defender on him. Phoenix will likely throw Jared Dudley and Josh Childress Durant’s way, which is much better than Hill’s bulldog style.

3. Good vibes. Not just in bouncing back, but there’s something to be said for playing well and feeling good. The Thunder are doing those things, but a tad erratically. If they have been coasting to the playoffs — which I kind of think they have — now’s a time to turn it back on for the final five games and start playing well again.

Tip at 9:00 CT. Go Play Better.