vs. 
OKC Thunder (22-6, 7-4 road) vs. Houston Rockets (16-13, 11-5 home)
TV: FSOK (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: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 112.8 (1st), Rockets– 108.3 (8th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 104.0 (11th), Rockets – 105.7 (16th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.0 (13th), Rockets – 96.5 (1st)
View from the enemy: Red 94
The first one was awkward. It was not only the first time the Thunder had to oppose James Harden, he was back in Oklahoma City too. Now that’s out of the way and while it’s still a bit weird to see No. 13 on the other side, it’s mostly about basketball tonight.
The Thunder can’t afford to be distracted with petty revenge or whatever either. The Rockets are playing good basketball lately, winning five of their last six. They’re becoming a very strong offensive team, playing at a quick pace and trying to put constant pressure on defenses.
Even with the thrilling comeback win over the Mavs, the Thunder have looked a bit shaky as of late. The loss in Minnesota and the rugged loss in Miami featured extended stale offense. The Rockets aren’t a good defensive team, so maybe there’s an opportunity to get loose a bit. Especially Russell Westbrook, who hasn’t shot the ball well at all recently. He’ll probably be pretty excited to see Jeremy Lin guarding him.
Houston coming in: The Rockets lost an offensive shootout to the Spurs last night.
Three Big Things
1. Beard. The Thunder shut down Harden the first time, holding him to a miserable 3-of-16 shooting night. They bracketed him in the pick-and-roll and hounded him every time he tried to go to the rim. He was the entire focus. The Thunder know how to defend him, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.
2. The Sanity Brothers. In the first meeting, the Thunder locked down Harden, and Jeremy Lin didn’t do anything as a backup option. But recently, Lin and Harden have played much better together, really seeming to figure out how to play off one another more instead of just taking turns.
3. Pick-and-rolling. This really has a lot to do with Harden and Lin too, but those two can make a player like Omer Asik a very dangerous offensive weapon with his rolls to the bucket. Nikola Pekovic torched OKC’s bigs in the pick-and-roll a week ago. If Perk and Ibaka aren’t keyed in, Asik could get a bunch of easy buckets.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Locks.
http://dailythunder.com/2012/12/thunder-smoke-the-rockets-a-second-time-124-94/#respond
You ever watch Boston and just think, how did we lose to these guys?
@Old Man Game Not impossible to understand...
They have a true backup point guard (we dont)
They have real rebounding big men (we dont)
That's all it takes.
We've played Lamb both times we've played the Rockets this year late in the game, and he's hit a three both times. Scott Brooks trolling Rockets fans heavy.
McHale on the excuse of Rockets playing 4 games in 5 nights: "We're not laying brick in 110 degree heat. We're playing basketball."
I love McHale.
there's an alternate ending to KD's sprint commercial where he just sexurizes the wife instead
@RRRWHATEVER You mean after cleaning the gutters he snakes her drains?
@Old Man Game right in front of the house while the neighbors watch... FYI, he does he free throw line shake move in the sack
@Old Man Game where do you think that shake move came from? thought it was obvious...
@RRRWHATEVER FYI TMI
Only saw the first half of the game and wasn't on DT at all....however I count two "hahahhahha's" by OkcBaby
@OBoy Jones III s/he hasn't been on since maynor looked like trash
@Lost Ones she was talking trash and then Reggie had that sick behind the back dribble to a two hand dunk breakaway and...not a word since.
Warriors have three rookies in their rotation too.
@justin_mia Lamb IMO could be intergrated at Clay Thompson's pace
@RRRWHATEVER @justin_mia Klay Thompson is basically a poor man's Jeremy Lamb.
@OBoy Jones III @RRRWHATEVER @justin_mia He doesn't have mean runner so...
@Sigmund @RRRWHATEVER @justin_mia Reggie Miller is a poor man's Lamb
@Sigmund @RRRWHATEVER @justin_mia lol
@justin_mia Think one of the smartest things they did was trade Ellis.
Could this Warriors team contend if they had Bogut healthy? Still not 100% convinced they are this good but wow.
@justin_mia I dunno... havent seen enough of bogut to be sure of what he can contribute/how he would mesh... always injured
@RRRWHATEVER @justin_mia Bogut used be a Thunder killer.
The "good" old days.
@justin_mia When shooters are hot anyone can be good?
i dont know about you guys but i am really enjoying watching golden state
@dead13mau5 I like how they are defending, they used to suck at D for decades.
@dead13mau5 Maybe we can adopt GS as our "little brother" team. We can cheer for them when they aren't playing the Thunder.
@Tronchaser that's a good idea man!!!
@Tronchaser @dead13mau5 How many here remember the old warriors team with Baron Davis?
@ThunderWins @Tronchaser @dead13mau5 everyone i would assume... it was only like 5 years ago
@ThunderWins @Tronchaser @dead13mau5 You can't say 'the old warriors team' and not mean Run TMC.
I used to go watch them in the 70s growing up there
@ThunderWins @Tronchaser @dead13mau5 hard to forget baron davis baptizing AK47
@ThunderWins @Tronchaser @dead13mau5 2007 playoffs against Dallas. Great series.
I was listening on the radio, and Pinto really poo-pooed the foul on Harden's 3 point attempt by KD. what did you guys see?
@CDSpark It was ref charity. Harden kind of stuck a foot out and shot unhindered. But that man - sticking out , and KD present in the building and all ...
@CDSpark It was a FLOP
PJ almost has almost as many wins as he did as the Thunder coach. He's now 2-0 with the Nets.
Why are our starters better bench celebrators? C'mon bench step it up we need some hype
@AIaska hasheem is pretty good.
@Legendary_Dork yeah he's the only one. And was it lamb who did the belly slide one time?
@AIaska THATS IT! presti needs to build robots for bench celebrations. NOW THATS BIG! :D
@Legendary_Dork We have the technology we can rebuild it!
@AIaska look man, just like the harden trade, when we got rid of nate, cole, and ivey, the bench mob died, its never coming back
#poursoneformyhomies~!
@Legendary_Dork lol that was awesome. But overall the bench needs to step it up
@AIaska yep that was lamb that hit the deck
Miami actually had like a 9 point lead for a while in the 3rd
@Crownme lebron sucks. ( just trolling)
Serg bein' Serg http://bit.ly/WcFyqy
@BallSoHard tonight was just night of the gifs~