Magic vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

vs.

Orlando Magic (0-0, 0-0 road) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (0-0, 0-0 home)

TV: ESPN (Cox 29, HD 720)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 000.0 (t-1st), Magic– 000.0 (t-1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 000.0 (t-1st), Magic – 000.0 (t-1st)
Pace: Thunder – 00.0 (t-1st), Magic – 00.0 (t-1st)

View from the enemy: Magic Basketball

Basketball! Today! For serious!

The balleyhooed, hyped, anticipated 2011-12 season starts tonight for the Thunder against a high quality opponent. You may think the Magic are a bit down and out just because of all the Dwight Howard noise, but that’s a top five or six Eastern Conference team and one with the best big in all of basketball. Meaning, if you think in any way this should just be taking care of business for Oklahoma City, you’re way wrong.

Orlando coming in: The Magic went 1-1 in preseason versus the Heat.

Three Big Things

1. Perk on Dwight Howard. Can the slimmer Kendrick Perkins handle Howard in the post? If yes, the Thunder should coast. If no, the Magic could get their deadly inside-out game going and sink OKC.

2. Who checks KD? The Magic really don’t have a good defender to put on Kevin Durant. Hedo Turkoglu? Jason Richardson? Orlando could be watching Durant go off on them today.

3. The Thunder in the halfcourt. I get the feeling Oklahoma City wants to run more than usual and at times, the Thunder are relentless in transition. But beating teams like Orlando happens in the halfcourt. Can OKC execute enough to get it done?

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Season.