Nuggets vs. Thunder Pregame Primer

vs.

Nuggets (4-5, 1-3 road) vs. Thunder (6-3, 3-0 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1430 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 105.3 (12th), Nuggets– 105.3 (11th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.1 (9th), Nuggets – 106.4 (23rd)
Pace: Thunder – 96.7 (9th), Nuggets – 98.2 (4th)

The Thunder kick off their longest home stand of the year against an average Nuggets team, and really, the plan here is to not blow this thing before it even starts. Going 4-2 on the homestand would be good, going 5-1 would be great. going 6-0 would be tremendous. Anything less feels like a failure and if you start 0-1 and drop one to one of the two teams you absolutely should be beating at home, you’re not just behind the eight-ball, you’re not even within sight of it.

Denver coming in: Lost the Rockets on Saturday

Three Big Things

1. Transition. The Nuggets still like to run, landing fourth in possessions per game. Ty Lawson is the engine and if the Nuggets can break and create quick points, most of them coming in the paint, they get tough to guard. But pressure them on the boards, get back and match up and they’re not going to break you down in the halfcourt too much.

2. Offensive rebounding. Serge Ibaka has been on a tear lately, but like it or not, Kenneth Faried has kicked his butt pretty good the last few matchups, primarily on the glass. Faried just out-energies Ibaka, which is something that I think catches him off guard. But Ibaka seems to be committed to the glass and if he stays focused and keys in on his positioning, he should be fine. And thereby, so should the Thunder.

3. Play decent. This again. Just do the things you’re good at moderately well, and everything should be no problem.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Homestand.