Thunder at Bucks: Pre-game primer

vs.

Thunder (22-57, 7-31 road) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (32-47, 20-19 home)

TV: KSBI (Cox 15)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)
Time: 7:30 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder: 102.8 (30th), Milwaukee: 106.5 (23rd)
Defensive Rating: Thunder: 109.5 (20th), Milwaukee: 108.1 (15th)
Pace:Thunder: 93.5 (8th), Milwaukee: 92.5 (11th)

Well it’s been a long time. Opened the season with these guys and now the third to last game. And with that much space between, things change. A lot.

There’s just five players on OKC’s roster that are still receiving playing from that Oct. 29th game. Milwaukee’s starting lineup has been shifted around, Andrew Bogut is hurt and so is Michael Redd. So it’s kind of sort of hard to use the last meeting as any sort of barometer.

One thing that did happen in that first game was that the Bucks abused OKC on the inside. They outrebounded the Thunder 43-35 and they scored over half their points in the paint. I actually remember thinking after that game, “Man Chris Wilcox needs more playing time. He’s the only guy that did anything.” Because that’s true. He led OKC with 13, Kevin Durant had just 12 and just four Thunders were in double-figures. It was just a bad game.

I’m sure OKC is going to be feeling the jello legs again after last night’s rugby game as a lot of players were banged up. Nick Collison didn’t play last night, Thabo Sefolosha left and only logged 12 minutes after hurting his hand (I think) and other guys got bumped and bruised. And with the Bucks having lost nine of 10, I’m sure they’re excited about the possibility of getting off the schnide. After making a meager push the Bucks are out of the playoff hunt and have lost four in a row including five straight at home.

(Just a note: With last night’s game, the Thunder dropped to an offensive ratings of 102.8, which now ranks them 30th our 30 teams. You know, last place.)

You know what I’d like to see though, other than the obvious? I want to see KD explode for 40 again. It hasn’t happened since he’s been back from his ankle injury and it’s a thing of beauty when he gets going. I dont’ know why, but I’d almost enjoy seeing 44 points in 16-25 shooting more than a win. Hey, I said almost.

Tip is at 7:30 CST. Go road team.