Thunder vs Blazers: Pregame Primer
vs.
Blazers (51-29, 19-20 road) vs. Thunder (43-37, 28-12 home)
TV: NBA TV/FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 107.4 (11th), Blazers – 108.5 (8th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 105.4 (15th), Blazers – 103.6 (9th)
“48 minutes of Pride”
That’s what reads on the white board inside the Thunder locker room. It comes down to a must-win in game 81 for a shot at the playoffs in game 82.
Scott Brooks summed it up pregame: “If there’s a must-win in an 82-game season, it’s tonight.”
At 7pm last night: Thunder fall to the Pacers – lose Russell Westbrook to suspension – Pelicans lead the Rockets at halftime.
It was essentially game, set and match. But at 7pm tonight, the Thunder are tied with the Pelicans, and will have Russell Westbrook in the lineup tonight after his 16 technical of the season was rescinded today by the league.
Add to that, Lamarcus Aldridge AND Arron Afflalo are out tonight with injuries. That means a lot of C.J. McCollum, Alonzo Gee and Steve Blake minutes. Of course, Damian Lillard and Nic Batum are still in the lineup and will be key matchups for Roberson and Westbrook tonight.
Lillard vs Westbrook is always a good time, but tonight Russ has to take it a step further. In games with his back against the wall, Russ has trended well. He played well in game 6 and 7 against Memphis. Saved OKC in game 5 against LAC, and in a loss against the Spurs in Game 6 played well.
Tonight, as rough as it is to accept given that it’s not even the playoffs yet, is the next chapter in this one. Westbrook had a career night last night despite the loss, and will need to dig deep for what will be required to get this one.
Adams and Kanter were pretty poor last night. If not for Collison, that game would’ve been a wrap much earlier. Putting a beat up Steven Adams on mobile 4’s is just not going to work and I don’t know why Brooks is staying with it. They can’t stay out of foul trouble, and Kanter is getting torched. If Portland plays extended minutes with Joel Freeland (and they will), Collison has to get starter-esque minutes.
Sunday’s COTN: “Took Brian Davis seven years to learn Russell rhymes with Hustle” @Alaska
I thought the same thing. How has that never happened before? Even by coincidence?
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go 48 minutes of Pride.
