Thunder vs Bulls: Pregame Primer

vs.

Thunder (3-2, 1-1 road) vs. Bulls (3-2, 2-0 home)

TV: TNT
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 – 110.1 (2nd), Bulls – 100.0 (21st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 105.7 (22nd), Bulls – 101.4 (15th)

5-20. That’s what the Thunder shot from the field in the fourth quarter. Couple that with mismanaged lineups and poor perimeter defense and you’ve cooked up a recipe for blowing an eight point lead over the last 5:13.

It was a very odd, matter of fact-yet anticlimactic end to a game that OKC controlled the majority of. Despite back-to-back losses, this is no time to panic (it’s true). The Thunder offense is humming, and yes they didn’t close the deal last night, but consider the looks deep in the paint that they were consistently getting against a scrappy Toronto defense.

Tonight the Thunder get right back on the floor to correct very correctable mistakes against a Bulls team coming off a 25-point loss to the Hornets on Tuesday night. Should be a good one.

3 Big Things

1. Perimeter Defense

The Bulls are also 5 games into the installation of a new offense, much like the Thunder, looking to create movement and space. When it’s run well, players like Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Tony Snell have lanes to penetrate putting a lot of pressure on wing defenders to stay sharp in rotation. We’ll see how well the Thunder can affect passing lanes and cut off opportunities for Chicago to force action inside.

2. 3-Point Shooting

The Thunder as a team is shooting 39 percent from beyond the arc — which ranks third in the NBA. This is the first time the Thunder have cracked the top 10 in this category since the 2012-2013 season. The Bulls rank fifth in the league with a team average of 38 percent. Both teams are looking to spread things out more and find open shooters, so if you’re looking for a statistical indicator for this game — here ya go.

3. 4th Quarter Offense

There was a lot of talk about shot creation at the end of last night’s loss. Honestly? I thought the Thunder just missed shots that had been falling through the first three quarters. The ball moved on a handful of possessions, but found its way to Dion for a 3, or to Kanter for a contested 18-footer. We’ll see if tonight, Anthony Morrow can find some minutes, let’s say, in the first 36 that would afford him an ounce of rhythm when the team needs his shooting, and the threat of it, down the stretch.

ps: I’m floored that in 2015’s NBA this team drags its feet on playing one of the league’s most lethal shooters.

Wednesday’s COTN: “Why does Singler not have a German accent like Seinfeld?” – @KetelOne

Welcome back to the winner’s circle, KO.

Tip at 7:00. Go 4-2.