Thunder vs. Clippers: Pregame Primer
vs.
Thunder (0-1, 0-1 road) vs. Clippers (0-0, 0-0 home)
TV: TNT
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 9:30 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 99.1 (21st), Clippers – o0.0 (30th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 118.1 (25th), Clippers – 00.0 (30th)
The Clippers feel like the team ready to storm out of the gates this season, and will look to take care of ‘Thunder U’ tonight at the Staples Center. Brutal, I know. The Thunder, at full strength, was going to be challenged by this initial back-to-back, but this decimated roster is looking up at Everest tonight.
Oklahoma City hung in last night against Portland – even led after three quarters! If we’re being honest, it may be the most pleasant 17-point loss in franchise history. Scott Brooks deserves a lot credit for having this team ready with virtually no time to prepare with the available group. Lance Thomas, that’s right, Lance Thomas looked pretty nice last night and finished as the team’s 2nd leading scorer with 14 points.
DT Quote of the night: “We’ve gotta trade Reggie to have room to re-sign Lance!”
In other news, Russell Westbrook is profoundly good. Per El Capitàn, Royce, Westbrook’s usage rate last night was a career-high 48.5 percent. At one point last night he had scored 24 points on 18 shooting possessions without a single three pointer. If it was good, and happening to the Thunder, Russell Westbrook had something to do with it.
Wednesday night it was Lillard; tonight it’s Chris Paul. The same Chris Paul that Westbrook outplayed for a six game playoff series – the same Chris Paul that was recently dubbed the number two player on ESPN’s #NBARank – the same Chris Paul that is revered as the best point guard in the game although Russell, and Scott Brooks, feel otherwise. Needless to say, tonight’s point guard match up should be a dandy.
3 Big Things
1. Rebounding. Oklahoma City struggled to secure boards at times last night giving up 13 offensive rebounds to Portland. Tonight the Thunder goes up against bigger, more athletic bodies in Deandre Jordan and Blake Griffin. Limiting a team as offensively gifted as the Clippers to a single shot on offense is going to be crucial. Adams and Ibaka both had trouble holding on to the ball when rebounds were in their area – maybe first game jitters – but something to keep an eye on tonight.
2. Shooting. Ibaka and Collison made valiant efforts from three but only connected on 1 for 6 combined. As a team the Thunder shot 2-16 (12.5 percent). oof. This group isn’t going to light it up from deep by any means, but having a few more fall will go a long way.
3. Serge Ibaka. 10 points, eight boards, four blocks can get the job done when this team has all its horses. But Serge has to play better on both ends to give Westbrook some semblance of help out there. Serge played really well defensively against Blake Griffin in the playoff series back in May. What the Thunder need is Serge to get more involved against this team offensively and make Griffin work on the defensive end.
Tip at 9:30 CT. Go speedy recoveries.
