Thunder vs Hornets: Pregame Primer

vs.

Thunder (29-25, 12-17 road) vs. Hornets (22-30, 13-15 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream:  Click here
Radio:  WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 105.5 (15th), Hornets  – 100.2 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.3 (8th), Hornets – 103.0 (7th)

The shorthanded Thunder took care of business against the Mavericks on an extremely busy trade deadline day. The Thunder only had nine players in uniform with no centers and one point guard. Still, OKC dominated the glass behind Ibaka’s first 20-20 game and is now alone in 8th place in the West for the first time this season.

Things are clearly looking up for the Thunder, but the persistent cloud hanging over this team is Durant’s lingering sore right foot. It will keep him out of tonight’s game and his status for tomorrow night is not yet known.

With Durant out and four new players in uniform, let’s look at this one.

3 Big Things

1. New Starters. Tonight Brooks is starting Enes Kanter at Center and Kyle Singler at Small Forward in place of Durant. Many feel Kanter will start in place of Adams while he’s out and once he’s healthy. It will be interesting to watch him on the defensive end next to Ibaka. He’s never played along side a rim-protecting 4 before like Ibaka. Their spacing will be one of the most interesting parts of tonight’s game. Kanter will see former teammate Al Jefferson down low tonight for Charlotte. Should be a fun matchup on both ends.

Kyle Singler is shooting 40 percent from 3 so far this year and has been a player OKC has been after all season long, according to reports. With Brooks going with Singler tonight, it makes me wonder if he’s pegged him to start at shooting guard, replacing Roberson, when Durant is in the lineup. Just a hunch, no report here.

RELATED: Try not to swing too far one way or the other on the new guys based off tonight’s game. If they play great or if they start off slow, keep it movin’. Acclamation is a real thing, and it requires time.

2. D.J. Augustin (clap-clap-clap clap clap). If you are ranking your excitement about the acquired players and don’t have D.J. at number one then it’s possible you haven’t seen enough D.J. over the last couple of seasons.

You’ll notice a couple 3’s from Singler in that video as well. He’s lighting fast, great ball-handler, doesn’t force things that aren’t there and can shoot the 3-ball. This guy is the perfect fit for this team.

3. Russ. Do we need another paragraph about how good Westbrook has been over the last month? Didn’t think so. I’ll just leave this here.

Remember the “straight up for Rondo” days? Bogus then. Bogus now.

Thursday’s COTN: “Billy King still on hold…” – @ThabeetsGoldSpot

#InPrestiWeTrust

Tip at 6:00. Go New-Look Thunder.