Thunder vs Mavs: Pregame Primer

vs.

Mavericks (45-29, 20-17 road) vs. Thunder (42-32, 27-9 home)

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 – 107.2 (11th), Mavs – 109.0 (5th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 104.6 (12th), Mavs – 105.6 (17th)

On March 16 the Thunder bounced back from a miserable start to play on of its most complete stretches of basketball since losing Serge Ibaka. The defense was swarming, and the offense had too many options to be stopped. It looked like an inevitable win over a Dallas team that had been sputtering, but Chandler Parsons and the gang had other plans.

It looked like the possibility of climbing to the 7 seed ended that night, but again, Chandler Parsons and the gang had other plans. Dallas has lost 4 of its last 5 games keeping the Thunder within striking distance to jump them in the standings with a win at home tonight.

3 Big Things

1. Rebounding

The Thunder have destroyed the Mavs on the glass recently. In their last two meetings the Thunder have out rebounded the Mavs 121-76 and one of those games was before Kanter joined the squad. It’s a clear advantage for OKC especially late in games.

Expect Dallas to send Parsons to the glass tonight on the defensive end. He’s a big body that can get off the floor quickly and spell Dirk from and Tyson Chandler down low against the #BruiseBrothers.

2. Dirk

Speaking of, he torched OKC down the stretch in the Mavs win on March 16. Brooks stuck with Kanter down the stretch and schemed to switch the high P/R, and they ate Waiters alive. The night before, the Bulls presented a similar challenge late in the game with Nikola Mirotic. After a couple failed attempts with Adams, Brooks went with Andre Roberson and again they’d switch P/R’s out on the perimeter. It was much more affective to match foot speed for foot speed, not height for height. Roberson and Westbrook lit Mirotic on the next three possessions and swung the game with this play. (cue vid to 3:22)

It will be interesting to see how Brooks plays it tonight with no Roberson. Obviously Dirk is much more of a post threat than the rookie Mirotic, so maybe Perry Jones is an option tonight if needed.

3. Guarding the 3

In the last meeting Dallas went 10-25 (40 percent) from downtown with six coming in the second half. This team uses the 3-point line to swing games and it’s haunted the Thunder for a while. OKC will have to be sharp in rotations tonight and someone, for the love of all things holy, don’t let Chandler Parsons get going (I swear no one annoys me more when they get hot than that guy).

(honorary) Sunday’s COTN: “Lol. Just got posterized by @RussWest44. Good job brother haha Good Team Win #Thunder” – Enes Kanter

#sorrynotsorry to the other deserving candidates. just too good.

Tip at 7:00. Go gain ground.