Thunder vs Pelicans: Pregame Primer

vs.

Pelicans (26-23, 9-16 road) vs. Thunder (25-24, 14-7 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 – 104.3 (18th), Pelicans  – 108.9 (7th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.1 (9th), Pelicans – 107.7 (24th)

If you’ve seen Caddyshack II or The Hangover 2 then you know all too well how bad sequels can be. Or what about ‘goth’ Tobey McGuire in Spiderman 3? Oof. Thankfully not all sequels are bad. Father of the Bride II, Home Alone 2 (that cheese pizza-limo-toy store scene >) and Toy Story 3 (winner of 2 Academy Awards) were all really, really good.

Tonight is the premier of Thunder vs. Pelicans II, and sources say a prominent new character named Kevin Durant is being introduced. Whether this sequel is a success in the eyes of Thunder fans, The Academy, is to be determined.

3 Big Things

1. Anthony Davis. Scott Brooks made a significant adjustment in Part 1 (can I shed the movie theme now? Whew, thank you guys. I’m exhausted). Steven Adams started out matched up with Davis and it turned out to be a pretty affective move. Both Adams and Perkins made the game much tougher and more physical than in previous games against Serge Ibaka. Ibaka spent the majority of the night chasing Ryan Anderson around the perimeter. With Durant playing, small lineups will be used a lot more and it will be interesting to see which big Brooks plays against AD.

2. KD. Slim is back tonight and it sounds like he’s had the requisite rest to be back for good. He admitted that against Memphis he was playing through substantial pain, but sitting out the last two games gave him time to heal. Durant will start on either Dante Cunningham or Ryan Anderson — which ever one starts.

Westbrook was fantastic on the defensive end on Wednesday, and Durant needs to come out with the same intensity. The Peake, for years, has been a very educated crowd. They know the severity of the Thunder’s situation. I say that to say, it’s not going to take much to get them going tonight. KD and Russ can exploit that by forcing the issue on the defensive end from the tip.

3. The 2-guard. Anyone else want to see Dion Waiters get the start over Roberson tonight? It has its flaws in theory, but uh… starting Roberson has its flaws in application. Both Waiters and Morrow have earned a shot and tonight seems like a great time to deploy some extra firepower early.

Friday’s COTN: “Aren’t we undefeated when Dion starts?” – @Tvaddic

I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’.

Tip at 7:00. Go Part II.

Ryan Woods captains the Pregame Primer ship for DT. Follow him on twitter here.