Thunder vs. Sixers: Pregame Primer

vs.

OKC Thunder (9-4, 3-2 road) at Philadelphia 76ers (7-5, 4-3 home)

TV: FS OK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 6:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 109.6 (4th), Sixers– 98.7 (28th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.9 (14th), Sixers – 99.8 (2nd)
Pace: Thunder – 93.0 (8th), Sixers – 91.1 (25th)

View from the enemy: Philadunkia

These are the type of games the Thunder have built a reputation on. The kind that has made them an elite bunch the past few seasons. Lose an ugly one the night before but immediately wash it away with a good bounce back win on the road.

The 76ers aren’t hitting the kind of level that was expected of them, but they are without key players and they are still winning games. Jrue Holiday is extremely underrated, Thaddeus Young’s versatility will limit Scott Brooks’ in forcing matchups and with Nick Young and Jason Richardson, they can get warm and provide enough scoring.

Because that’s the issue for the 76ers — points. They’ve defended wonderfully this season, but they just can’t seem to find enough offense. With the Thunder playing excellent defense in spurts, but remaining mostly inconsistent on that end, this could be a pretty good test, especially after Friday’s rough loss.

Philadelphia coming in: The 76ers lost Wednesday to the Cavs.

Three Big Things

1. Bench. The 76ers don’t have a great bench, but it’s solid. Spencer Hawes, Nick Young, Royal Ivey (!), Dorell Wright — it’s a decent group. The Thunder’s is better, or at least it should be. The Thunder bench hasn’t really won any games yet, but they sure have lost a few. I still think it’s a pretty good unit, but just woefully inconsistent. As much as the Thunder need to bounce back, the bench needs it more.

2. K-Mart. Speaking of the bench and bouncing back, Kevin Martin. He played his worst game in a Thunder uniform and was so uninvolved that Brooks benched him the last five minutes in favor of Kendrick Perkins. Ouch.

3. Andrew Bynum’s hair. What will it look like tonight? I can’t wait to find out.

Tip at 6:00 CT. Go Andrew Bynum’s Hair.