Thunder vs Suns: Pregame Primer
vs.
Suns (12-12, 6-6 road) vs. Thunder (10-13, 6-5 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 – 101.8 (24th), Suns – 107.8 (11th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.3 (6th), Suns – 106.3 (16th)
The Thunder has now won five straight and seven of its last eight games going back to Nov. 26 when the Thunder took down Utah, without the team’s two best players.
Oklahoma City took care of the Timberwolves on Friday night on the road in a game that looked all but over after the first quarter. This win, and Phoenix’s loss to Detroit has pulled the Thunder within a game and a half of 8th place out West — currently held by Phoenix.
Tonight the Thunder can climb to just a half-game back of Phoenix with a win, putting them firmly in the playoff picture before Christmas day with a big week in front of them — talk about ahead of schedule.
The Matchup
The Phoenix Suns are FAST. Ranking in the top-five in pace, the Suns like to get the ball up and down the floor with super athletic lineups and a stable of guards that fuel the entire operation. Fortunately for the Thunder, Goran Dragic will not be able to go tonight due to back spasms. With Westbrook occupying Eric Bledsoe, it will be interesting to see how Reggie/Robes/Lamb/Morrow do in their respective time on Gerald Green and Isaiah Thomas.
Tonight Gerald Green will get the start in Dragic’s place. On March 6, Gerald Green scored a career-high 41 in Phoenix’s win over Oklahoma City — Happy Birthday to me — and is off to another productive year off the bench (14/2/2). These guards are going to keep the pressure on the starting unit and bench players all night long. Any one of these players can bury an opponent on any given night.
Phoenix plays a significant amount of ‘small’ ball, which means Brooks will have some decisions to make whether to match small for small, or stay big and try and dictate the Suns’ rotations. Roberson, 6’7, will likely start defending Green and Durant guarding Marcus Morris. Reggie Jackson could see even more time with Russell Westbrook if Brooks opts to go small, putting him on Thomas. How he defends tonight feels like it could be the swinging factor.
Another dynamic to tonight’s game is Durant vs. fellow Longhorn P.J. Tucker. Tucker has seen most of his work this year at power forward, but has had some success against KD. Speaking of Durant, he looks more and more like himself with each game he plays, and tonight will test that foot unlike any other game he’s played so far. His minutes restriction has been extended, Brooks said pregame, expected to be around a 35-minute limit.
Russell Westbrook put together another masterpiece on Friday night, ending with 34 points, six assists and six rebounds. This matchup tonight with Eric Bledsoe will be another great challenge for Russ on both ends. Whichever team can get the better of the other’s guards is likely going to win tonight’s game. Russell, Reggie, Jeremy, Anthony and Robes get my vote.
Friday’s COTN: “Mo Williams = John Legend” – @The Pace-Adjusted Vindication of Lamb
AAAAAALLLLL OF MEEEEEEE…
Tip at 6:00 CT. Go six straight.