Thunder at Kings: Pregame Primer
vs. 
Sacramento Kings (3-4, 2-1 home) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3, 1-1 road)
TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, Tulsa Cox 27, HD 722; DirectTV 679, AT&T U-Verse 753)
Stream: Click Here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 9:00 CST
View from the enemy: Cowbell Kingdom
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 102.0 (23rd), Kings – 110.0 (7th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 97.2 (4th), Kings – 112.4 (27th)
Pace: Thunder – 90.1 (27th), Kings – 93.6 (12th)
After starting 0-3 and one of those losses at the hands of the Thunder, the Kings are trying to win a third straight tonight. Granted, the last win was against the lowly Warriors, but winning in Salt Lake City is nothing to dismiss. The Kings are improving and are already a better team than what Oklahoma City saw opening night.
And now there’s no Kevin Martin, the only reason Sacramento was even remotely close in the first meeting. And you know what? That scares me.
Because Sacto has been playing better WITHOUT Martin. And it’s not some “Oh, is the Thunder better without Durant?” bullcrap. It’s that the team is relying more on everyone, instead of hoping Martin scores 40. Tyreke Evans is blossoming. Omri Casspi is becoming a deadly bench player. And the addition of Ime Udoka helps them on the perimeter. These guys are better and this one is on the road. On paper, it looks promising. But the Kings aren’t some pushover.
Now Sacramento isn’t a good team or anything – yet – but they’ve got pieces to make you sweat. Especially for a team like the Thunder that while good, isn’t at the place where you can pencil in wins against even lackluster opponents.
THE MATCHUPS
Not too much has changed since the first meeting. Oh wait. Check that. In just two weeks, A LOT has changed. As mentioned, Martin is out. But also, starting small forward Desmond Mason is gone and now Ime Udoka is in his place. Plus the fact Evans is playing so well.
But clearly, the matchups still favor OKC, I have to think. Westbrook is an ideal defender for Evans because Westbrook pressures constantly. Russ isn’t going to ease of and let Evans drive. Plus, Westbrook’s quick hands and good instincts will probably frustrate the rookie and offensively, Russ might get Evans in foul trouble. But Evans will play both the point and shooting guard tonight, so Thabo will have a crack at him too. And Beno Udrih versus Westbrook isn’t all that terrifying.
On the block, Jeff Green abused Jason Thompson and Nenad Krstic had his way with Spencer Hawes and Sean May. I’d imagine things won’t change too much. Thompson got in foul trouble early the first meeting and never had a chance to try and match Green. But that’s the thing – Uncle Jeff can get opposing fours in foul trouble easily because of his inside-out ability and also because he can put it on the floor.
Udoka will probably get the majority of the minutes on KD, even though Andres Nocioni is technically the starter. Donte Greene will get some minutes too and he may be the most athletic player on the King roster, Evans included.
This one feels a bit like a toss up to me. Riding high off a beat down of the Magic, you’d hope OKC would bring in some serious momentum. But then again, the Kings are feeling pretty good about themselves too. The Thunder tries to get back over .500 while Sacto looks to get to .500. It actually kind of an intriguing game. It’s the first of a three-game road trip that could bring the Thunder back to OKC at 6-3, 3-6 or somewhere in between. But it could start off on a good foot with a win tonight.
Late start for us Okies tonight. Tip at 9:00 CST. Go NBA in OKC.
And they just did
durant has to know they are there
Dammit. Evans banks in a lucky 20-footer and we can’t buy a layup on the other end.
Not our night, fellas.
NOW the official decide to ignore the touch fouls…
That shot by Evans was the luckiest shot I have seen in a while.
But that’s not what lost the game for us. We lost the game when we came out with no fire to start the game and when we gave up any and every hustle play throughout the game
RW playing Westbrook ball on that drive – too bad he forgot he has 4 teammates . . .
Damn, that low post attempt by Green was thiiiiiiiiis close to goin’ in.
agree mostly . . .
you have to send a message to a bottom feeder early – they got hope right from the start . . .
Come on!!!!!
2 stops and 2 baskets….make it happen thunder!
I’m calling it right now: sometime from now till the end of the game westbrook will blow an opportunity and thus the game
DID I NOT JUST CALL IT????
@The DON
lol good call
that was a good drive by russ though, if he can get that shot, i’d take it every time
Did anyone think that RW was NOT going to shoot that??
Predictable basketball – gotta love it . . .
No wonder Caspi was psyched about his made FT.
frustration building
will someone please teach russell how to shoot the basketball- and how to make lay-ups. sheeesh.
This is one I think we should have won. Tough one to take. But I like the fact that we hustled til the very end especially on defense.
Are you kidding me with that inbounds pass westbrook?
RW had to try for that.
WOW what a clutch 3 by KD
I can already tell it’s going to break my heart when durant misses this 3
subtle GREAT play by Thabo – HE knows who should get the ball in the last moments . . .
soooooooooooo close
good shot for the last three seconds – just didnt fall . . .
Eek.
Live and Learn. We should come out tomorrow and get this bad taste out of our mouths.
im getting tired of being “soooooooo close” so many times…
It seems it’s not the first time we’ve said this. Now I realize that you can’t make them all and this happens to every team, but doesn’t it seem like we miss that much more often than we make it? I guess my point is, do you like our one-possession offense?
It’s tough to come to terms with the fact that we aren’t really any better than the Kings minus martin
This is a terrible and disappointing loss
i REALLY wish we had a good backup pg who can come in and make plays late in the game. Westbrook is being developed for the future but in the PRESENT he is terrible at leading his team in the 4th. Terrible
Over-all, our guys actually looked good. Can’t fault the defensive effort or ball movement. Very disapointed, but not in the effort. Can’t really consider that loss a step backwards I don’t think.
I concur . . .
another heartbreaker
I am all about developing westbrook by giving him all the P.T. he wants from quarters 1 through 3. But in the 4th i want him on the bench and i want some savyy veteran PG running the offense. This team would be IMMENSELY better if we had a good textbook PG running the show
But, how is he going to learn by sitting on the bench?
Brooks has done a good job . . .
BUT he really doesn’t make any major moves based on the flow of the game . . . I really don’t think he has the guts to put RW on the pine there and go with Livingston or Ollie . . . we’re tired of seeing RW blow it in the 4th – why not try something else?? Those two cant do any worse??? If you don’t give RW something to think about (bench) he may keep doing it . . .
@The DON
i think your over reacting again bro… let the emotions settle for a bit and you will feel better…
he learns that if he keeps doing it,then that’s where he goes (to the bench) . . .
what did he do this game that so terrible in the 4th quarter?? he missed 2 shots! thats about it.. if he makes those then this isnt even a discussion… you make some and you miss some. but they were both good looks. he will knock them down most of the time. yall are acting like he had turnovers that lost us the game…
westbrook had 1 turnover the whole game…
@The DON
@Kev
Not happy with Hustle’s performance tonight either, but he will improve throughout the season- just like he did last season. Ollie has really suprised me with how well he has played. Very few turns. Seems to shoot well when he’s open. Unless Chris Paul or D. Williams suddenly come on the market, I can’t see PGs out there that we would or should be looking to add. The Kings played pretty well tonight. Russell played pretty crappy in the 4th period, and a lot of quality shots JUST missed the mark. I’m just not as down as I thought I would be about this one.
his +/- was a +5….
@grant phillips
3-13 shooting. Plus those three end of the game misses were a wide-open shot from the free throw line, an open 3 pointer and a lay-up. I love RW’s hustle, attitude, obvious athleticism, off the charts potential and ability to get to the hole- but sometimes he’s got me pulling my hair out because of his poor shooting.
he will make those most of the time. he was just off tonight… i was just as frustrated as everyone else at him missing those shots, but my argument is that we shouldnt be calling for his head and saying he shouldnt be playing in the 4th quarter…
I was going to save this for the recap, but it’s bedtime.
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