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Timberwolves vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

vs.

Minnesota Timberwolves (14-45, 5-25 road) vs. OKC Thunder (33-23, 16-11 home)

TV: FS Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 753)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CST

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 106.1 (18th), Timberwolves – 101.3 (29th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 102.9 (4th), Timberwolves – 110.0 (25th)
Pace: Thunder – 92.6 (16th), Timberwolves – 95.8 (3rd)

View from the enemy: Howlin T-Wolf

REMEMBER: DT Pregame Party Night Fun Time. Be there.

Why am I so nervous about this one? Is it because the Thunder’s lost two straight and it feels like we’ll never win again? Is it because OKC is playing the Timberwolves a second time in just four days? Is it because the other two games have been unnecessarily close? Is it because I’m a slightly paranoid Thunder fan that isn’t totally used to winning? Yeah, it’s probably that last one.

These two teams played just five days ago, so I’ll make most of this brief. Not much has changed since the Thunder last played Minnesota. The Wolves still struggle to score, don’t have a reliable go-to scorer and Al Jefferson is still not playing like himself. Minnesota did drop 107 points on OKC last time, but I’ve got to think the Thunder will tighten the reins this time. But the Wolves have been defending pretty well lately too, so this could be a low scoring affair.

Minnesota coming in: Since the teams played last Sunday, the Timberwolves went 1-1 with a win at Miami against a Wade-less Heat team. They last played Wednesday, losing to Atlanta on the road. Tonight’s game wraps up a three-game road trip for the Wolves. They’re 3-7 in their last 10 and 5-25 on the road.

THE MATCHUPS
I guess I should say watch out for Darko. The Serbian dropped eight points and eight rebound with a plus-35 against OKC last time. However, he hasn’t been able to follow that up quality production. Against Atlanta, in 10 minutes he had two rebounds and zero points. But Ryan Hollins was big, leading the Wolves with 18 points. He was basically non-existent Sunday, so if he plays well along with Al Jefferson, the Wolves may have something. Nick Collison and Serge Ibaka are available to play tonight, but I wouldn’t want to guess how much court time they’ll see.

Corey Brewer really hinges the Minnesota offense. If he’s shooting and scoring well, the team is kind of dangerous. Thabo will likely get the assignment on him, along with Kevin Durant switching over as well. And off the bench Kevin Love has been playing excellent basketball lately. So again, this could be a bad night for the Thunder to potentially need help inside. Cross your fingers Collison and Ibaka are completely ready.

This is a big game because the Thunder need to right the ship. Dropping a third straight would be bad, but dropping a home game to a 14-45 team would be REALLY bad. This is the start of a three-game home stand with all winnable games. I expect the team to come out focused and intense from the tip and get things done.

Tip at 7:00 CST. Go Win.

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Not sure how much it would take to get Jefferson but Golden State should offer Biedrins and whatever. Not that either team comes out a big winner but they get change and hope.

If Portland goes .500 the rest of the way (including tonight's loss) they get 45 wins. The teams of the outside looking into the playoffs will have to go better than .600 to get more than 45 wins. 11-14 would be enough to get 45 wins for the Thunder. That might be enough. But it might take more.

shiki=4 seasons :@Eric4Mayor

Thunder had 2 matchs with them,win 4 totally.
but this match is great in offense

Two different situations that were good spots for Timberwolves and being home non the less. This was a motivational game for OKC coming off two losses and you knew they were gonna come out the gates and apply that pressure with their D and run hard off misses.

Fourteen points for Chewie? Weird. In a awesome way.

@Eric4Mayor
Thunder had 2 matchs with them,win 4 totally.
but this match is great in offense

Career high for assists for Russell. Someday he'll get 20.
That usually happens 4-5 times a year around the league.

Welcome to Loud City predicated Thunder would only win by 3, 103-100. What a terrible prediction.

7 guys in double digit points tonight............usefull

100 possessions even in the game.. 109 ORTG.. very good, especially for us.

Does KD have anything wrong?

PDX and MEM losing in the final minutes, Spurs probably going to lose to the Rockets, PHO and DEN playing close games at half time. Could be a decent night for the standings.

Very nice win.. great to see Russ back on track. Grats to Ibaka for the career high point total.

that's a nice bounce back game, what a game for Russ... when he plays like that we're unbeatable unless a tragedy happens.

Crazy game by Russ.. he was finding guys everywhere for open shots.

@Eric4Mayor
Admittedly it's a little mean to build up that triple double meaninglessly when your team is up 22 in the final minutes.

Awww they took Russ out.

Serge making a case to start?

Can Russ get 2 more boards in 4 mins??

Really hope we don't let Darko get a double-double. That should not happen.

I'm going to shot my self because of that retard double audio...

Serge is good as long as he's near the basket.. when he puts the ball on the floor he's asking for trouble, LOL.

Serge do some good job

Another nice PnR Maynor / Collison.

Even though relying on Westbrook so much for assists all th e time might not be ideal... it can work.

That lineup plays great defense though so maybe that's the point.

Ibaka must travel half the time he gets the ball further than five feet. This dude has zero offensive game and probably the worst footwork..

This second unit lineup we use. Maynor-Harden-Green-Ibaka-Collison is not effective. Brooks has to do something with the rotations.

What? The refs got pay by the Wolves or something?!

And right after I say that they do a nice PnR Nick and Maynor.

When Russ goes out and Maynor comes in the offense really goes down the tubes. I don't know if it's a game plan thing or just Maynor being incapable, but he never seems to break down the defense or do anything to get guys open looks.. it's always someone else creating. We've seen Maynor get penetration before so I think it's a coaching thing.. really he only seems to get in the lane in transition like the assist to Ibaka.

Jefferson does not care........ maybe he will be moved this summer....... If the thunder could get him for a draft pick and filler that would be prime...... Kahn is just the man to package this guy up for us

Um... Krstic is not playing too bad tonight so far...

@johnnyincog
I agree.I am watching internet live and it makes me not watch clearly

does anyone have a number i can call and complain about this ridiculous double audio feed and constant double screen of the control truck? this is really starting to piss me off.

LOL watching Nenad dunk it's like he's going up in slow motion.

And Russ is starting to bring that jumper further out than he should.

With Thabo, Russ, Green and Krstic on the court ther'es no three point shooting..

Jeff Green 2 for his last 12 now for three. He has to stop shooting threes. Get to the freaking rim. I don't understand this guy at all.

Wow. Grant looked at the box score at halftime and noticed that almost everyone on Minnesota had an assist; that told him that too many people were handling the ball and that they should let Flynn take over more. I think I want to go back to the double audio feeds, the production stuff was pretty interesting.

Al Jefferson looks disinterested, slow, and out of shape. It's an interesting situation, Minnesota might be willing to trade him 20 cents on the dollar. Whoever gets him will be in great shape if he returns to form. Someone will take a chance on him. If we can get Jefferson for expirings and picks, do you do that hoping he returns to form?

Russ gets a another Triple Double tonight.

Russ has become very good at the slash and kick game.. that wrap around pass under the basket to Sefolosha is something you don't see from him much. I'm glad he's back to this form after the poor Spurs game.

KD comes back in and the offense works.. the solution? Play KD 48 minutes a game :)

I'm here to watch a game not see some crappy behinds the scene thing for half the game... with audio over the already terrible commentators.

Otherwise same old story.. losing on the offensive boards and turnovers. We're still shooting 47% overall so the offense isn't that bad all things considered due to the hot first quarter.

Watching this team is frustrating when everything is midrange and nobody can finish at the rim except Durant. We really need a big guy that can finish.

@Sammy
My dog just stepped on the remote and ended up muting the TV. Coincidence? Or does she find the second audio feed as annoying as I do.

This is seriously pissing me off... they're wasting half of their screen real estate on a crappy swirling okc logo.

@Sammy
Dunno, combined with the double audio feeds it is pretty brutal.

Great defense by Jeff Green.

Why does FSOklahoma think it is a good idea to show large swathes of the game in a box about 1/3 the size of the total viewing area?

We don't do any PnR.. no plays going to the basket unless it's in transition. Unless we're hot from mid / long range our offense is basically trash. Russ can be out of control sometimes but at least he's trying to get to the rim. Everyone else just camps outside waiting for the pass. Can't have an efficient offense that way.