Game 2 Pregame Primer: Thunder (1-0) vs. Pelicans (0-1)

Game Info

NBA.com preview | Tip-off: 8:30pm, Paycom Center | Broadcast: TNT, Bally Sports OK

3 Big Things

• Youth. It really is gobsmacking how young the Thunder are. As our pod crew pointed out following Game 1, OKC relied on two rookies to make winning plays in a playoff game. For the one seed. No one on the team has looked scared so much as over amped so far. Will the team play with a little more composure now that they everyone has their first postseason game under their belt?
• What's working. The Thunder put the clamps on Brandon Ingram and the Pelicans offense (97.9 ORTG) in Game 1. New Orleans has an admirably resilient roster, so OKC will need to maintain their physicality and intensity to keep them in check.
• Rebounding. I would be bored talking about boards if second-chance points weren't single-handedly turning easy wins into nail-biters for OKC. We'll see if the Thunder do better compensating for their lack of fronctourt size with better gang rebounding and focus from positions 1 through 4.

Prediction

The Thunder win by however many rebounds Jonas Valanciunas grabs.

Thank you for your support of Daily Thunder. Follow along with us in the comments.