Trailblazers vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

vs.

Trailblazers (22-29, 8-18 road) vs. Thunder (29-22, 17-7 home)

TV: FSOK
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 930 AM (Spanish))
Time: 2:00 PM CST

Team Comparisons (per NBA.com/Stats)

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 104.1 (19th), Trailblazers – 106.7 (10th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 104.6 (8th), Trailblazers – 108.7 (25th)

Technology. Sometimes it’s the greatest thing in the world, and sometimes it fails more than an Andre Drummond versus DeAndre Jordan free throw shooting contest.

My wifi at the house has been sporadic at best, so I’m having to do this primer from my phone. Sorry if it’s not up to par for some of you.

3 Big Things

1. Perimeter Defense

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have been known to hit a 3 or two. Keeping them at bay along with the other Portland shooters will be very important.

2. Transition Defense

With such speedy guards, the Trailblazers are able to turn long rebounds and turnovers into quick transition buckets. The Thunder will have to get back quickly in order to prevent this.

3. Russell Westbrook

Portland is terrible at defense. Westbrook is pretty good on offense. Feast, young man.