Thunder vs Clippers: Pregame Primer
vs.
Clippers (33-18, 13-11 road) vs. Thunder (25-25, 14-8 home)
TV: ABC
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 12:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 104.4 (17th), Clippers – 113.1 (1st)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.1 (9th), Clippers – 106.5 (18th)
The Thunder moves on from a bruising loss Friday night, and hosts the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time since an epic and controversial game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Clippers will face a much different Thunder team than it saw on Oct. 30. Kevin Durant was out recovering from foot surgery, and Russell Westbrook left in the first half after breaking his hand. Thanks to 32 points from Perry Jones Oklahoma City kept that game competitive before falling to the Clips by three.
Obviously Friday’s loss was rough — honestly I can’t remember a more painful regular season loss — but the Thunder played really well. Can these players shake off Friday night and keep pushing forward, or will the sting of a tough loss carry over?
3 Big Things
1. Who’s Missing? Clippers Forward Blake Griffin has been ruled out due to a staph infection in his elbow requiring surgery. Spencer Hawes will start in place of Griffin according to the team.
Clippers starting shooting guard J.J. Redick is expected to miss his third straight game with back spasms. Jamal Crawford started in his place against the Cavs on Thursday and is expected to get the start today.
Kendrick Perkins is suspended for today’s game after head-butting Tyreke Evans in Friday’s loss. Mitch McGary has been called up from The Blue and is active today. Brooks will likely play McGary in case of foul trouble, but I would expect more Collison/small ball today, especially with Griffin out.
2. Defense. It could be conditioning, it could be the toe, it could be the foot but Kevin Durant hasn’t been moving the same and it’s hurting the team most on the defensive end. Durant has never been some lockdown defender, but he shed the liability mantra years ago. Simply put, he needs to be better.
Today he’ll matchup with a Thunder-fan favorite, Matt Barnes. Barnes is shooting 37 percent from the three-point line and can be an affective passer. We’ll see if Durant’s intensity on that end picks up today.
3. Russ vs. CP3. This has been a fluid debate of the last couple of seasons and it feels like it’s finally reached the tipping season — a changing of the guard season if you will (I’m horribly un-punny).
Russ is coming off of a career-high 49 points and did while registering 11 assists and nine rebounds. Just absurd. Over his last five games he’s averaging 34.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 2.2 steals.
Today’s matchup with Chris Paul should be a daaaaaaandy.
Friday’s COTN: “Doc Rivers voice: “That’s OUR BALL!” – @Barry Amenema
The officiating, mainly Bill Kennedy was indeed woeful against the Pels. And if you haven’t seen that Doc Rivers voiceover do yourself a favor. It’s magical.
Tip at 12:00 CT. Go Recover.
Ryan Woods captains the Pregame Primer ship for DT. Follow him on twitter here.
