Thunder vs Knicks: Pregame Primer
vs.
Knicks (4-12, 1-7 road) vs. Thunder (4-12, 3-5 home)
TV: FS Oklahoma
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 1300 AM The Buzz Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT
Offensive Rating: Thunder – 98.8 (29th), Knicks – 105.6 (17th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 103.3 (8th), Knicks – 11o.4 (27th)
Russell Westbrook returns to the starting lineup tonight against the New York Knicks. The Knicks will likely be without Carmelo Anthony who missed Wednesday night against the Mavericks with back spasms. Anthony is officially listed as doubtful for tonight’s game.
ICYMI: Royce wrote more in-depth on Westbrook’s return here.
Grant Jerrett will also make his return tonight for Oklahoma City after missing the Thunder’s first 16 games. Jerrett gives the Thunder 12 active players for the first time all season.
3 Big Things.
1. Westbrook’s Impact on Morrow. With Westbrook back tonight, the starting lineup around him will remain the same: Russ – Robes – Thomas – Ibaka – Adams. This moves Jackson back to the second unit which now looks like a pretty formidable unit with Jackson – Lamb – Morrow – Collison – Perk. Brooks says Westbrook and Jackson will play extended minutes together which will make for some fun lineup options, and hopefully Anthony Morrow is in that mix.
Nine games isn’t a sufficient sample size, but Brooks by now should know Morrow isn’t a J.J. Reddick/Kyle Korver-type player that can free himself around a bunch of screens. But he’s going to thrive with Westbrook and Jackson — and eventually Durant — getting into the lane and finding him on the wings for three’s.
Morrow commands a defender at all times even if he’s stationary, and isn’t that just as important as his shooting? More space and shooting has been a big need for this offense late in games, and Morrow provides both. Both, however, aren’t there if half of the shot clock is spent waiting for him to get around another screen. He’s a player that stars — like Westbrook and Durant — can turn into a championship level asset if his strengths are realized.
2. Jackson. Reggie Jackson played 13 games as a starter in Russell Westbrook’s absence and averaged 20.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game. He had some highs and some lows, but overall a solid audition for GM’s looking to throw money at Jackson to be their starting point guard.
Jackson has shown that he can create for both himself and for others and now with RJ coming off the bench the lulls that this offense went through with such a thin unit should now be few and far between.
3. Defense. The most impressive part about the Thunder’s stint without Westbrook and Durant has been the play on the defensive end. With sometimes 8 and 9 active players the Thunder has clawed its way to a Top 10 defense, allowing just 94.1 ppg to opponents — 4th in the league. It was rarely pretty, but it goes to show that this coaching staff successfully preaches energy and effort night after night.
Westbrook’s return doesn’t mean the message changes. Without Durant, defense is still the calling card, but plugging in a Top 5 player in the league to this offense is a lift that will be measured in W’s.
Wednesday’s COTN: “Seeing thomas play in the nba let’s me know my dream isn’t over” – @Lost Ones
*Digs through closet for the Starbury’s and ankle braces.
Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Point Godzilla.
