Game Day Preview: OKC Thunder hope for Merry Christmas as they host Wolves
Russell Westbrook leads his OKC Thunder on a Christmas Night match versus the upstart Wolves.
With only 10 teams making the coveted NBA Christmas Day schedule it’s never a certainty the OKC Thunder will make the list. That said, heading into the 2016-17 season most anticipated Russell Westbrook and his Thunder would make the cut. While doubt existing regarding how the Thunder would fair minus 2 of their top 3 players, Westbrook is known worldwide and anticipation regarding how he would preform without his long-time star partners loomed.
Mr. Triple-Double:
Cut to present and Westbrook is delivering in more ways than one. First, he has his Thunder positioned to make the playoffs sitting in 6th with an 18-12 record. Second he’s delivered 14 triple-double performances (51 all-time) to this point in the season. His average of 31.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 10.8 assists has him on track to record the first triple-double average for a season since the Big O (Oscar Robinson) did it back in 1961-62.
Generally Christmas Day marks the point in the season where NBA fans interest begins to pique. This season has been the exception with Mr. Triple-Double making games must watch viewing. With 14 trip-dubs already he’s hitting the mark in 46.6% of Thunder games. This is significant because there are several records Westbrook is chasing.
The obvious one is averaging the trip-dub over a season, the second is eclipsing the existing record of 41 triple-doubles in one season. Again, Oscar Robinson holds the record with 41. At his current pace Westbrook is in target to get 38. Ahh, but there lies the rub. Pundits worry the wear and tear on Westbrook to carry the entire Thunder team will take a toll, resulting in last season fatigue. Yet, closer inspection of the chiseled Westbrook reveals his most developed and reliable muscle is his heart!
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Suffice to say, Westbrook has dual motivation; first to inspire his young team to reach the post season. Second Russ no doubt hopes for an opportunity to play the current top seeded Warriors. And though the Thunder in fairness don’t have the fire power to measure up to the newly constructed star laden Death Unit, it sure is an enticing lure for viewers to also hope this date comes to pass.
The Organic Super Team:
Entering the season the Wolves were a team many pundits (including myself) were extremely high on. There was good reason for the optimism given new head coach Tom Thibodeau was at the helm. He of the 5 winning Chicago Bulls seasons and master of defensive strategies.
The difference being while Thibs had youngsters Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler in Chicago he also had several vets to help them along. Perhaps that is why the Wolves process is taking longer than anticipated. Clearly this team with the past two seasons Rookies of the Year Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns along with 2-time defending dunk champ Zach LaVine are loaded for bear.
Minnesota’s issues are primarily on the defensive end of the court, ironic given Thibs is the guy teaching them. But while Minnesota rank 27th defensively there have been signs of improvement. Rather, it’s the high powered 9th ranked Wolves offense which punctuates the true issues for the team. Regularly Wiggins and company build double digit leads, especially in the first half. Isolating the Wolves by quarters showcases specifically highlights their problem areas.
Fixing one leak only serves to reveal another:
I’ll equate the Wolves season to Hans Brinker who famously plugged the hole in the dike to save his beloved Netherlands. Just as Thibs and his young charges fix one gushing problem, another crevice begins to spout water. To wit, at season start the Wolves regularly built first half 20-point leads only to surrender them in horrid third quarters.
Having fixed this issue (as the past 5 games showcases) now the issue is in final frame. The good news is Thib’s youngsters are beginning to show an uptick on the defensive end, the problem however is two-fold:
Recognizing it’s a small sample size there are encouraging signs for the Wolves. The starting lineup as their past 3 games shows. As per NBA.com (and yes recognizing it’s an extremely small sample size) the Wolves have had the third best offense through these games. More impressively, of those units they’ve been the best defensive and net squad with results which would find them ranking among the league’s top 10.
With that, here’s the game specifics:
Oklahoma City Thunder Starters:
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: *Anthony Morrow
Small Forward: Andre Roberson
Power Forward: Domantas Sabonis
Center: Steven Adams
Oklahoma City Thunder Bench:
Point Guard: Semaj Christon
Shooting Guard: Alex Abrines
Small Forward: Jerami Grant, Kyle Singler,
Power Forward: Nick Collison, * Josh Huestis
Center: Enes Kanter, Joffrey Lauvergne
Notes:
Full stats available via nba.com/thunder
PG: Ricky Rubio: 6.4 points, 6.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds
SG: Zach LaVine: 20.1 points, 2.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 37.5% from deep
SF: Andrew Wiggins: 22.2 points, 2.4 assists, 4.0 rebounds, 38.3% from deep
PF: Karl-Anthony Towns: 22.0 points, 2.4 assists, 10.3 rebounds, 37.8% from deep, 1.5 blocks
C: Gorgui Dieng: 10.2 points, 2.3 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Minnesota Wolves Bench:
PG: Kris Dunn, Tyus Jones, John Lucas III
SG: Shabazz Muhammad, Brandon Rush
SF: Nemanja Bjelica
PF: Adreian Payne, Jordan Hill
C: Cole Aldrich,
Full stats available via nba.com/wolves
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Karl-Anthony Towns vs Steven Adams: KAT is drawn to the limelight so look for him to be aggressive on both ends. Adams will have his hands full and his best bet may be trying to lure KAT into early foul trouble by taking advantage of his youthful exuberance.
Andrew Wiggins vs. Andre Roberson: For the Thunder to get an advantage Roberson will need to bring some offense to the court today in order to keep Wiggins and/or LaVine occupied on both ends. Don’t be fooled by Wiggins laid back demeanor, he’s as driven to win as KAT and LaVine, he just doesn’t aspire to having anything to do with sound bites for the camera.
As Thibs said, you don’t have to be the loudest guy in the room to be the strongest voice. Case in point, one scribe made the fatal error back when Wiggins was in prep school saying he was never going to live up to all the hype. Wiggins went out and scored 57 points going 24-28 from the field, along with 13 rebounds and 4 blocks and he didn’t even play his regular full minutes!
RELATED STORY: Roberson the Thunder Minute Man
Keys to Win:
The problem with analyzing how you beat the Wolves is the data clearly shows the OKC Thunder are the are the far superior team in virtually every category. However, this young Wolves squad has 3 young players who are all stars in their own right. Sure Wiggins and Towns assets are obvious, but it’s the growth of LaVine this season which has been the most surprising.
Many of the Wolves wins have been manufactured via LaVine’s time with the bench unit on the floor so the Thunder need to be especially aware of that unit.
Though the Wolves rank low in rebounding and defense OKC can’t expect them to roll over just because these are areas they have major benefits in.
An area the Thunder could pinpoint would be perimeter shooting, but it’s not like OKC have been lighting it up from deep.
Of the Christmas Day matches this one has the potential to be the most entertaining given the young talent on the floor. It’s also an agonizing one for me personally because Westbrook is my favorite player followed very closely by Wiggins and Kyle Lowry. For this Canadian lady I’d love to see Wiggins step up in this bright spotlight and showcase the seemingly effortless way he performs the incredibly difficult. Simultaneously, I’m hoping for a 15th triple-double by Westbrook. Given Westbrook’s heart and ability to rise to big occasions, I’d say the latter is more likely. Regardless, sit back and enjoy this one, since it’s bound to offer plenty of oohs and ahhs and quite possibly be the match of the day.
Walking Wounded:
OKC Thunder:
Victor Oladipo – wrist, based on the last comments from Donovan (he can’t do anything with his hand yet) assume he’s out today.
The Oklahoman reports:
“He’s (Oladipo) closer to playing every single day; I just don’t know where the endpoint is when he actually starts playing, if that makes any sense,” coach Billy Donovan said. “Because he is getting better. I don’t want to come across like he’s not. There is improvement there, but it’s not at a point where he can do enough in terms of catching, passing, shooting, playing right now.”
Cameron Payne – foot, Brett Dawson of the Oklahoman reports Payne did participate in Friday’s shoot around in non-contact activities.
To our best knowledge Cam is still on track to return shortly with the goal of December 29th versus the Grizzlies.
Wolves:
Game Specifics:
Recent History: OKC Thunder hold the all-time record versus Minnesota with a 78-29 record. Since moving to Oklahoma City the Thunder have owned the Wolves 26-6. In the past 11 games the Wolves record is 10-1 with the lone loss coming in Minnesota.
The Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
The Tip: 8:00 PM EST (7:00 PM CT)
TV: FS Oklahoma HD, National: ESPN
Radio:WWLS 98.1FM OKC / 930AM (ESP)
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And, to everyone, the Thunderous Intentions Team wish you Happy Holidays and hope you enjoy the Christmas Day games.
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