Preview: Kings at Thunder
by Aykis16 on Dec 17, 2010 8:00 AM PST
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STARTING LINEUPS & INJURIES
Tyreke Evans looked like the Tyreke of old for most of the game against the Hornets on Wedneday, so I assume he'll start again, joining Beno Udrih, Donté Greene, Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins. Newcomer Jermaine Taylor will be with the team but its unlikely he'll be active to play before he's had his first practice.
The Thunder start Russell Westbrook and Thabo Sefolosha in the backcourt, Kevin Durant and Jeff Green at the forward spots, and Serge Ibaka at Center. Nenad Krstic missed their last game against Houston with a strained lower back.
SCOUTING REPORT
Please check out HighTops' scouting report.
One thing I want to emphasize is that OKC gets to the line a LOT (mainly Durant and Westbrook), and the Kings are one of the worst in terms of keeping opposing teams off the line. The Thunder don't miss many Free Throws either, hitting at a league leading 85.4%, so the Kings can play a great game, but if they don't limit themselves foul-wise, they could still lose because of that.
MATCHUP OF THE GAME
Russell Westbrook v. Tyreke Evans. Westbrook might not spend much time guarding Evans (that job likely will fall to specialist Thabo Sefolosha) but Tyreke definitely will be spending some time on him. Westbrook is incredibly quick and explosive, and just like Tyreke, you want to keep him out of the lane and make him shoot jumpers. He's also been drawing 8.5 FTA a game too, so Tyreke needs to stay out of foul trouble. If Tyreke can help limit Westbrook while still getting his own, the Kings have a much better chance to win this game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Donté Greene. Greene will be facing one of the toughest matchups in the league tonight in Kevin Durant. Durant can score from literally anywhere and there isn't one good way to defend him other than simply trying to stay in front of him and contest without fouling. It's a tough job, but if anyone on the Kings can do it, it'll have to be Donté.
MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO
DETAILS
5 PM PT. Game threads at 5 and 6:30. Let's go Kings!
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At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
by TrojanCBB on Dec 17, 2010 10:24 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Scariest part
The Thunder don’t miss many Free Throws either, hitting at a league leading 85.4%, so the Kings can play a great game, but if they don’t limit themselves foul-wise, they could still lose because of that
It’s so damn hard to win on the road in the NBA. You can play a great game, and the other team’s probably going to hang around anyways. For the Kings to win this game, they have to play solid basketball for a significant portion of the game (80 to 90%) and hope the other 10 to 20% isn’t completely abysmal. Even then, they still might not win.
The Kings foul like crazy, the Thunder accrue and make free throws like crazy, and the Kings have trouble putting together 30 minutes of consistent basketball, much less the 40 to 45 it would take to give themselves a chance tonight.
So I’ll be watching, but I’ll probably need a couple shots of tequila to get through it.
People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~ Rogers Hornsby
At least you'll have shots of tequila.
I’ve down graded to Pabst Blue Ribbon for tonight’s game, it’s only been in my fridge for 3-4 months collecting dust. Should be tasty!
Brennan Huff: I have a belly full of white dog crap in me, and now you lay this shit on me?
Hmm....they average almost 31 attempts per game, so I'll go with the over
What a clueless buffoon I was?! How could I have been so flawed in my analysis?!? - bench_blob
I feel really bad
that I’m actually relieved that I have to go to a Christmas dinner tonight, and wont have to be tortured by this horrible game. I really don’t want to become one of those fans that gives up on the team.
Keep Jason Thompson out of the damn fruit salad!
by prowseinthehouse on Dec 17, 2010 10:46 AM PST reply actions
And now the Kings will win by ten.
Sorry you’ll miss it, man.
In these times, you have to be an optimist to open your eyes when you awake in the morning.
~Carl Sandburg
How many points will we lose by?
I say 15.
Brennan Huff: I have a belly full of white dog crap in me, and now you lay this shit on me?
I think Cuz goes off in this game though and scores 25 with 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
Make it come to fruition DMC!
Brennan Huff: I have a belly full of white dog crap in me, and now you lay this shit on me?
I would love to see DMC break out with a monster game
Not sure when it will happen, but I know he’ll do it this season. He has the ability to carry this team, he just needs to limit his fouls and turnovers.
The do get to the line a LOT, but
They don’t have the size to rebound well. If we own the boards we can limit the offense and breakouts of this smaller and explosive team.
I didn't major in Common F-cking Sense, but ...
I think Ibaka is going to give Cousins trouble
Or I’d agree with you.
Author of the Pick and Scroll. Follow me on Twitter here.
I think so too
but it will be a good experience for him. I hope that DMC and JT can own underneath though. Oklahoma is an interesting team, all five guys on the floor are usually hitting the boards. We need to play very aware and smart basketball tonite.
Your meds cup is definitely half full
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Dec 17, 2010 11:26 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I think his cup is empty
because it sounds like he swallowed every last bit of it! There were definitely some good drugs in his cup.
"Live Long and Prosper." - Spock
stock up on booze for this game
we will need it to numb the pain
by g4y Vulture on Dec 17, 2010 12:23 PM PST up reply actions
I think we win
but I don’t know shit
"Children want what they want when they want it." ... Andy Sims
It that hot soft brown stuff that dogs leave on my front lawn.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
Don't say that Ed. You watched the Kings a couple of years ago...
I think that qualifies you as somebody who knows their shit.
I didn't major in Common F-cking Sense, but ...
Donte and Tyreke are going to have their hands full
Guarding Durant and Westbrook. If we can slow at least one of those guys down we might have a shot. Damn, I don’t know why I always get my hopes up…
I petition that we eliminate the halftime break. Make it just as long as the break between the other quarters. Maybe with no trip to the locker room our 2nd half collapse won’t be as bad?
Maybe we could petition for them to have the 3rd quarter at the start of the game, too!
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
That's not a bad idea, last season the Kings were much better playing from behind
Someone get the league office on the phone!
Handicap league!
Just like in my bowling league, I think that teams should have to let the Kings start the game already up by 15 or 20.
I know huh?
Think about it, you take teams that would normally blow us out, boring depressing game right? Now, with a handicap league the Kings start the game with 20 and you got yourself 60 minutes of exciting ball and a possible 4th quarter nailbiter!
If Durant is off
We can pull this off! Optimism baby, optimism.
by jstnblke41 on Dec 17, 2010 12:27 PM PST via mobile reply actions
We got this....oops
a pig just flew out of my ass
by goklngs on Dec 17, 2010 12:51 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
im not even with Durant.... its Westbrook and Green that im worried about...
by pakyubai on Dec 17, 2010 1:11 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Prediction from a Thunder fan.
Thompson and Cousins both have decent scoring nights, especially early. Casspi and Cisco play well and hits a bunch of 3 to keep you in the game until ~last third of the game when the Thunder start to tighten up on D and pull away. Westbrook has a good but not mindblowing all around game. Durant and Harden both have very good aggressive games. Thabo actually contributes something on offense. Thunder win comfortably by 16.
Slightly different take...
Casspi and Cisco play well, but Cisco after going 3-for-4 from the field is replaced by Luther Head. Head goes 1-for-7, with one rebound and one assist. Cisco never makes it back into the game.
Going to predict an 8 point OKC victory, the Kings seem to have a knack lately for playing the teams that are supposed to clobber them fairly close (unless that team happens to be the Lakers.)
Am I the only one laughing at the picture? Perfectly cropped.
I predict JT will never breathe through his nose.
Caption: I told you I could dribble the ball from baseline to baseline without using my hands
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
Beat down by O.k.C.
KINGS DO NOT HAVE A CHANCE IN HELL………just the facts.
by cowboyron96@yahoo.com on Dec 17, 2010 4:04 PM PST reply actions
maybe we can trade cisco for westbrook after the first quarter...
At USC we're not snobs, we're just better than you.
Now I REALLY want the Kings to win tonight.
Author of the Pick and Scroll. Follow me on Twitter here.
umm
the pacers beat the Heat a few weeks back most said that that would have been a “no chance in hell” type of game. thats why i love the NBA/sports in general anything can happen.
p.s you should see a doctor about that stick thats in your ass
if you play defense the fans will come
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