Game Day: Oklahoma City Thunder seek to Blaze new trails, Dec 13

Arguably the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Portland Trail Blazers are the two teams in the NBA who can relate the most to one another. Each team features  super star guards, top 8-seeding and both are dealing with voids left after core members left in free agency.

Entering the season, Portland who had spent handsomely to retain developing talent, were earmarked by most pundits to improve upon their fifth place result. Conversely, the Thunder were expected to regress following the defection of Kevin Durant and loss of Serge Ibaka. Through the quarter season mark the teams are performing like the other was expected to.

Although there is optimism in OKC, the game Sunday served as a fresh reminder of how precarious the game can be.  Just two hours earlier, a split second occurrence drilled home that point. Victor Oladipo streaked to the corner to close out on Jonas Jerebko. Seconds later, Oladipo lie motionless on the court for what seemed like an eternity. As the hushed crowd looked on, anxiety began to mount. When Dipo finally rose under his own power and left the court, many Thunder fans in attendance and watching from home breathed a huge sigh of relief. Since then we’ve learned Dipo passed the concussion protocol test and his x-rays were negative.

But, the incident itself struck a chord, prompting Thunder fans to recall key injuries which have derailed recent seasons. Further, it pointed out how vulnerable this year’s version of the Thunder are, given their off season shake-up. It also served to showcase what Russell Westbrook and this young squad have accomplished in spite of the odds.

Conversely, the Blazers, who were apparently stuck in a hot tub time machine are just now feeling the effects of losing 5 core players two summers ago. Last years’ Cinderella team suddenly appear vulnerable especially upfront and are in jeopardy of falling out of playoff seeding.

Suffice to say, in the first meeting of the season between the Northwest Division foes, neither will be taking the other for granted.

With that in mind, let’s break down the match  with a view to the line-ups, statistical comparison, and keys to the win.