Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Preview: OKC Thunder at Minnesota Timberwolves

By Gideon Lim

Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) after the game against the Denver Nuggets Pepsi Center. During the game Westbrook broke the single season record for most triple doubles in a single season. The Thunder won 106-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) after the game against the Denver Nuggets Pepsi Center. During the game Westbrook broke the single season record for most triple doubles in a single season. The Thunder won 106-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Jan 13, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) tries to keep a loose ball away from OKC Thunder center Steven Adams (12) in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 96-86. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 13, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) tries to keep a loose ball away from OKC Thunder center Steven Adams (12) in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 96-86. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

With two games left to the regular season, the OKC Thunder will look to extend their good form and stretch their lineup options against the Wolves.

Playoff seeding is set but the OKC Thunder can ill afford to take their foot off the gas against the the Minnesota Timberwolves. If anything, the game should be focused primarily on maintaining focus. This game is the Thunder’s penultimate rehearsal before a playoff series against the Houston Rockets. Because of that, the Thunder’s key aim should be to fight against treating that game any less seriously than it should. If the Thunder can maintain their intensity, the team should secure division bragging rights and vital playoff runway.

Both teams could not come into their final match up of the season in more different states. The Timber Pups face the Thunder having just suffered a backbreaking buzzer beater against the Los Angeles Lakers and D’Angelo Russell. Meanwhile, the Thunder’s own Russell Westbrook just lifted the team to a win over the Denver Nuggets, including a similarly dramatic game-winning shot.

MUST READ: Westbrook is the Thunder’s Most Improved Player

All that is not to mention the hype that has surrounding Westbrook over the last 48 hours. Following his sensational record-breaking 42nd triple-double, even his staunchest critic (see: Draymond Green’s mum) has found it hard to withhold praise towards his once-in-55-years season.

Donovan’s Job Scope

For the Thunder, Billy Donovan’s main task is to ramp the team’s intensity up one more notch, especially on defense. The team has been struggling with defensive consistency throughout the season.

On paper, the roster is filled with defensive studs. Victor Oladipo and Andre Roberson form a terrifying duo on defense along the perimeter. Meanwhile, Semaj Christon has stepped up his individual game in recent weeks to the point of forcing himself into consideration over Oladipo.
Yet the team has still struggled to churn out stops consistently. Perhaps this is due to the nightly influx of defensive sives like Enes Kanter, Alex Abrines and Doug McDermott that step in for the bench unit that end up breaking defensive rhythm.

MUST READ: The true story behind Westbrook’s triple-double 

Either way, the team’s defense has not been where it needs to be. The Rockets have one of the heaviest artillery in the league. The last meeting between the Rockets and Thunder showed that even if the Thunder shoot well, the trick to beating the Rockets is a defensive lock down.

Donovan’s task is therefore to go against the grain of temptation amongst his players. He must drive home the message that the end of seeding contention does not mean taking a day off. Instead, the opposite should be true. Being freed from the pressure of fighting for a higher standing should give the young Thunder team the chance to press home the intangibles behind a good defense, such as focus, communication and intensity.

If the squad can achieve that, that might be the biggest win for the Thunder against the Wolves.

Home/Thunder News