Preview: OKC Thunder visit Utah Jazz hoping to extend win streak
By Yams
The 3 Keys to Success
Protect the three-point line
Tonight’s game against the Jazz provides the Thunder with the task to defend the perimeter. The Jazz are the third-best three-point shooting team in the NBA behind the Pacers and Warriors, shooting 38.5% from beyond the arc. The Thunder are pretty good at doing that, though. Teams have shot 36.1% on three-pointers against them, which is the 11th-worst mark in the NBA.
The Thunder have also succeeded in doing so against the Jazz, limiting them to 22.6% from 3 when they last met at Chesapeake Energy Arena on December the 20th. If they replicate what they did on Wednesday, the Thunder should be fine.
Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook has been rather underwhelming this season.
However, it seems that he has found himself again. Over that span he averaged 30.7 points per game, 9.3 assists per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 3 steals per game, and just 2.3 turnovers per game.
His shooting percentages have also been superb. He’s made 65.5% of his field goal attempts, 40% of his three-point attempts, and 87.5% of his free throws.
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He’s been stellar over the past three games and it’s no coincidence that the Thunder, as a result, have won each of their last three games.
If he can sustain this run of good play and return to form, the Thunder should come out of Salt Lake City as winners.
The third quarter
Oh boy……
The 3rd quarter.
The Thunder have sucked in them since the dawn of time, really. But let’s stick to talking about the current season.
Their offensive rating during the third quarter is 97.1 (3rd-worst in the NBA), their defensive rating in them is 107.8 (9th-worst in the NBA), and their net rating in the third quarter stands at -10.7 (5th-worst in the NBA.) The Jazz haven’t been that much better in the third quarter, though. Their net rating of -5.8 in third quarters ranks 23rd in the NBA. Their defensive rating in the third quarter stands at a putrid 112.7, which is the worst in the NBA.
If the Thunder want to win, they have to do better in the third quarter.