Thunder must start Patrick Patterson versus Timberwolves
After losing their second straight game the Thunder need to shake things up. With the red hot Minnesota Timberwolves waiting in the wings, it’s time Patrick Patterson gets the call up to the starting lineup.
The OKC Thunder laid a big fat egg on Tuesday night, their second straight no-show performance. For those who insist on trading Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City has allowed an average of 121.4 points in their last five games with him sitting. They are getting mauled in the paint, hammered in pick and roll sets and continue to ball watch while opposing players cut to the basket. With Dre set to miss his sixth straight game, the match-up with the Minnesota Timberwolves couldn’t come at a worse time.
Emergence of Jimmy Butler
The Wolves currently lead the season series 2-1 with games decided by a total of nine points. However since the teams last met, Jimmy Butler has emerged as the clear number one option with Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins playing second and third fiddle.
In their last five games, Butler is averaging 22.8 points, 7.2 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals on 45-50-88 shooting splits. More impressively, he is feasting at the line, shooting an astounding 9.8 foul shots per game. With Roberson out, Paul George is going to have his hands full keeping tabs on the him.
Mismatch up-front…
While the Carmelo Anthony-power forward experiment has yielded some positive results, it draws matchup problems for both teams. Sure, he is able to outsmart legitimate fours on the perimeter and hit tough jumpers when on the block. But Anthony’s nonchalant attitude toward defense hurts Oklahoma City.
The Wolves frontcourt of Gibson and Towns presents a massive problem for the OKC Thunder. Minnesota has won the rebounding battle 147-134 in three games this season. Gibson out-muscles Anthony for positioning and has made a living off hustling for boards.
Once Adams realizes Melo is beaten, he comes to help from the weak side, gifting Towns a free reign to roam the paint for offensive boards. When they are matched up one-on-one, the Big Kiwi is able to hold his own against Towns. Protecting the paint from two bigs is a tall task, even for the Thunder’s seven-footer.
Time to change the line-up…for just one night.
As it stands, these are likely to be the starting fives…
OKC Thunder Starters
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Terrance Ferguson
Small Forward: Paul George
Power Forward: Carmelo Anthony
Center: Steven Adams
Minnesota Timberwolves Starters
Point Guard: Tyus Jones
Shooting Guard: Andrew Wiggins
Small Forward: Jimmy Butler
Power Forward: Taj Gibson
Center: Karl-Anthony Towns
From a match-up standpoint, Donovan needs to turn to a traditional line-up, inserting Patrick Patterson to the four, pushing Melo to small forward and PG13 to shooting guard. He should consider a line-up of:
Point Guard: Russell Westbrook
Shooting Guard: Paul George
Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony
Power Forward: Patrick Patterson
Center: Steven Adams
Individual Matchups
Patrick Patterson does all the little things that don’t come up on the stat sheet – hustle, grind and screen. He is an excellent on-ball defender, solid in defending the pick & roll and spreads the floor on offense. A career 36.8 percent three point shooter, opposing teams think twice of collapsing the paint as they respect his jumper. The Wolves aren’t a great defensive team and love to collapse inside. Having Patterson on the court WILL open the floor.
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George needs to stay on Butler all night long. He is the Thunder’s best perimeter defender with Dre out and he draws the toughest assignment of the night.
Russ will dominate Jones. That’s not worth talking about.
All that Adams can do is try to contain Towns. KAT is an All-Star offensive caliber big man who can score in a multitude of ways. KAT will get his, but if Adams only needs to focus on him, he can make it harder to get buckets.
This leaves Carmelo Anthony on Andrew Wiggins. Of all the matchups on court, this is the one that will decide the game. Wiggins is shooting 42.9 percent from the field, 32.8 percent from three and 63 percent from the line. The Thunder are best to take chances on Wiggins shooting from the outside.
Melo can’t guard Wiggins off the dribble, but if he baits him into taking perimeter shots he has done his job. Anthony is still a premier scorer – Wiggins simply can’t defend him. Melo’s sheer size is too much for Wiggins and should be BBQ Chicken.
But if Donovan stays put, buckle up OKC fans. It’s going to be a long game.