Tonight is a treat for the entire NBA landscape, an opportunity to watch two premiere teams square off as they gear up for the Playoffs.
Happy Gameday Thunder Nation! We have ourselves a treat tonight. LeBron James and his newly-formed Cleveland Cavaliers come to Oklahoma City looking for redemption after the OKC Thunder dismantled them on national television only a couple weeks ago.
The hidden beauty of tonight is that we truly have no idea what to expect. The reigning League MVP might not suit up for his third straight game because of a sprained ankle. Carmelo Anthony is dealing with a similar injury. Because of that, it’s very possible Cleveland returns the favor and throttles Oklahoma City at home. I wouldn’t have said that if it wasn’t for their recent Trade Deadline moves.
New-look Cavs look fantastic in first outing
Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, Dwyane Wade, Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert out. Rodney Hood, George Hill, Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson in. I’d say Cavs GM Koby Altman did a mighty fine job turning a bevy of unwanted players into something to entice LeBron James to stay. The new Cleveland coalition looked confident in their first outing together, taking down the Boston Celtics on Sunday. Whether or not they can sustain that excellence is yet to be seen, but it provides us with an added storyline to watch for as we prepare for the showdown.
"It’s very early, but the fit seems much snugger. The Cavs now have youth, speed, camaraderie and hunger, instead of aging veterans trying to fool themselves as much as the calendar."
And so did the “new-look” OKC Thunder
Oklahoma City had their-own impressive Sunday show, all without two three of their starters. Paul George essentially led the Thunder second-unit to victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, displaying the offensive abilities that make him a perfect secondary playmaker. I’d even argue Russ and Melo’s quick absence is a positive for this team. Sitting on the bench, they get to see first-hand what their fellow All-Star is capable of.
Assuming the two return tonight it will be interesting to see how they integrate PG into the offense. The more offensive looks the OKC Thunder show the harder they are to defend. This is especially important for a team still learning the basics of Ty Lue’s “defensive scheme.”
"“…but improved against the Grizzlies scoring 110 while tying an OKC-era record for made 3-points (16). Paul George led the way with 33 points and eight assists, with Alex Abrines adding 16.”"
One way Oklahoma City can quickly improve
I promise you there’s a method to my madness. If Westbrook does in fact play tonight I will be watching for one thing: his defense. Russ has become notorious for taking plays off on that end in order to conserve his energy for the offensive side of the ball. Well now he doesn’t have to. Paul George proved he is more than capable of running an offense – hopefully his recent performance convinced Westbrook of that.
Our very own Gideon Lim dissected the Thunder’s potential if the MVP decided to give full effort on both ends. Who holds the keys to unlocking this mythical beast? The answer might surprise you.
"The debate about Westbrook’s defense is so frustrating because there is no doubt Westbrook has the potential to be an elite defender."
Next: Previewing tonight's TNT showdown against the Cavs
That’s it for today’s issue of Thunder in the News! We’ve got all the trade deadline content your heart desires on our home page. Just follow that link and you’ll find your lunch hour filled with catching up on Oklahoma City.