OKC Thunder preview: focus on defensive identity is key to defeating 76ers

Given the circumstances, the pressure is on, and yet history is on the side of the Thunder. In fact, the NBA’s current longest win streak of one team over another belongs to OKC over Philly. The Thunder holds an 18 consecutive win streak over the 76ers.

As per The Jump the last time Philly beat OKC it was November 15, 2008, and these were the starting lineups:

Part of the record is due to the years of dominance of the Westbrook, Durant, Harden group and partly due to ‘The Process’ era.  What will be interesting is if the game is close at the end whether the 76ers desire to break the streak or the desperation of the Thunder needing the victory will win out.

Thunder – 76ers kicks off NBA Saturday games on abc TV:

This is the first Saturday game televised on abc TV with the network hoping to take advantage of the slew of stars between the squads.

In a review of the abc Saturday schedule of the nine games, the network will air only six teams make the cut. The 76ers and Celtics will each play twice, the Rockets, Lakers, and Thunder will each appear three times and the Warriors on five occasions. While it’s nice the network considers OKC part of the upper echelon of fan draws it’s interesting only six out of 30 teams will be featured.

Surely part of the selection process is tied to the existing historically strong fanbases and superstars on each squad. To that end, Philly might be short one superstar, as Joel Embiid suffered lower back stiffness but played through it Thursday in another nationally televised game (vs. Pacers on TNT).