A viewers guide to the OKC Thunder’s first preseason game
By Rylan Stiles
The OKC Thunder opens up their preseason by traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma and hosting the Dallas Mavericks in a nationally televised affair.
After the OKC Thunder completed their annual Blue and White scrimmage, they turn the page to NBA preseason action and travel to Tulsa to welcome the Dallas Mavericks into the BOK Center. The Thunder will get their first taste of an NBA game without Russell Westbrook, and measure this team up against a dynamic duo.
The Dallas Mavericks come to Tulsa on Tuesday evening sporting a shiny new duo that features a pair of Euro-stars in reigning Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic and former All-star Kristaps Porzingis. The Dallas wonder boys already put on a show during the teams Blue and White scrimmage, that displayed a new move from the man dubbed as a Unicorn.
Kristaps Porzingis hitting the stepback three, committing 7'3 on 7'4 crime against Boban. pic.twitter.com/yt6x3NOEb3
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) October 6, 2019
The game will tip-off at 7 p.m. local time and be broadcast on ESPN as well as streamed via the Thunder mobile app and the OKC Thunder official website along with ESPN’s streaming service.
The Mavericks will travel to Detriot to play the Pistons on Wednesday and Dallas head man Rick Carlise has already said Kristaps Porzingis will only play in one of the two back-to-back preseason clashes. It is unclear whether Porzingis will play against the Thunder or Pistons.
What to watch for:
The Rotations (Or, Donations)
Billy Donovan for just the second time in his NBA coaching career does not have a superstar duo. In fact, some would argue that for the first time in his coaching career he does not have a single superstar on the roster. That results in a more fluid rotation and lineups to put on the floor. How is Billy Donovan going to manage his rotations and lineups with everyone available besides Andre Roberson?
While I know it is the preseason, Donovan has not been a coach to hold his cards close to his vest. The rotation he rolls out during exhibition play is at least his rotation for about a month. Then you might see the head man change some things up. So this is the biggest thing to watch for and what could result in the biggest takeaways. (Note: Players like Gallinari, Paul, and Adams will likely not play their entire regular season load)
How does the OKC Thunder matchup with the Mavericks dynamic duo?
Again, everyone knows it is the preseason, and if the Unicorn or Luka Doncic fills up the point column it is not the end of the world, these games do not count. However, what matchups do the Thunder deploy versus Dallas? Who succeeds and who fails individually?
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Luka Doncic is the primary ball-handler for the Mavs, and the reason Dallas head coach Rick Carlise is one of the best head coaches in the NBA is his ability to design plays to give his players mismatches. So we will see Doncic be defended by almost every player the Thunder allow him to share the floor with.
I am interested to see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terrance Ferguson, and the rest of the Thunder combo guards and wings go after Doncic.
As for Kristaps Porzingis, do the Thunder have anyone talented enough, and tall enough to defend the big man with guard handles and a shooting guard jump shot. What I mean by that is, the 7’3 power forward still jumps when shooting, making him even taller and his release point even higher almost impossible to defend. How can the Thunder react to that?
Darius Bazley
How does the OKC Thunder rookie look against NBA competition that is not on his own team?
During the Blue and White Scrimmage, Bazley looked right at home making smart, comfortable decisions and not being afraid to attack the rim or shoot the basketball. A skill that is not too common for a rookie who shares the floor with more than a few NBA veterans.
Bazley looked more NBA Ready than I and a lot of others gave him credit for on Sunday afternoon, can he display that again on Tuesday night against the Mavericks?
What will you be watching for in the OKC Thunder’s first preseason game?
Next. 3 Takeaways from the OKC Thunder Blue and White scrimmage. dark
After Tuesday, the OKC Thunder will welcome in prized prospect RJ Hampton and the New Zealand Breakers to Oklahoma City on Thursday Night.