For the first time since requesting a trade to the LA Clippers, Paul George will face the OKC Thunder. Gameday previews the clubs second meeting this season.
The OKC Thunder are a totally different team this season, thanks in main part to Paul George demanding a trade to the LA Clippers to team up with Kawhi Leonard. This pairing is going to need time to develop but if Paul George’s first minutes with the Clippers is anything to go by, this new super duo will bond and the meshing will occur quickly.
The problem for the Clippers is they are so inconsistent at the moment. They beat the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors and split their games with the Utah Jazz. Then they lose to the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans two games in a row. As an encore they then drop 150 points on the Atlanta Hawks without Leonard, beating them by 49.
The OKC Thunder have been competitive in most of their games. The game against the Indiana Pacers being the obvious exception. However, the way the Thunder responded to that loss was incredible. They took on one of the Eastern Conferences best teams and beat them in overtime.
The 48 // OKC v. PHI (Overtime Edition) pic.twitter.com/kmWzhOl2vj
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 16, 2019
The 76ers took it to the OKC Thunder in the first and third frames. The Thunder were able to weather those runs and come back to tie the game. They then dominated in overtime against the best center in the league as well as All-Star point guard Ben Simmons.
The game was another step in the development of this young team. They found a way to win a game where they supposedly have less talent than their opposition. What they have is a point guard who is the best leader in the game and a supporting cast who know their roles and can execute them really well.