OKC Thunder need to be wary of Spurs wounded pride: preview

OKC Thunder big men vs LaMarcus Aldridge

The old saying goes it takes a village to raise a child. Well, against LaMarcus Aldridge it takes a collective of centers to stop him. He is simply that good. It is difficult to forget the career-high in the double-overtime loss a couple of years ago.

Aldridge scored 56 points and was the difference in the heartbreaking loss. He gave Adams no end of problems and probably the only player in the NBA who gives Adams a sleepless night prior to their match up.

The Thunder are going to need to continue to push Adams, Nerlens Noel and Gallinari at Aldridge to contain him. Do not give him a steady diet of any single defender so that he is kept off balance. However, this is easier to say that do.

Another key to defending Aldridge is to limit the number of mismatches on defense. Aldridge is better than most big men at being able to select what he does against a smaller player. While no one on the Thunder takes a play off defensively, Aldridge’s size and skill are too great for a small man to contain him.

Finally, the Thunder cannot let Aldridge rest on defense. Making him work down that end of the court is such an effective way of limiting his offense. Currently, Jakob Poltl takes the lion’s share of defensive work. Make Aldridge bang bodies with Adams all night, to tire him out.