OKC Thunder – Blazers scrimmage – what you need to know

The OKC Thunder will undertake their third and final scrimmage game versus the Portland Trail Blazers today at 5 p.m. CT.

Head coach Billy Donovan noted how each scrimmage opponent the OKC Thunder face offers unique qualities for his team to measure their effectiveness. Versus the Celtics, it was the versatile, interchangeable wings. Against the 76ers it was the massive size of their entire starting rotation.

This match versus the Blazers may present the best depth and has very distinct traits. Through the two scrimmages played there has been hints the team is close to the pre-suspension level including making some similar mistakes as they did in the 64 games played to date.

OKC Thunder -Blazers scrimmage: Everything you need to know

As per above the Celtics and 76ers served up very specific strengths to use as litmus tests but the Blazers depth is something that features copious options of length upfront and scoring snipers in the backcourt.

That depth could be in question if the Blazers superstar can’t go. Damian Lillard missed the last scrimmage against the Raptors with swelling on the bottom of his foot. This is just a guess — but it sounds almost like plantar fasciitis which is what former OKC Thunder big man and current Pacers star Domantas Sabonis left the bubble to deal with.

Key task – dealing with Blazers backcourt duo :

This is the projected starting lineup for Portland:

• Point Guard: Damian Lillard (Trent Jr. if Dame can’t go)
• Shooting Guard: CJ McCollum
• Small Forward: Carmelo Anthony
• Power Forward: Jusuf Nurkic
• Center: Hassan Whiteside

The teams completed their four-game season series with each winning twice. Portland won the first two matches – October 30th (99-102) and November 27th (119-136). That was the period when the Thunder were still developing chemistry.

The next two games were won by OKC on December 8th (108-96) and January 18th (119-106). However, Portland was dealing with numerous injuries by this point.

Therefore, this match will be the first time both teams are fully stocked (assuming Dame can play) and it offers the Thunder an opportunity to look at a deep club who utilizes their backcourt as the primary offense.

However, the return of Nurkic and Zach Collins adds depth to the frontcourt when combined with Whiteside. In addition, their presence means Melo has been moved to the small forward giving the Blazers great size up front. Watch for Anfernee Simons a young, talented rising star who has impressed and is starting to come into his own.

Correct issues from previous scrimmage:

The major problems Billy Donovan noted in the match versus the 76ers are only partially controllable. Although the Thunder got open looks they weren’t able to connect, particularly early and especially from deep as they went 0-17 from 3-point range at one stage in the 76ers match.

What is controllable is taking care of the ball, being aggressive driving to the paint, and getting to the line — all things the Thunder struggled with, in the first half Sunday.

Fortunately, this scrimmage isn’t tipping off as early and will be closer to the typical time the team is used to playing which should help them in terms of their normal preparation routine.

In their first scrimmage, the 76ers beat the Grizzlies 90-83 building a huge 25-12 lead in the first quarter and posting a solid second quarter of 29-16. With the starters essentially resting in the second half the Grizzlies fought back with too little, too late.

This huge starting lineup will give the Thunder a challenge and they’ll need to avoid their propensity to start slow. That will be more difficult by virtue of the super early tipoff.

Scrimmage Results:

Blazers:

Game 1: Pacers 91 – Blazers 88

Game 2: Raptors 110 – Blazers 104

OKC Thunder: 

Game 1: Thunder 98 – Celtics 84

Game 2: Thunder 102 -76ers 97

OKC Thunder rotations:

Having watched the Raptors-Blazers scrimmage I’m kind of hoping Billy Donovan elects to rest Chris Paul. The Blazers are pushing hard early since they need to win in order to be one of the two teams in the eighth or ninth seed. That is equating to a bit of chippy play typically reserved for games that count or the playoffs.

The last thing the Thunder need is to lose their captain based on a chippy play made in thee scrimmages.

Like the last match it’s unlikely Abdel Nader will suit up as he deals with the concussion protocol and with so many options on the wings and with Andre Roberson available there is no need to bring Nader back even if he clears protocol.

Donovan noted he wants to ramp up minutes as he runs through the scrimmages and seeding games which could mean he’ll extend the starters minutes closer to a typical regular-season match.

OKC Thunder starting unit: 

If Donovan sticks with his previous pattern the OKC Thunder will start with:

Point Guard: Chris Paul
Shooting Guard: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Small Forward: Luguentz Dort
Power Forward: Danilo Gallinari
Center: Steven Adams

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

The coach is trying to ensure minutes across the board so this contest might find Terrance Ferguson gaining additional playing time. Others who didn’t get much run versus Boston are the end of bench guys Deonte Burton, Kevin Hervey, and Devon Hall.

Notably, Terrance Ferguson hasn’t played big minutes through two games nor has he looked good in the minutes he’s played. Perhaps Billy D will try to get him more playing time in this outing and motivate him to show something to warrant him getting minutes in the seeding games.

Where can fans watch or listen to the game?

After two scrimmages were live-streamed on the Thunder website and app this game switches to Fox Sports Oklahoma.

As with all matches, Matt Pinto will provide radio coverage on WWLS-FM 98.1

Time:

The game will tip-off at 5:00 p.m. Central Time (6:00 p.m. EST)

Future games:

This completes the scrimmages for the OKC Thunder. Their next match will be versus the Utah Jazz on August 1st in the resumption of the season and first of eight seeding games.

This contest is at 3:30 p.m. (2:30 CT) airing on ESPN.