OKC Thunder: 3 keys to beating Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets
The ninth game for the OKC Thunder features the Brookly Nets and the expected return of Kevin Durant. T.I. offers three specific keys to capture the victory.
The OKC Thunder will face former franchise star Kevin Durant as they continue their road trip. Both teams played on Friday with the undermanned Nets falling to the equally undermanned Grizzlies despite a 43 piont effort from Caris LeVert. Conversely, the Thunder captured their fourth road win and first back-to-back wins of the season with a defeat of the Knicks.
The Thunder have played eight games of the 2020-21 campaign and hold a .500 record as they enter action Sunday, January 10th.
The Nets also have a .500 record (5-5) and many have handpicked them to be the East representative in the NBA Finals. Granted tipping off this campaign with win margins of 25 plus points over teams of the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics ilk added shine to the team in Brooklyn.
On top of those impressive wins, much of the reason for that early praise was how Kevin Durant looked open his return from an Achilles tendon tear.
With that let’s dive into the keys to the match:
OKC Thunder key No. 1) Be prepared for the Nets superstars
Speaking of KD while the teams played on a single occasion in 2019-20, the former OKC Thunder superstar was out rehabbing so if he takes to the court today it will represent the first time he faces his drafting team since moving East to join the Nets.
I say if because although he’s scheduled to return after dealing with the pandemic health and safety protocols nothing has been confirmed.
Likewise, the Nets’ other superstar Kyrie Irving has missed the last two matches citing personal reasons. Although the definitive reason why isn’t known, the fact his first absence coincided with the attack on Congress could have a direct correlation.
The key point for the Thunder to remember is to prepare with the intention of facing both superstars. If that isn’t the case then it’s up to leaders Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the vets to make sure the young club doesn’t take their foot off the gas just because the stars are out.
Too many teams have made that mistake in the early season and paid the price for it. Granted, it’s unlikely the Thunder would dial it in or take another club for granted. It’s simply not who they are as players or as a team.
Adding fuel to the fire is the desire to take down an elite club, but particularly one with the former face of the OKC Thunder.
Hey, if nothing else you can bet even Sam Presti won’t be upset if this is one of the games to fall in the win column.
Diving into the stats the Nets rank eighth offensively (112.5) and a surprising fourth defensively (105.5). Comparatively, the Thunder ranks dead last offensively in 30th (100.9) and 11th defensively (107,5).
Here’s the thing about the two core stats this early into the season – it’s simply too small of a sample size. Sure, the Thunder aren’t offensive juggernauts but much of their early issues are tied to so much roster turnover. Likewise, if you’ve caught any of the Nets games it would be shocking (unless sweeping improvements are made) if the Nets finished in the top ten on defense.
As evidence, the Thunder are the best at transition defense allowing opponents a league-low 10.4 points per game while the Nets rank 24th allowing 14.3 points.
These early stats offer insight but it typically takes at least 20 games to see a true pattern and this year with the truncated offseason and pandemic it might take much longer.
The stats that don’t lie are the production of the superstars:
Durant has appeared in six games averaging 28.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists 1.2 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 34.2 minutes per game. His shooting splits are 51.4 percent from the field 45.5 percent from the deep on 5.5 attempts, and 88.5 percent from the line taking 8.8 free throws per game.
Irving has appeared in seven games averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals in 33 minutes per game. His shooting splits are 50.4 percent from the field 42.6 percent from the deep on 5.5 attempts, and 100 percent from the line taking 3.1 free throws per game.