OKC Thunder: 3 keys to defeating the Blazers
Last week witnessed the OKC Thunder lose three of four games but it was one of their best weeks this season. The fact they pushed the defending champions to overtime in consecutive games was impressive.
They followed that up by leading the Nuggets by 19 points and although they lost by two points the fact they were missing their top, second, and third point guard in two of the three matches speaks to the competitive nature of this team.
In fact, Mark Daigneault had only eight players available in both games in LA then nine for the Nuggets and Bucks matches. The latter provided the high point of the week as the Thunder beat Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmopo.
Much like the Thunder limp into this match so too are the Blazers mired in injury. They are missing two of their big three with CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic out. Zach Collins is another core player that has been hampered by constant injury misfortune.
In spite of so many players being out the Blazers are finding a way to stay afloat in the West securely maintaining their hold on the fifth rung.
This match marks the first of a back-to-back set with the second game against the Grizzlies in Memphis. With that let’s look at three keys to the match.
OKC Thunder key no. 1 – Limit the Thunder killer – Damian Lillard
The Blazers bring a four-game win streak (and six of their last seven) to the court and the desire to make up for the earlier loss to the Thunder this season.
Of all the clubs in the association, the Blazers are arguably the greatest rivalry with the Thunder. Yet, much of the reason behind the rivalry exists due to players who no longer play for the club.
The wave goodbye doesn’t hold the same relevance since Paul George and Russell Westbrook are no longer on the Thunder. Yet, the reality was ‘that wave‘ by Dame essentially signaled the end of the Westbrook era and launched the next phase for the Thunder franchise.
In the future when the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his remodeled crew rise up in the West, the one person who will inevitably forever linked to why the new era was created is Damian Lillard!
Even as the new era marches on Damian Lillard remains a problem for the Thunder (and every club in the association). Without his backcourt partner McCollum, Dame is having to find a way to make things work to stay afloat.
In recent years, Lillard has made a concerted effort to involve his teammates early and takes over late when the game is on the line — aka “Dame Time”.
Through the 13 games McCollum has missed, Lillard is averaging 31 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.1 steals, and shooting 38.9 percent from deep on 10.9 attempts.
The last time the clubs played Lillard was held somewhat at bay scoring below his average (26) but collected 10 assists and six rebounds. OKC will need to apply the same defensive pressure on Lillard as they did in that match particularly from deep where Dame shot an uncharacteristically low 3 of 12 from the perimeter and 8 of 22 overall.
Look for Luguentz Dort to be tasked with the main assignment of guarding Lillard.