OKC Thunder: 3 keys to defeating the Blazers

OKC Thunder key no. 2 – Take advantage of shorthanded Blazers

Every season the Blazers are mired by injuries. This offseason Neal Olshey bolstered the depth of the club but once again they are shorthanded with primary contributors missing significant time.

Last year the injuries mounted to the point that the Blazers had to enter the Orlando bubble and win seven of nine games to reach the play-in game and then take down the Grizzlies to advance. By the time they got through that match to play in the postseason, they were spent.

This year despite all their injuries the one thing that might work in Portland’s favor is they should have a rested and healthy club as the season draws to a close and if Lillard isn’t overworked that could prove to be a problem for many of the teams who didn’t face adversity this season.

For the moment, the Thunder aren’t going to be upset if they lose but there’s something to be said for owning a franchise and the record against it. That’s something this new iteration of the Thunder has the early advantage on versus the Blazers and it would be good for the mindset and confidence of the Thunder who’ve been playing shorthanded themselves against the elite clubs these past four games.

It doesn’t appear that SGA or Maledon will return for this match as both are noted as out until February 17th so the Thunder will need to accomplish the victory without a true point guard again.