Thunder vs. Houston: Pre-game primer

vs.

Oklahoma City Thunder (0-1) vs. Houston Rockets (2-0)
Saturday, November 1
Toyota Center
Houston, TX
7:30 p.m. CST

TV: Fox Sports Net Oklahoma (Cox 37)
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)

Game thread
NBA.com pregame info
The Oklahoman's pre-gamer

For the first time, the Thunder will have to go head-to-head with the King - and I don't mean Tracy McGrady or Yao Ming. OKC will be bouncing the round ball while the Oklahoma Sooners run around with the funny-shaped one. The Thunder is sure to lose the ratings battle, but I am setting my DVR and will be sure to watch once I get home from the game.

Remember Two Things:
1. OKC's preseason win over the Rockets means nothing. Absolutely nothing. Ron Artest played little , Tracy McGrady played less and Yao dominated a half before he sat the next. The Rockets are very, very good. Tonight's game will be an excellent measuring stick to show how far the Thunder has to go. Throw out opening night against the Bucks. The team hinted at feeling added pressure because of the emotion and festivities of opening night. There's good reason they played so tight. But tonight's game will be an opportunity to get out and just play with no expectations and no pressure.

2. A good start is key. There was a lot of grumbling about the way Coach Peej managed the first game with his lineup combos. Not playing Durant enough even while he was in foul trouble. Messing with a lineup that went on a run. Not starting Chris Wilcox. None of that stuff would have mattered as much if the Thunder hit their first five out of seven or something. Tonight, KD needs a hot start and Russell Westbrook needs to play more than Earl Watson. Westbrook adds another dimension with his attacking the rim while Watson wants to just stand and distribute.

In order to win... OKC must rebound and take care of the ball. Losing on the hustle stats like it did against Milwaukee can't happen. Any lose ball has to go the way of the Thunder.

Prediction: Kevin Durant plays extremely well and finishes with a solid 30 point performance. Not enough as Yao is way too much inside for the Thunder to handle. Rockets 110, Thunder 102.

Tuesday Bolts

• Sports Illustrated's online preview of the team. Be sure to pay close attention to the lower right-hand corner as the good guys at Blue Blitz have a little blurb about the upcoming season. Well done men.

• Kevin Durant is good, from Thunder Rumblings: "Kevin Durant showed tonight why the NBA world says he’ll someday be great. He simply took over down the stretch, scoring 18 of the team’s final 25 points and had 20 of his 26 in the fourth quarter. But he was the complete package tonight, playing even more impressively on the defensive end and finishing with five rebounds, four assists, four steals, three blocks and only two turnovers in only 33 minutes. He blocked two shots in the final minute that secured the game."

• Jimmie Tramel of the Tulsa World: " Watch out, mayor. If Kevin Durant ever wants to run for office, he's going to be popular enough to steal a lot of votes. Durant showed Monday night why he was the NBA's rookie of the year last season, scoring 20 fourth-quarter points and 18 of his team's final 25 points in a 110-104 preseason victory over the Houston Rockets at the BOK Center."

• Jonathan Feign of the Houston Chronicle: "For the fourth time in four preseason games, Rockets coach Rick Adelman changed starting shooting guards. Von Wafer got the start against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, and keen observers likely noticed the difference between Wafer and the regular-season starter, Tracy McGrady. Wafer struggled Monday but had done enough the first two weeks of training camp and preseason games to push for a spot on the Rockets’ roster, demonstrating shooting range and ability to put the ball on the floor and finish above the rim."

• Post game reaction from Blue Blitz: "It didn't look good at first. I was relieved when I heard T-Mac wasn't going to play, but when I saw Nick Collison guarding Yao Ming, probably giving him a good 8 inches, I again had my doubts. My doubts may have been legit if it wasn't a pre-season game, he had 15 points and 16 rebounds in just 24 minutes. Nevertheless, as the game progressed, you could see a certain fight in the Thunder that just wasn't there before."

• Reaction from Thunderguru: "Houston was kind enough to keep Yao Ming, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, T-mac and Rafer Alston off the court in the 4th quarter, so we were definitely playing against their second team. We finished with Earl, Westbrook, Durant, Petro and Nick. My hat is off to PJ for realizing that Defense wins games. He interspersed that lineup with a little bit of Desmond Mason and no Chris Wilcox. Wilcox is nice but he is nobody’s tough defender. Petro hasn’t really impressed me with his defense either in his career, but he is 7 foot and can occasionally block a shot."

Analysis from Darnell and Mike:



Kevin Durant, P.J. Carlesimo, Desmond Mason speak about the win: