MIN-OKC matchups?

[TwentyOne920]

I have a feeling this team as constructed matches up well with OKC.

1. Kevin Love is the Thunder's kryptonite

Perimeter defense is the most suspect part of Oklahoma City's game. The WCF saw Stephen Jackson go 6-7 from deep, Shane Battier go 11-15 in the first 3 games of the Finals, and Mike Miller go 7-8 from deep in game 5. Meanwhile, the Wolves' best player happens to be a 6'10" power forward who prefers to shoot the 3. Defensively, this brings guys like Serge Ibaka (OKC's best help defender and paint protector) out of the paint, which neutralizes their strength.

That's how Love got his career high against these guys.

2. Andrei Kirilenko's signing allows the Wolves to go small

One of the Thunder's favored lineups is to go small, where Scott Brooks went with three guards (typically Westbrook/Harden/Sefolosha or last year's variation of Fisher/Westbrook/Harden), put Durant at the 4, and one of Ibaka/Collison at the 5. Offensively, this lineup is pretty good, as they can not only push the pace but also space the floor, with four perimeter shooters and a big who can make jumpers. However, Rick Adelman can match this with a lineup of Rubio, (pick two of Minny's wings Roy/Shved/Budinger), Kirilenko, and Love. AK can play either forward position and thus is a boon while playing small. This lineup also spreads the floor, unsurprisingly.

3. Last year's series was surprisingly close

Despite the overall talent disparity between the Thunder and the Timberwolves last year (Wesley Johnson was a freaking starter) the season series was pretty close, with one famed double-overtime game, where even if Durant and Westbrook combined for 80+ points, Love had a career high 51 points (including 7 threes) and JJ Barea had a triple double, and this was AFTER Rubio went down.

With the Wolves making a lot of roster upgrades, primarily through addition through subtraction (getting rid of guys like Johnson) I think the season series should go even this time.

Thoughts?

[moss_is_1]

The thing that helps is Rubio is a great defender to slow down Westbrook. AK47 should be above-average on defense to bother Durant(though he will still get his buckets, hopefully he just has to work harder)...Then Pekovic can destroy Perkins/Ibaka because he is just stronger then them.

Having Love bring their bigs away from the basket is a good thing, usually 4/5s aren't used to playing out there, that's why he got so many open threes.

[TwentyOne920]

The thing that helps is Rubio is a great defender to slow down Westbrook. AK47 should be above-average on defense to bother Durant(though he will still get his buckets, hopefully he just has to work harder)...Then Pekovic can destroy Perkins/Ibaka because he is just stronger then them.

Having Love bring their bigs away from the basket is a good thing, usually 4/5s aren't used to playing out there, that's why he got so many open threes.

Rubio was pretty much the reason the Wolves were even in the playoff hunt, even if the roster was mostly scrubs besides Love/Pekovic (breakout year)/Barea (and Ridnour should not play the 2 at all, even if he's a fine backup PG).

The pick and roll is also a thing that works wonders against OKC, although their biggest weakness is collapsing on a dribble penetrator which thus weakens their defense against kickouts.

And Pek gets the advantage against Perk because he's a much better rebounder (he boxes out very well, which is part of how Love got a lot of boards) and he's not a liability on offense.

[urinesane]

We've actually played the Thunder close the last couple seasons. Something about our team seems to match up with them really well.

[Biff Cooper]

2. Andrei Kirilenko's signing allows the Wolves to go small

One of the Thunder's favored lineups is to go small, where Scott Brooks went with three guards (typically Westbrook/Harden/Sefolosha or last year's variation of Fisher/Westbrook/Harden), put Durant at the 4, and one of Ibaka/Collison at the 5. Offensively, this lineup is pretty good, as they can not only push the pace but also space the floor, with four perimeter shooters and a big who can make jumpers. However, Rick Adelman can match this with a lineup of Rubio, (pick two of Minny's wings Roy/Shved/Budinger), Kirilenko, and Love. AK can play either forward position and thus is a boon while playing small. This lineup also spreads the floor, unsurprisingly.

In my opinion, we're in trouble if we need to go small against them. We end up taking one of our best players (Pek) off the floor and allowing them to take one of their worst (at least offensive) players (Perk) off the floor. We dominate the Pek + Love vs Ibaka + Perkins matchup, and we need to force that to happen as much as possible.

[NikolaPekovic]

2. Andrei Kirilenko's signing allows the Wolves to go small

One of the Thunder's favored lineups is to go small, where Scott Brooks went with three guards (typically Westbrook/Harden/Sefolosha or last year's variation of Fisher/Westbrook/Harden), put Durant at the 4, and one of Ibaka/Collison at the 5. Offensively, this lineup is pretty good, as they can not only push the pace but also space the floor, with four perimeter shooters and a big who can make jumpers. However, Rick Adelman can match this with a lineup of Rubio, (pick two of Minny's wings Roy/Shved/Budinger), Kirilenko, and Love. AK can play either forward position and thus is a boon while playing small. This lineup also spreads the floor, unsurprisingly.

In my opinion, we're in trouble if we need to go small against them. We end up taking one of our best players (Pek) off the floor and allowing them to take one of their worst (at least offensive) players (Perk) off the floor. We dominate the Pek + Love vs Ibaka + Perkins matchup, and we need to force that to happen as much as possible.

u have a point sir


why go small if we dont need to. pek can son perkins and ibaka.


only thing about playing okc we need more offense than just love and pek.

broy and shved will be crucial this year

[Hambone93]

And Pek gets the advantage against Perk because he's a much better rebounder (he boxes out very well, which is part of how Love got a lot of boards)

I think that the reason that love gets a lot of boards is because he's a really good rebounder.

Other than that continue.

[urinesane]

And Pek gets the advantage against Perk because he's a much better rebounder (he boxes out very well, which is part of how Love got a lot of boards)

I think that the reason that love gets a lot of boards is because he's a really good rebounder.

Other than that continue.

Which has a lot to do with his positioning himself and BOXING OUT.

Pretty pointless reply sir.

[Hambone93]

And Pek gets the advantage against Perk because he's a much better rebounder (he boxes out very well, which is part of how Love got a lot of boards)

I think that the reason that love gets a lot of boards is because he's a really good rebounder.

Other than that continue.

Which has a lot to do with his positioning himself and BOXING OUT.

Pretty pointless reply sir.

forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I thought that he implied that nikola pekovic was part of the reason that Love gets alot of rebounds. I was simply pointing out that Love would rebound like a champ regardless of pekovic.

It's really not a big deal but it's the height of the off season sooooo...