GT: Thunder @ Nets - 01/07/20 730pm EST

[ecuhus1981]

Wait, what? We’re FAVORED in a matchup versus a team with a winning record? FADE THAT ACTION, I REPEAT, FADE THAT ACTION!!!!!

All jokes aside, Vegas and ESPN have us winning tonight’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, barely. If the predictions come true, it would be a terra firma homecoming to our road- and loss-weary warriors. Let’s get into it:

DEANDRE JORDAN VS. STEVEN ADAMS – I’m calling a substitution in the starting lineup, for matchup concerns as well as form. DJ can out-physical anyone when he chooses, even Steven, one of the strongest men in the league. The question is, will Deandre’s motor rev up high enough for the challenge?

TAUREAN PRINCE VS. DANILO GALLINARI – This is one of the more concerning matchups I’ve seen against Taurean all season, and that’s an illustrious list. Danilo has developed into a true triple-threat: he can beat teams by shooting, dribbling or passing. If I were on the bench, I would tell Prince to K.I.S.S.: don’t jump passing lanes, don’t help, just face-guard DG all night and hustle. If he can do that, *anything* he gives us offensively is gravy.

JOE HARRIS VS. TERRANCE FERGUSON – The concern (you sense a theme, don’t you?) here is that Joe struggles with ueber-athletic wings, which Ferguson super duper is. Long strides along the baseline, springy finishes around the rim and the blurry back of an opponent’s jersey probably haunt his dreams. All that stuff may elicit OOH’s and AAH’s form the crowd, but if Harris focuses on trading 3’s for 2’s, he’ll come out on top. The problem occurs when these guys hyperize him, AND get hot from long range. He can’t allow the opposition to get free looks from the short corner.

GARRETT TEMPLE VS. SHAI-GILGEOUS ALEXANDER – I know, many will clamor for CLV to start here, and I admit, I could see it. We need firepower in the worst way, but we need also balance between the 1st and 2nd units, and we need someone to slow down upper-echelon guards. As long as Spencer starts, I think Caris remains the 6th man and primary ball-handler with the subs. This should allow Temple to focus on his starting 3&D role. A jack-of-all-trades, Temple can do more than that role, but his efficiency suffers when he has to more all at once.

SPENCER DINWIDDIE VS. CHRIS PAUL – With this H2H, I’m… what’s the word? Oh yeah, concerned. CP3 is a shell of his former self, and that shell is leading a ragtag group to playoff contention in the ridiculously stacked Western Conference. He’s also the type of short, strong, savvy vet that brings out the most frustrated version of Dinwiddie. Can he channel that frustration into downhill drives, efficient passes and smart P&R defense? Or do we need a little TLC to stop Chris?

Schroeder has learned more in 6 months of partnering with Paul than he has in his previous 6 years in the NBA. He’s a terror of a 6th man, and has transformed from an albatross contract to a desirable asset. For this game, he’ll push the pace and knife through our half-hearted zone, let’s hope that bring JA off the bench helps alter some of his attempts at the rim. There’s not a lot else on OKC’s 2nd unit that worries (or if you will, concerns) me, and our bench mob du jour has been effective of late.

Kudos to Kenny for (usually) knowing which guys are appropriate for each game and situation. He’s famously un-sophisticated about in-game adjustments when he guesses wrong, but he guesses right on rotations way more often than not. This will be a tight game, and we’re gonna need to dig deep into papa’s ATO bag of tricks to secure the win. In the spirit of anti-jinxing us…


PREDICTION: NETS 125, THUNDER 129

[brook]

It's OKC! And Danilo will not play tonight

[Stone]

Agreed....if the 3 is not dropping start taking 2's instead. Or at least more of them.

Joe Harris said in the interview after the game last night that all we need is one win to get our confidence back. So this is an important game.

If Musa and TLC can pick up where they left off last night it will really help.

We need Big J to get back to where he was before this losing streak also.

[LOUiS-D]

Nice to see Rodi get the start.

[3pt_chucker]

Happy to see Rodi starting. He needs more mins.

[3pt_chucker]

Prince hitting 3s to start. Need more of that

[Paradise]

OH MY GOD ALLEN.

[LOUiS-D]

no dribbles needed. J with the go go gadget arms.

[LOUiS-D]

Prince hitting 3s to start. Need more of that

Taurean obliges

[3pt_chucker]

OH MY GOODDD FROOOO KILLED SOMEONE

[3pt_chucker]

PRINCE ON FIRE

[NyCeEvO]

Way to go Prince!

I’m tired of losing. Let’s win this game!

[LOUiS-D]

Rodi's really mixing it up. Loving it. Driving, dishing, pesky on d. Still a little raw, but the activity is there and maybe the maturity is slowly developing.

[NetsJets]

Prince from now on THATS HOW YOU PLAY

[MrDollarBills]

Allen destroyed Muscala. Holy God that was brutal.

TP is all business tonight. This is the guy that has been missing since November

And I am glad Rodi is starting

[MrDollarBills]

And Temple gets in a 3.

[LOUiS-D]

i hate that. the offball foul.. guy is beat and knows that there's an open shot, what does he do, shoves the crap out of the screener. advantage given to a fouler.

[3pt_chucker]

Looks like we are getting lazy DJ on defense tonight...

[MrDollarBills]

Looks like we are getting lazy DJ on defense tonight...

His legs seem dead.

[GTR11]

Wow

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