Game 44 Thread - Kings (25-18) vs Thunder (22-23)
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2023 11:17 pm
Thanks CityOfTrees for picking up the slack for me missing the game thread the last few nights. We're back at it tonight against a young and dangerous OKC team.
Things I'm looking for tonight:
1. Grown man strength. Though Domas is only 26 years old, he would be the third oldest player on OKC's roster. The Thunder don't have great size in the middle and we need to exploit that as much as we can tonight by feeding Sabo in the paint. With the size advantage he will likely see a lot of doubles and extra defenders shading towards him when he's operating out of the post which should leave room for cutters going to the basket and shooters spotting up from deep. When he's not bullying his way to buckets, Sabo should have no problem finding others with his passing vision.
2. The young all stars. The box office draw for the game tonight is 100% that matchup between the two all star hopeful guards, De'Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA has been having a monster year (shoutout to him for carrying my fantasy squad) and can get buckets in a number of ways. He has great length and size for the guard position as well which has the potential to give Fox some fits. Since these two are both in the conversation for a crowded guard slot on the Western all star roster, I'm hoping to see Fox take this game personal and show voters out there why he deserves the nod (even though I think both deserve it).
3. Play smart. Protecting the ball should not have to be a key to the game, it should be a given, but we have had some real issues with flat out dumb turnovers. I don't know if there's a stat out there for it somewhere but we have to be leading the league in inbounds turnover on the year. I feel like every other game we have 1 or 2 turnovers off of a simple inbounds pass. OKC is a really well coached team that has the 9th fewest turnovers per game in the league despite being such a young team. It will be important to play smart basketball and not commit careless turnovers against a team that ranks 2nd in the league in points off turnovers.
Things I'm looking for tonight:
1. Grown man strength. Though Domas is only 26 years old, he would be the third oldest player on OKC's roster. The Thunder don't have great size in the middle and we need to exploit that as much as we can tonight by feeding Sabo in the paint. With the size advantage he will likely see a lot of doubles and extra defenders shading towards him when he's operating out of the post which should leave room for cutters going to the basket and shooters spotting up from deep. When he's not bullying his way to buckets, Sabo should have no problem finding others with his passing vision.
2. The young all stars. The box office draw for the game tonight is 100% that matchup between the two all star hopeful guards, De'Aaron Fox and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. SGA has been having a monster year (shoutout to him for carrying my fantasy squad) and can get buckets in a number of ways. He has great length and size for the guard position as well which has the potential to give Fox some fits. Since these two are both in the conversation for a crowded guard slot on the Western all star roster, I'm hoping to see Fox take this game personal and show voters out there why he deserves the nod (even though I think both deserve it).
3. Play smart. Protecting the ball should not have to be a key to the game, it should be a given, but we have had some real issues with flat out dumb turnovers. I don't know if there's a stat out there for it somewhere but we have to be leading the league in inbounds turnover on the year. I feel like every other game we have 1 or 2 turnovers off of a simple inbounds pass. OKC is a really well coached team that has the 9th fewest turnovers per game in the league despite being such a young team. It will be important to play smart basketball and not commit careless turnovers against a team that ranks 2nd in the league in points off turnovers.