RealGM

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UTAH JAZZ at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
7PM CST |
Jazz: 13-13 | # in West
ROSTER:

Thunder: 16-8 | # in West
ROSTER:

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SUMMARY
Thunder Last 3

Thunder Upcoming 3

PLAYER OF THE GAME
- 7
- 4
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- 2
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- 1
- 1
- 1
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I like Utah, but it would be so nice to win this one. A bit revenge for the playoffs and putting them under enormous pressure moving forward.

I expect we lose it, and make this the game where Utah turns their season around. Wouldn't it also be fitting if that is the game where Rubio gets his shot back?

All negative expectations aside, that game is a real test and should show what we can expect of our team in the playoffs:
Does our defense continue being good?
Will Donovan start to stop getting outcoached by better coaches?
Can Westbrook keep his calm and continue to trust his teammates?
Pushoff P or Playoff P?
What weakness does Utah want to exploit?

Westbrook and PG13 are all in for this one. We will win.

Individual wins and losses don’t mean much but I would be surprised if our guys don’t show up ready to play. Based on how things transpired last year and after two mediocre performances, we should come out focused.

I hope they can get their head out of their butts on the defensive end at the very least.
Hopefully getting embarrassed taking that gamble at the end of the game in Chicago has Russ focused to come out of the gate. Then again who knows.

Mini Rant:
One thing that does not need to happen is the whole "lets throw the ball into Steven Adams 1034 times at the start of the game to set a tone" BS. That **** is a gimmick that doesn't even work against bad teams. ( See the BKN and CHI games) Let alone a team that has someone like Rudy Gobert on it and is as disciplined on defense as Utah.

Run an actual PNR. Slip screens. Backdoor cuts. Floppy action. You know... actual basketball. Not this autopilot sesame street bull**** they have been using the last two games. That trash won't beat Utah even with their disappointing start.

Sup OKC, I've had this game circled on the calendar for a while and I'm sure Paul George has too. Jingles did him diiiiirty in the playoffs and did his best to rub his face in it too. I predict George to go off huge and don't be surprised if we see a little pushing and shoving and/or minor fisticuffs.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone so blatantly try to get inside an opponents head on the court. Ingles behavior would have made Embiid blush.

Osirus89 wrote:I hope they can get their head out of their butts on the defensive end at the very least.
Hopefully getting embarrassed taking that gamble at the end of the game in Chicago has Russ focused to come out of the gate. Then again who knows.

Mini Rant:
One thing that does not need to happen is the whole "lets throw the ball into Steven Adams 1034 times at the start of the game to set a tone" BS. That **** is a gimmick that doesn't even work against bad teams. ( See the BKN and CHI games) Let alone a team that has someone like Rudy Gobert on it and is as disciplined on defense as Utah.

Run an actual PNR. Slip screens. Backdoor cuts. Floppy action. You know... actual basketball. Not this autopilot sesame street bull**** they have been using the last two games. That trash won't beat Utah even with their disappointing start.

Yes, because we have enough spacing to do those things.


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We're playing bad basketball right now and they're not. Could be an ugly one

spearsy23 wrote:We're playing bad basketball right now and they're not. Could be an ugly one

Meh. Two lazy games.

Pillendreher wrote:

spearsy23 wrote:We're playing bad basketball right now and they're not. Could be an ugly one

Meh. Two lazy games.

Yup. We are going to turn up for this one and everyone will lose their mind.


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Pillendreher wrote:

spearsy23 wrote:We're playing bad basketball right now and they're not. Could be an ugly one

Meh. Two lazy games.

That's concerning, easily combined with habits we had last season.

spearsy23 wrote:We're playing bad basketball right now and they're not. Could be an ugly one

They are struggling too and will be on a B2B

A .500 or better week would be solid.

is russ going to dress up with black kino tape all over his shoulders to intimidate rubio again?

bondom34 wrote:A .500 or better week would be solid.

3-1 would be solid. 2-2 is not crazy bad but I won't like it considering the fact that Denver is missing some key players (still a tricky game though)

Excellent start to the game. We are coming out and setting the tone on defense.

#thunderup


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That Westbrook to Adams pass at 3:20 in the 1st. Oh my goodness.


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jazz hunting that weak side corner now. reserves might get throttled.

Great effort, good defense result in a good first quarter. Unlucky that Mitchell makes this shot, so instead of being up 11/12 we are now 'only' up 8.