Russell Westbrook / Thabo Sefolosha / Kevin Durant / Jeff Green / Nenad Krstic
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Jose Calderon / Demar DeRozan / Sonny Weems / Amir Johnson / Andrea Bargnani
Matchup
This won't be a push over game. The Raptors are a talented team, with a bunch of young athletes that will push the ball in transition even after makes. We've seen a trend of late with teams pushing the ball to get mis-matches against the Thunder.
The most interesting matchup to me is Andrea Bargnani vs. Whoever. The Thunder have had immense, huge, gigantic problems this year with big guys who can shoot. Whether it's Matt Bonner, Kevin Love, Anthony Tolliver, Josh McRoberts, Brad Miller; it seems these guys get lost on high screens against our perimeter defense and hammer us from the outside. Bargnani plays center, so it will be Krstic's responsibility to come out and guard him. Nenad played great defense on Brook Lopez down the stretch of our last game, but Bargnani might be a little bit too rangy for Nenad so we might get a good dose of Ibaka at C in this game. The Thunder also may opt to put Jeff Green on Bargnani and have Krstic guard Amir Johnson.
Jose Calderon is crafty and is the type of PG who can frustrate Westbrook. Russ should have no problem slicing and dancing around this Raptors defense but I'd like to see him be more vigilant with keeping opposing PG's out of the paint and on the perimter.
The Raptors give up a high eFG% from the floor and foul at a decent clip. This should not be a game where our offense struggles to score, and the matchups here benefit us in that capacity. Although they are rated highly on the offense boards and average or so on the defensive boards, Reggie Evans had much to do with that and he is out with a foot injury.
Defensively, the Thunder can't get into a race with this team and allow them easy baskets in transition. Aside from Bargnani, Jose Calderon is the only other decent 3PT shooter and guys like Weems, DeRozan, etc. aren't going to beat us from the perimeter. Doing some switching on the high screens might be the thing to do here.
EDIT: Kevin Durant looks like he won't be playing again with his knee injury, so Serge Ibaka will start at PF and Jeff Green will start again at SF.
Some Numbers
The Thunder are 8-2 when missing at least one player from their regular starting lineup and 5-4 when the starters are together. Our starting lineup is also one of our worst performing lineups that we use with any regularity. Makes you wonder.
A Question
What are the odds that Russell Westbrook outrebounds Andrea Bargnani?
