Starting 5:
Key Reserves:
Kings Stats:
Code: Select all
PTS/G: 97.3 (21st of 30)
Opp PTS/G: 102.1 (20th of 30)
SRS: -4.82 (25th of 30)
Pace: 93.8 (8th of 30)
Off Rtg: 102.9 (26th of 30)
Def Rtg: 108.0 (16th of 30) Oklahoma City Thunder:
Starting 5:
Key Reserves:
Thunder Stats:
Code: Select all
PTS/G: 104.6 (5th of 30)
Opp PTS/G: 102.7 (21st of 30)
SRS: 2.30 (10th of 30)
Pace: 92.9 (12th of 30)
Off Rtg: 110.5 (5th of 30)
Def Rtg: 108.5 (17th of 30)Game Preview:
Coming off victories at Phoenix and Utah, Oklahoma City (33-18) had its three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday, 105-101 in overtime to a Memphis team which stands ninth in the West. The Thunder committed a season-high 23 turnovers and lost for the first time in six overtime games this season.
"I'm not ashamed of our guys' effort. ... We just lost a tough game," Brooks said. "Sometimes you've just got to regroup and figure out ways you could have won the game, and we will and try to learn from it and get ready for the next game."
Brooks will be much more disappointed if the Thunder don't win a fourth consecutive road game Saturday, considering they will be visiting Sacramento (12-37).
The Kings have lost four straight -- all at Arco Arena -- and have the West's worst home record at 7-21.
Sacramento blew a fourth-quarter lead for the 18th time this season in a 102-100 loss to Dallas on Wednesday. It was the third time the Kings have lost by five points or fewer on a six-game homestand that ends Saturday.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011021223
---------
Despite their record, the Kings were competitive in every game with the exception of a couple of games the last month. The Kings' main problem is closing out games. The Kings play well against their opponent but the last couple of minutes of the game, they usually let their inexperience & lack of focus get in the way of closing out the game. Which results a L in most nights. I think it is a matter of time that the Kings should able to correct this flaw and become a respectable team but until then, many (good) teams in the NBA can take advantage of this fatal flaw.
Although these losses sometimes are unbearable at times, there are a couple bright spots in here. In the last 20 games or so, Cousins has been fabulous. So as Tyreke Evans. His plantar fascitiis problem looks like a thing in the past now. Having these guys play at a high level at the same time is necessary for the team's success. Unfortunately, they are 20 & 21 years old respectively. So, it will take time to see immediate results in the winning column.
The Thunder are 33-18 for the season. This team is headed by a two-headed monster in Westbrook & Durant. This team isn't as good defensively as last year's team (2010: 9th in DRtg; 2011: 17th in DRtg) but they are a better offensive team than last year's (2010: 12th in ORtg; 2011: 5th in ORtg). This does not bode well for the Kings. The Thunder get most of their production in the FT line, transition plays & Durant/Westbrook. The Thunder are actually a poor 3PT team. They are 24th in the L in 3PT%. The main 3PT threats for the Thunder are Durant, Harden & Maynor.
The Kings will have a massively difficult time to stop the Thunder defense if they let them get going early on. The Kings need to stop dribble penetration and limit easy baskets. The Kings need to control the boards & attack the paint. Guys like Krstic & Ibaka will not able to handle Cousins if the Kings made a concentrated effort to have Cousins to dictate the Kings' offense most of the night. I think this is the game that Westphal should rely their bigs to garner most of the production. Most likely, the wings of the Kings can't match both Durant & Westbrook production. So, it will be a good idea to run the offense through Cousins from high post & in the paint. Cousins' size, passing and shooting ability should cause major problems for the Thunder.
Most likely, the Kings will have to match the Thunder offense point by point. Both teams are similar defensively. Unless, the Kings' plan is to rely on their defense and stop the Thunder, their offense should be a major part of their plan of winning.
Go Kings!
-- Nice to see some one make a game thread before the game actually starts. haha. 
