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Game 15 Preview: Oklahoma City at Utah

This also counts as an open thread, so feel free to post your thoughts during the game here.

Time: 8 PM Central Standard Time

Place: EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma, Fox Sports Utah

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1)

Enemy Blog(s): SLC DunkTrue Blue JazzSalt City Hoops

Backstory: Well, after one hell of a road trip, it is certainly great to be back in my own bed. But, more importantly, it's great to be writing about the Thunder again. So, what did they do while I was gone? Well, they rightfully trounced the Wizards, and got stomped by the Lakers in Los Angeles. This, all in all, makes for a 7-7 .500 record that the Thunder can't seem to stray away from, one way or the other.

Meanwhile, the team we're playing, the Utah Jazz, seems to be in a similar boat. They've been flirting from staying at okay to becoming good for years now, suffering minor injuries and while beating some opponents badly and losing to other opponents equally badly. It's a team that works well against some and badly against others.

Below: Matchups, Prediction

Star-divide

Matchups:

Center: Nenad Krstic vs. Mehmet Okur (Possibly Kyrylo Fesenko)

A matchup of two clones if there ever was one. Unfortunately, Okur is a bit more well rounded, so he's expected to win this matchup handily if he does play. But, if Fesenko plays, expect Krstic to have a field day.

Power Forward: Jeff Green vs. Carlos Boozer

Jeff Greens continuing quest to remain the #2 guy on the Thunder doesn't get any easier against one of the leagues top 5 power forwards, Carlos Boozer. He'll have another down day, but hopefully he can cause some problems from Boozer inside, because Nenad Krstic certainly won't.

Small Forward: Kevin Durant vs. Ronnie Brewer

Ronnie Brewer was a nice pick at 14, but he's still just a shadow compared to Kevin Durant. He's not an exploitable matchups, but one that should allow for a good Durant performance nonetheless.

Shooting Guard: Thabo Sefolosha vs. Wesley Matthews

Wait....who is Wesley Matthews? Does he play in the NFL or something? Apparently, he's some undrafted rookie. The Jazz are pretty thin at Shooting Guard, I see. He'll obviously be shut down by Thabo, but the bigger question is whether Thabo can use his weak opponent to springboard him into a great offensive night. It's raining 3s!

Point Guard: Russell Westbrook vs. Deron Williams

Daron Williams is one of the best point guards in the league, and a huge reason for the success of the Jazz. I really doubt Westbrook will have a great night tonight if he tries to score too much. Rather, he should focus on distribution, and if he does that, he should be fine.

Battle of the Benches:

The Jazz have the Thunder easily beat here. Kirilenko and Millsap beat us almost automatically. If Kirilenko can come off the bench and be effective defensively, it will be a huge damper in the Thunder's offensive efforts.

Coaching and Intangibles:

The Jazz have the longest tenured coach in the NBA, are at home, and have been 4-1 over the last 5 games, with wins in the last 3 without Mehmet Okur. That's nothing to sneeze at, especially considering we're coming off of a Lakers pounding.

Bottom Line:

The Jazz are a good team, but they are one with weaknesses. If Okur doesn't play or plays badly, they'll be really weak inside, and their lack of swingman talent can pen huge doors for Durant and Sefolosha. As long as Williams and Boozer can be held in check, the Thunder can win this game.

Prediction: Thunder 89, Jazz 86

A close victory. A lot of this is banking on lack of Okur, but I'm confident the Thunder can rebound after a nasty loss against LA.

How do you think the game will go? Vote in the Poll!

And, again, feel free to drop any comments you might have during, before, or after the game below. I might be here during the game to drop my thoughts as well. Go Thunder!

Poll
Who's going to win tonight?
The Oklahoma City Thunder
22 votes
The Utah Jazz
5 votes

27 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 36 comments  |  Add comment |

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Comments

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Sounds fantastic! Only info I could get listed him as questionable.

Tony.psd = Da Man
Manger of Welcome to Loud City
#1 Warriors, Thunder, and Adonal Foyle Fan

by Zorgon on Nov 24, 2009 5:28 PM CST up reply actions  

okur is in supposedly, but im not so sure krstic is, utahs bench is injured aside from the two mentioned.

by f5alcon on Nov 24, 2009 5:30 PM CST reply actions  

If Okur does play, he will suck

because as I said, he’s on my fantasy team.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 5:51 PM CST reply actions  

He better!

Tony.psd = Da Man
Manger of Welcome to Loud City
#1 Warriors, Thunder, and Adonal Foyle Fan

by Zorgon on Nov 24, 2009 6:08 PM CST up reply actions  

Right now

the vote is 10-3 in favor of OKC.

Either the Jazz fans haven’t found our blog, or they don’t care enough to ruin our poll.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 7:20 PM CST reply actions  

Road record

Thunder are 4-4 on the road, so at least they’re consistent and competitive when they’re not at home.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 8:04 PM CST reply actions  

Can anyone think

of another team where the SF leads the team in rebounds?

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 8:20 PM CST reply actions  

No

Dirk plays the 4 and sometimes 5.

And he leads the Mavs in total rebounds, but I think Dampier averages more per game.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 8:57 PM CST up reply actions  

ah ok...

Found one! Phoenix, Grant Hill 7.6, Amare 7.4. Thats pretty surprising

by rickpidero on Nov 24, 2009 9:03 PM CST up reply actions  

Hill has 2 more rebs than Amare

which is kind of crazy.

But Durant has 12 more than Green, who is second.

And Thabo is THIRD on the team!

Our center is tied for 4th on the team (with Westbrook!) in rebounds, 13 behind our starting SG. I know Krstic has fewer minutes but maybe if he could rebound better he’d get more.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:09 PM CST up reply actions  

I think

it just reinforces our need for a more dominant big man.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:27 PM CST up reply actions  

bench...

outscoring out starters, sans Durant

by rickpidero on Nov 24, 2009 8:55 PM CST reply actions  

Harden

is 4-4 for 10 points.

He should get more minutes when he’s hot.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions  

Smart move

putting Thabo on Deron Williams.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:31 PM CST reply actions  

A 3 from RW0

So he can shoot from the outside!

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:35 PM CST reply actions  

I want to watch these games

and I really want to be a Thunder fan, but Brian Davis makes me change the channel to Ball State-Western Michigan. I just can’t stand it.

A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com

by furrer4heisman on Nov 24, 2009 9:38 PM CST reply actions  

All I have

is the online audio. This is a Jazz feed.

The Thunder announcers are kind of annoying, especially the dude who says “Oh another Thunder moneyball!!!!” whenever someone hits a 3.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:41 PM CST up reply actions  

well...

I cannot watch or listen at all when i am on a school computer, cant download and IP blocker here

by rickpidero on Nov 24, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions  

Durant

is currently at 22-6-7.

I wonder if he can get a triple double.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:38 PM CST reply actions  

I've always found the Jazz

a boring team (much like the Spurs).

Whenever I think Thunder is a dumb team name, I remember that at least we’re not the Jazz.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 9:50 PM CST up reply actions  

I really hoped

he could’ve had a triple-double.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 10:35 PM CST up reply actions  

Watching the game...

it didn’t seem so bad.

Your friendly neighborhood Loud City resident.

by daddydai on Nov 25, 2009 1:08 PM CST up reply actions  

At least he was able to get to the line

And make those FTs. But yeah, A/T ratio needs fixing!

by manifestus on Nov 24, 2009 11:01 PM CST up reply actions  

you tell...

me that before the game and id say they will lose.

by rickpidero on Nov 24, 2009 11:05 PM CST up reply actions  

In other guard news

Thabo really shut down Deron Williams.

by ElectricPencils on Nov 24, 2009 10:38 PM CST reply actions  

I have to say

Thabo is looking better and better by the day.

by manifestus on Nov 25, 2009 1:50 PM CST up reply actions  


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50 - 32

3

Lost 2

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Northwest Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
Denver 53 29 .646 0 Lost 1
Utah 53 29 .646 0 Lost 4
Oklahoma City 50 32 .609 3 Lost 2
Portland 50 32 .609 3 Lost 2
Minnesota 15 67 .182 38 Lost 7

(updated 9.2.2010 at 4:09 PM CDT)

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