November 25: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Golden State Warriors - Preview and Game Thread

Hip, hip hooray! Thunder fans after seeing off the L.A. Stalkers we finally have a bye!

What are the players going to do with their day off? Make a flying visit to San Francisco to check out a Californian circus, of course.

As with almost every circus ever, beneath the Golden State big top is a well of creepy sadness that has seen better days... Today, their sad act is certainly not the showstopper it once was. In their heyday though - three or four seasons ago - their stage showcased such all-star luminaries as, the barely bearded man, Kevin Durant... And, even ref-defying strongman, Draymond Green! Legend has it that a single strategically-placed knee from him, could topple even the tallest kauri tree!

Back in the day, marquee talent such as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson lit up the world’s biggest stage - albeit from the outer rings - night after night...

But nowadays. the only elephant in the room is actually a tank. The Warriors aren’t Worriers about it though because, after three titles from five consecutive finals appearances, they’re about to get a top draft pick as well!

Abracadabra all right! How did they pull this particular rabbit out of a hat?

Probably by trotting out a clownish starting five of Alec Burks, Willie Cauley-Stein, Glen Robinson the Third - when there’s possibly two better options. Plus, also-rans E. Paschall and K. Bowman. I don’t even know those last two’s first names. And can’t be bothered looking them up...

Unlike with our wishy-washy front office, the bruised and battered Warriors, those that didn’t desert again (ahem, KD), all got the tanking memo and are currently resting and recuperating... Meanwhile, a bunch of nameless cannon-fodder are churning up the Bay Area in full panzer-mode. This unstoppable tank has been forged from an ironclad 3-13 losing record, a league worst, which is ploughing them directly into the middle of the draft lottery...

In another scheduling anomaly, we’ve thrashed these buffoons twice already, by six and 28 points respectively, and that was with Jamal Murray playing...

Anything less - than the six - is unacceptable. As SoonerViking said, in one of those riveting game threads, GSW will soon be responsible for more than half our wins! Approximately 61 % of our wins to be exact...

Yet, ESPN have the league’s worst team shading us as favourites 53% to 47%. Why?

It may already be Custer’s Last Stand debacle, but the cavalry could be coming though... Albeit a one man charge...

After a much deserved layoff, Dirty Dray may be back on court. It shouldn’t count for too much though, as the serial overachiever has been regressing to the mean this season - thankfully only statistically.

Suffice to say, after 10 games - averaging 8.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game - he’s won’t be threatening Russ’s triple double record. In fact, his 37.9% two-point shooting, 26.7% three-point shooting and 12.3 PER are all his lowest numbers since his rookie season.

Still, with long-term injuries to key players Steph, Klay, Jamal (December) and Kevin Durant - is his nomad tent still pitched there?

Overall, this should be an audition for SGA and a stat-padder, like playing Atlanta. Also, an opportunity for much-needed rest for old man Adams... Especially if knick-knack nad-whack is back playing...

My prediction, Thunder by less than five... I know I said by six at least before, but in reality we never win - or lose - by that much... So if I’m betting my money, five and under... Which will still be unacceptable... Best of both worlds.

Mmmwah! Kiss of death delivered!