Broadcast Information
- Tip-off: 6:00 p.m. CT
- Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network
CHARLOTTE – Streaky wing shooters line the perimeter and the Thunder will have to close out to them quickly and intelligently all night if it is to come away with a road win over the Charlotte Hornets.
It looks as though Marco Belinelli will play, and alongside Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams the Hornets will have three players who can pick apart defenses with their three-point shooting. In fact, Belinelli is shooting 45.3 percent from distance so far this season, so tonight the Thunder will be challenged with tracking him down in transition and maintaining its defensive integrity for all 24 seconds of the shot clock.
“(Belinelli) is an experienced guy who can really shoot the basketball,” Head Coach Billy Donovan said. “Coming off screens, he’s really challenging. With him and Batum on the floor together, it gives them two terrific wing scorers.”
Shootaround in Charlotte: Billy Donovan
The toughest task the Thunder has tonight, however, is similar to one it has dealt with throughout the season against quick, skilled point guards like Isaiah Thomas and Jrue Holiday. In Charlotte, the floor general is Kemba Walker, who is averaging 23.0 points, 5.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 42.0 percent from three-point range on the year. Charlotte native Anthony Morrow, who oftentimes works out at the Hornets arena when back home in the offseason, gave his assessment of the opposition tonight.
“Kemba Walker is the head of the snake. He’s playing extremely well and playing at an All-Star level,” Morrow said. “He’s kind of their engine and their motor right now and the heart of their team.”
“You have to guard those guys in pick and rolls, you have to guard them in transition and you’re guarding them in the paint. They generate shots for themselves and for others,” Donovan said, alluding to Walker’s similarities to other high level point guards the team has faced. “Walker is a hard guy because of his ability to shoot deep threes, his ability to get in the lane, finish and get fouled and then setting up other guys.”
Russell Westbrook after shootaround
In order to keep the Hornets ancillary scorers in control first the Thunder must put a stop to Walker’s attacking style. Forcing him to see a crowd in transition, bigs and guards both being at the same level on the screen to prevent Walker from splitting and then picking up Walker at behind the arc will all be vital elements to success tonight.
“Playing against a guy like that, it’s more a collective group effort,” Donovan said. “Everybody has to contribute. It’s not just one player or two players. We all have to do a really good job defensively.
“Protecting the paint,” Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook added. “They’re a good pick and roll team, and then being able to stop the basketball is huge, especially against them at home.”