Broadcast Information
- Tip-off: 9:30 p.m. CT
- Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
- Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network
OAKLAND – The Thunder will get a few days break in between games four and five of this six game road swing, but first it must go toe-to-toe against the team with the NBA’s best record – the Golden State Warriors.
Shorthanded without the services of Steven Adams and coming off a tough road loss to the LA Clippers on Monday night, the Thunder will be hungry and primed to put maximum effort into tonight’s game against the defending Western Conference champions, who Head Coach Billy Donovan and company battled for seven straight games last May.
Once the ball is tipped, it will come down to how the Thunder executes: whether it maintains ball security, whether it has discipline on its coverages and if it can bring an unmatched energy level.
Westbrook after shootaround:
“We just have to come out and play and be competitive,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “We have to play hard. Schemes and stuff don’t really matter. We have to compete at a high level and the rest will take care of itself.”
The Thunder’s off-ball cutting will be crucial to deal with the double teams the Warriors will surely throw their way. Whether its Russell Westbrook or Enes Kanter on the block, Golden State will likely swarm and blitz on post-ups, meaning that Thunder spot-up shooters and cutters have to be in the right positions and ready to receive a pass.
“Taking care of the ball is important, making good decisions and trying to generate good shots,” Donovan said. “You want to be able to come down on a consistent basis and be able to do that.”
On defense, the Thunder is going to have to use its length, physicality and tenacity to thwart Golden State’s free flowing offense that involves dummy screens, guard-to-guard screening and backdoor cutting. Staying connected to their defensive assignments, calling out the correct defensive coverages based on personnel and making quick decisions on the fly will all be required of the Thunder in order to get enough stops tonight.
“One is guarding the ball and then being able to rebound. Those two things are constants,” Donovan detailed. “When you’re dealing with a really good three-point shooting team, generally they’re really good deep paint teams because the floor is spaced and guys can drive the ball.”
“Your ball containment becomes very critical,” Donovan continued. “Also, when you’re in rotations or are cross-matched, it’s your ability to rebound the basketball… There are a lot of things you have to do well in terms of guarding them.”