LOS ANGELES – When an opposing team can do just about everything well, it takes a true commitment to being disciplined defensively to have a chance to win. For the Thunder, that’s the task tonight as it takes on the Los Angeles Clippers.
Between Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers will run a heavy dose of pick-and-pop and pick-and-roll, but early on in this matchup the Thunder expects Los Angeles to seek out offense from a different source – J.J. Redick.
“J.J. Redick is the key for them early on. They try to get him going early,” forward Kevin Durant said. “We have to do a good job of being there on the catch and making him put the ball on the ground.”
With Redick running around screens all over the floor, the Clippers will attempt to cause some havoc on the Thunder’s defense. To start the night, Andre Roberson will be charged with tracking Redick around the perimeter, while still participating completely in the Thunder’s five-man defensive shell to prevent Paul from sneaking into the lane.
“It takes all five guys,” forward Nick Collison said. “They don’t put anybody out there that you can really help off of and muck things up. We have to really be on point defensively.”
“If we get all five guys engaged it’s really going to help us out,” Collison continued. “The smaller amount of breakdowns and mistakes we have, the better off we’ll be.”
Watch: Durant, Coach Donovan at Shootaround:
The momentum plays the Thunder must take away are the kick-out three-pointers, easy points in transition, and most importantly, the lobs to the rim to Griffin and Jordan. Those alley-oop dunks can be game changing, not just on the scoreboard, but in terms of the energy in the building. If the Thunder big men can communicate the coverages quickly and be in the right spot and the guard on the ball can get around the screen and back in front, the Thunder will have a chance to prevent those alleyways to the rim.
“You have to be really aware of those guys rolling to the basket because they take off from further away than most guys in the league,” Collison said. “You don’t want to be stuck in a lot of gray area where you’re not really committed to the ball and you’re not really committed to the roller.”
On the offensive end of the floor, the Thunder wants to continue being sharp, decisive and intentional in its approach to every single possession. Playing with pace, tempo and precision can ensure that the Thunder racks up a high number of assists on catch-and-shoot opportunities. In some ways, the Thunder wants to put the Clippers in a similar bind, with Russell Westbrook getting around screens and attacking the paint to either get to the rim, hit a roller, Serge Ibaka popping to the elbow or Durant along the wing.
“Our spacing is good and we’re putting them in tough decisions where they’re putting two on the ball and they’re putting two on the ball and it leaves one guy to either stick with Kevin or bump the roller,” Collison said.
Broadcast Information:
Tip-off: 9:30 p.m. CT
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: WWLS the Sports Animal and the Thunder Radio Network