Pregame 24: Thunder Vs. Spurs

vs.

When: Monday, December 17 @ 7 PM CT

Where: Oklahoma City- Chesapeake Arena

Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM)

TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)

Stream: Click Here

I apologize to my faithful readers recently for missing the pre and post game on Friday. Because of the extenuating circumstances that we all know about, I decided not to write on that day. That is my personal choice and I apologize if I lost any of you readers because of it. However, on a lighter note, Here is your pregame! 

The Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs tonight in a battle for not just the Best of the West, but for the title of Best in the League at this current time. OKC has been riding a 10 game win streak that is the best in the league and the best winning streak in the Post-Sonics Era franchise. San Antonio themselves are limping into this game, having lost 2 of the last three games and having lost the hold on the top spot in the west. This is the second match-up between the two teams, with the first match up resulting in a Spurs win on the opening night for the Thunder, 86-84 on a Tony Parker buzzer-beater.

Oklahoma City seems to be clicking on all cylinders at the moment, bringing almost all parts of their game into a fine rhythm. The Thunder defense has been lax as of late but with offensive fire power like Kevin Durant, explosiveness such as Russell Westbrook, and the super-efficiency of Kevin Martin, a defensive slump can be easily overcome. Much of the product of the run-and-gun offense of OKC is players focused slightly more on the breakout then solid defense, which can lead to lapses in the defenses that are easily overcome.

The rivalry between these two teams has become a classic as of late, with all the parallels in the organization of the teams, the connections of the front offices, and the similarities of their lineups. Although there are very big differences in the way the teams play the game, with the Spurs playing a traditional, John Stockton-like, assist-heavy offense and the Thunder playing a fast-pace, fast break-heavy offense, all these differences accomplish are games that nearly always become instant classics. One teams weakness is another's strength, and all down the stat sheet, the advantage goes back and forth until it is nearly even and only factors outside of statistics determine the outcome of the game, whether it be clutch, luck, or the whim of Gregg Popovich. 

But enough words, lets get to the numbers!

“Far away, through the gash that led the way into the mountains, he heard the thick mouth of the perpetual thunder.”~ Stephen King (The Gunslinger)

Stat leaders

Stat per Game / Leader / Average Per Game

Oklahoma City Thunder

Points- Kevin Durant (27.5)
Rebounds- Kevin Durant (8.4)
Assists- Russell Westbrook (8.7)
Steals- Russell Westbrook (2.0)
Blocks- Serge Ibaka (3.0)

San Antonio Spurs

Points- Tony Parker (19.2)
Rebounds- Tim Duncan (10.3)
Assists- Tony Parker (7.5)
Steals- Kawhi Leonard (2.0)
Blocks- Tim Duncan (2.5)

Important Player of the Game

Thunder: Russell Westbrook. The Spurs can tend to have an effect on Westbrook, in which Russell more often than not gets pushed into games where he shoots too many shots and tends to put the Thunder in somewhat of a hole offensively. In order to win the game, Russell must play under control and take high percentage shots, along with avoiding the penchant for attempting to shoot himself out of a cold hand. 

Spurs: The Bench. Although the starting five for San Antonio can score points in a hurry, the Spurs bench must produce to secure a win in the Peake tonight. 

Points of Interest

1. Manu Ginobli. The heart and sixth man of the San Antonio Spurs is out tonight with a thigh contusion. Definitely puts more pressure on the bench to produce against the Thunder. 
2. Renewed Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan has been playing like he jumped in the fountain of youth as of late,  and he will be working the Thunders big men all night long. 
3. Pay Attention! The game tonight will most likely come down to the last minute and possibly even the last couple of second. So the Thunder have to be completely aware of their defensive rotations and stay on their man, or it will be a repeat of OKC's first game. 

Go Thunder!