An unlikely friendship: KD and Sam Bradford enjoy the All-College Classic together. I hope you payed for your own ticket, Sam!

2 in a row? Hey, I realize that we just saw the impossible happen, but winning two consecutive, and the second being against The Chosen One himself, is beyond improbable. Coming off wins this year (yes, that has happened before, believe it or not) the Thunder turned around to lose most recently 103-97 at Charlotte and 96-83 at home against Boston earlier. Sure, you can say that we were playing the Bobcats on the road and that Boston is having one of the best starts in league history. Still, it's not like Cleveland is something to sneeze at. One can't forget the beatdown the Thunder took earlier in round one at the Quicken Loans Center. This loss made for more embarrassment than Mark Mangino in a leopard-skin thong, and the Cavs have certainly showed no sign of slowing down since they last met. Don't expect a repeat, that's all I'm saying.

Backstory:Cleveland fans are supposed to all be Witnesses, according to Nike. The only thing Thunder fans have witnessed this season, for the most part, is losing. But not this last time! I finally have an optimistic note to share with you! The new look Thunder line-up, with Dez Mason and "Sick" Nick Collison in the line-up, the Thunder seemed to play with an efficiency that was unheard of before. Let me take a minute to talk about the man Desmond. He was spectacular in the game that, I believe, was his first start of the season. Grabbing opportune rebounds and doing nothing to hurt the team, along with stiff defense. Sure, he only scored 7, but that's a good thing. He knew his place in the offense and didn't screw it up, letting KD, Jeff, And Russ do that work for him, much like Bruce Bowen knows his place on the Spurs offense. Plus, good news is on the way, with the (hopeful) signing of Nenad Kristic in the cards for the Thunder. Sure he's never been one for great defensive play and is only an average rebounder, but he'll be the first legitimate 7 footer the Thunder would have put on the floor this season. He ran with Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson for awhile in New Jersey so he has experience with this type of offense, and I imagine he'll eventually find his way into the staring line-up.

Match-ups:

Russell Westbrook vs. Mo Williams

Edge: Mo

He's really been the reason the Cavs have stepped up their level of play. He solidifies the offense, which in turn, helps the Cavs focus on their D, which is very stingy this season.

Desmond Mason vs. Delonte West

Edge: Mason

I just spent awhile talking about how impressed I was, so to not give it to him wouldn't make much sense. I got a lot of respect for Delonte, but D-Mase should do well defensively.

Kevin Durant vs. Michael Jordan...I mean LeBron James

Edge: The King

I don't really think that LeBron is really "the next Jordan," if there really is such a thing. However, I will say this, nobody in the history of the game has, is, or will be better at taking the ball to the cup than LeBron James.

Jeff Green vs. Anderson Varejao

Edge: Green

An interesting match-up, as always, at the 4. Jeff Green, along with many other Thunder players were really clicking in the last game, he gets the nod.

Nick Collison vs. Ben Wallace

Edge: Big Ben

Hey, we Bens gotta stick together. Ben Wallace...what can I say, I love the guy. He's one of my three or four favorite players in the league. The hair, the attitude, the bod. No homo!

Battle of the Benches:

Edge: Cavaliers

The Cavs have been getting good bench numbers this season, despite a few injuries. True, thats primarily because they pull the starters after they get up 30, but they've got Sasha Pavlovic, Wally Szcerbiak, so I think they have the slight edge.

Coaching and Intangibles

Edge: Cavaliers

Well, playing a lesser team, Scott Brooks would have a good a shot as any to win this match-up tonight, as everything seems to be going right. However, Mike Brown is perhaps the leading Coach of the Year candidate, so gotta give it up to the Cavs tonight.

Player to Watch:LeBron James. Serious;y, how often do you get to watch LeBron James?

God of Thunder's Pick: Cleveland 105, Oklahoma City 89

Comments

Zorgon

0

 

 

The Collison/Mason lineup really isn't that much better.

But I hope we get to see some of the twin towers tonight! (Those being Hill and Sene).

Sunday 21 December 2008, 10:38

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