Oklahoma City Thunder

at

Miami Heat

Preview

The History

The Heat have built their 7-2 schedule by beating one good team and a lot of bad teams. The two losses came to Cleveland and Phoenix while the one win over a quality team was over Denver at home. Does this mean the Heat are overrated? I don't think so but it is interesting to think about. This is the type of team the Thunder are typically able to play with. A go to scorer that the Thunder can put Thabo on, this team struggles when Wade struggles and if anyone can make Wade struggle its Sefolosha. The Thunder are coming off a terrible home loss to the Clippers, so if they can take out a little anger on the Heat that would help as well. Durant appeared to find his groove, after struggling much of the first part of the season, last game against the Clippers so if he keeps on a roll and can get some help from Krstic, Green, Harden, and Westbrook the Thunder can win a good one on the road.

The Matchups

Mario Chalmers v Russell Westbrook

Two sophomore point guards face off tonight in Chalmers and Westbrook. While Westbrook was trying to gain rookie of the year honors last year Chalmers was toiling in Miami largely ignored. But should that have been the case? Was Westbrook head and shoulders above Chalmers? I think this one is closer than you would think. Westbrook has the huge edge in rebounds but Chalmers had more steals and fewer turnovers while also shooting better from the field. This season Westbrook has had good games and bad games but is really on pace to reproduce these numbers with slight improvements in shooting %'s, while Chalmers is on pace to drastically improve his shooting %'s while keeping his other numbers about the same. So the story of the game, if the good Westbrook shows the Thunder have a chance if the bad Westbrook shows.... Season totals from last year

Edge  

Dwayne Wade v Thabo Sefolosha

After what amounts to a couple of days off for Sefolosha due to the lack superstar scorers on the Kings, Clippers, and Clippers again Sefolosha again draws a tough defensive assignment in Wade. Wade is a superstar and one of the best combo guards in the game. He will beat you with his scoring, and if you try to double him he is a very good passer. He actually leads the Heat in assists for the year. That said this is nothing new to Sefolosha, He has defended Kmart, The Mamba, BRoy, Parker, Ginobili, and Richard Jefferson all great scorers all left shaking their heads from the defense of Sefolosha. His performance tonight could determine if the Thunder win tonight. In each of the games he has defended an elite scorer that was their teams primary option the Thunder have had a chance to win, the sole exception possibly being the game against Portland when KD went 3-21.

Edge

Quentin Richardson v Kevin Durant

Quentin Richardson had been in a little bit of a slump prior to playing the Nets last week. Of course playing the Nets is a good way to bust a slump, it is even better than playing the Clippers. KD broke out against the Clippers for 40 points on 14-25 shooting but it just wasn't enough on a night when the rest of the Thunder were struggling to help. Still on any given night KD alone gives any team a chance to win and tonight is no different.

Edge

Michael Beasley v Jeff Green

Statistically speaking these two are virtually the same. Green averages two points and about half a block more per game than Beasley. Both serve as their teams second or third scoring option depending on the play and who is on the court. Green was limited in the loss to the Clippers due to a hip injury so he might not play as many minutes this game if his hip is acting up. This should be an interesting matchup provided Green can play.

Edge  

Jermaine O'Neal v Nenad Krstic

Krstic has been consistent the last five games; he has hit double digit points, had a terrible first half, and then picked it up in the second half. The Clippers did a good job defending the pick and roll, which is where Krstic does most of his damage, and as a result they took away a good part of the Thunders offense. Jermaine O'Neal is more of a shot blocking center so tonight the Thunder will probably be able to get Krstic going if O'Neal tries to stick in the lane.

Edge

Bench v Bench

Udonis Haslem has been coming off the bench but is still a key part of the rotation, averaging over 30 minutes a game. Against the Nets he had his best game of the season, 12-20 for 28 points and 12 rebounds in 39 minutes. Daequan Cook is coming back from a shoulder injury, the Nets game was the first extended minutes he had played since October.

James Harden went 0-8 with 2 assists, 1 steal, and 3 rebounds in 18 minutes against the Clippers. This was the first game he really struggled to find a way to help the team. Collison continues to come in and provide efficient scoring, energy, and defense. Kevin Ollie has really come around and started to provide a steady influence one the second team. Etan Thomas has been MIA that past couple of games but he can come in and provide quality defense and rebounding when called upon.   

Edge  

The Prediction

The Thunder are coming off a terrible loss to the Clippers. The Heat are coming off an ugly win over the Nets. The Thunder have shown they are able win on any given night and if they play well they can win anywhere. The defense of Sefolosha on Wade will be key tonight if the Thunder want to win.

Thunder win 102-101

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