Nov 26, 2012

11/26/2012 03:00:00 PM
The OKC Thunder are rounding into their 2012-13 Identity rather quickly as it took about a Month to do so. Tonight's Opponent is the New Charlotte bobCATS commonly referred to by the Bluedude as the mikeCATS now that he is Majority Owner.

The Cats come into Thunder Alley 7-5 and if you remember in the 2011-12 Season they were 7 Wins and 59 Losses on their Resume. Now with New Lead Man Mike Dunlap and a Host of Good New Talent the Cats are looking up and have a Chance against most to beat the Opposition at or away from the Big Cable Box...Time Warner Cable Arena.


PLAYBOOK

Strengths for the mikeCATS: Athletes, Fast, Get out in Passing Lanes, Transition Basketball, and Perimeter Oriented with Lead Guards (Walker and Sessions being their Primary Scorers)

The 'Cats are a Guard and Perimeter Oriented Team that flourishes in Transition and gets out in the Passing lanes using their Athletes and Quickness on the Wings and both Guard Spots. Their Two  Leading Scorers are PGs Kemba Walker (pictured right/18.2 ppg) and Ramon Sessions (17.2 ppg). The "Cats Offense circumnavigates around them and they lead the 'Cats Charge. S Surprise is Big Byron Mullens a 7' Footer averaging 13,8 ppg and 8.8 rebs/g and he has helped solidify the Paint on the Defensive End as well for the 'Cats. Rookie SF Micheal Kidd-Gilchrist is out the gate quickly averaging 11.7 ppg and 6.9 rebs/g and he is an NBA Ready Defender if I have ever saw One a Year removed from Major College Basketball.

The Thunder will have to use their decisive Advantage in the Front Court with Perk, Air Congo...Ibaka, Collison, and a Big Sprinkle of Thabeet. The Key will be for the Thunder to slow the 'Cats Transition Offense around and that also means make them work on the Defensive End and execute in the Half Court. If the Thunder force the 'Cats to execute in the Half Court it would be to the Thunders Advantage. @kdTREY5 will see a Host of Defenders including Rookie SF and Athlete Jeffrey Taylor of Vandy and Fellow Rook MKG. Those Rookie know what's coming but can they stop it as Film Study doesn't tell the Real Tale on KD.

The Thunder will also follow Point God Uncle Russ' Lead as he will be at the Controls vs the 'Cats Walker and Sessions. OKC PG Eric Maynor as well as Collison, and Thabeet will be Big off their Bench as the 'Cats have plenty of Reinforcements and have been using them under Dunlap as he goes on an Average of 11 Players with Nine of them averaging 20 or more Minutes per Outing.

Note: Shooting Guard and 2011-12 Leading Scorer Gerald Henderson Jr. is back into the Fold as this will be his 3rd Game of the 2012-13 Season.

Numbers from bobcats.com

 

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