The Blazers on the other hand of Rip City fame is loaded starting with franchise pieces in PG Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. They also have two of the top 12 at their respective positions in Bloodline Wes Matthews Jr. and Nicolas Batum and that much-maligned bench is better with T-Rob, Dorrell Wright, and C.J. McCollum. Now we get a Northwest banger from the top in the "Only game in town" at the new Rose Garden the Moda Center!
#RegulatorsReportOKC OKLAHOMA CITY
@
#RipCity PORTLAND
Wednesday October 29, 2014 @ 1030pm ET
from
Moda Center
NBA on ESPN Gm 2
PLAYBOOK:
The Thunder will try to push the tempo and even without KD of Hookem' Horns Basketball lore the Thunder is super-fast. Russell Westbrook leads but Reggie Jackson and Jeremy Lamb have "G" and they will be a problem for the Blazers if Rip City transition "D" is suspect. OKC is still perimeter-oriented with no real low-post presence but 2nd year "Big" Steven Adams should provide some of that presence. Will OKC go through him though in the half court and not live and die by the "J"?
The Blazers run through their top-flight All-Stars in Lillard and Aldridge and rightfully so. It doesn't stop there though France's Nicolas Batum and Wes Matthews think "D" first and that allows the Blazers to stay in most games as they get after it on the defensive end. Robin Lopez is much-improved and Thomas Robinson, CJ McCollum, and Dorrell Wright provides quality depth. How will Rip City react to Russ on Lillard and "Air Congo" Serge Ibaka on L-Train as that alone is must see 2 on 2 NBA TV?
It doesn't get any better than this in the Northwest or in the Logo for starters. "Expectations" are real for both as OKC is picked to be in that top 4 in the West and some have the Blazers sneaking up on OKC for the northwest title...imagine that!
Transition "D" and half-court offensive execution is paramount in this match up...
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