Oklahoma City Thunder at Portland Trail Blazers
Time: 8 PM CT (NBA LP)
Spread: OKC -7.5
Total: 215
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The Oklahoma City Thunder have won eight of its past 10 games and its last two and will travel to face the rebuilding Portland Trail Blazers at 8 PM Central on NBA League Pass. NBA oddsmakers favor the Thunder by 7.5 points and set the over/under at 215.
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OKC is 26-11 and atop the Northwest Division. It last knocked off the woeful L.A. Lakers 117-113 last night. Russell Westbrook had a typical beastly Westbrook type game with 36 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. He shot 11 of 24 from the floor, but running mate Kevin Durant was an efficient 10 of 15 from the field for 24 points and seven boards.
It could be said that it is problematic the Thunder are unable to find scoring outside of that main duo, but it is hard to find faults with the No. 3 team in the West. Durant and Westbrook combine for 52 points per game, which is still less than half of the Thunder’s 108.9 points per game scored as a team.
The emergence of Enes Kanter has been instrumental in finding a tertiary source of scoring. Kanter has averaged 11.6 points per game, but over his past five he has struggled a little. Kanter is shooting just 48.6 percent from the floor over that span, yet he is 56.5 percent on the season. Last night he shot 6 of 10 from the floor for 15 points while snagging nine rebounds.
Kanter is solid on the post, but the biggest quip most have is his lackadaisical defensive efforts. The Thunder are a team that can run opposition out of the building however, and a strong defensive concept team-wide covers for some of Kanter’s slow footed movements.
The Trail Blazers are 15-24 on the year and have lost its past three games, with losses coming to the Memphis Grizzlies, L.A. Clippers and Golden State Warriors. None of the games were particularly close, with the Blazers losing by an average of 14.6 points per game.
Portland, like OKC, relies heavily on two players: Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. McCollum has been a surprise of sorts this season and has a good shot at winning Most Improved Player of the Year. The LeHigh product struggled badly against Golden State on Friday night, though, hitting just 7 of 23 from the field.
On the season, C.J. has shot much better: 44.2 percent from the floor and 39.8 percent from three. McCollum is averaging 20.9 points, 4.3 assists and 3.6 boards per game, and seems to be the perfect running mate for Lillard.
And Lillard has been fairly sensational. He is averaging 24.7 points and 6.9 assists per game as the only Blazer to post a PER above 20 (21.2). He had 40 in the loss toe the Warriors, going 12 of 27 from the floor but still unable to help his squad keep pace with the league’s most dangerous team. If 40 points and 10 assists results in a loss, it is a good sign that the effort comes against a contending team, and that was the case.
How long until Portland contends again? Probably not as long as everyone thought prior to this season. The Blazers have a good young core, and with the addition of a frontcourt defender its prospects will improve vastly.
Both Meyers Leonard and Mason Plumlee are good young talents, but defending is not their strong suits. While the pair could develop into a formidable duo in the paint, the Blazers really only have Ed Davis to throw at opposing big men when they get it cooking.
Kanter could feast on Portland’s frontcourt, in other words. And even if he does not, the Thunder have too much talent to allow Portland to sneak out of this with a victory. If it happens, it will be because McCollum and Lillard go on a true tear.
