November 2nd - New Orleans Pelicans @ Oklahoma City Thunder - 1-4

[Pelicanidae]

After a very rough 0-4 start to the season, we managed our first win last game against the Denver Nuggets to finally break into the W column! What a relief. Tonight, we look to continue that trend in the right direction as we take on the OKC Thunder, who share our current record of 1-4.

Currently, the Thunder are a strange team. They're one of those teams who could go either way: with Golden State being essentially eliminated from the playoff race barring anything strange happening, and the regression of the Kings so far this year, the Thunder move into one of those wild-card positions for the playoffs (assuming they don't go scorched earth and throw all their guys away for assets by the deadline).

First of all, before anything else, INJURY NOTES: Stephen Adams is currently listed as questionable for this game, so it's possible that we won't see him at all. Roberson is still out. For us, Derrick Favors is listed as doubtful, and frankly I'm okay with that. Just sit him until he's 100%, please.

Here are the Thunder's relevant stats through 5 games:

Offensive Rating: 99.1 (27th in the NBA)
Defensive Rating: 98.3 (4th in the NBA)
Rebounds p/game: 50.8 (5th in the NBA)
Assists p/game: 18 (28th in the NBA)
3pt %age: 32.6% (20th in the NBA)
Pace: 103.1 (15th in the NBA)

We're kind of opposite teams, in a way. Same record, but they have a top 5 defense and a trash offense, and we have a top 5 offense but have been largely terrible on D. They're a top tier rebounding team, but are pretty bad with overall assist rate: meanwhile, we're 24th in the NBA in rebounds right now, but currently number 1 in assists.

Given Adams' absence, we might not be as mismatched on the boards as we would otherwise be: if he sits, his 12 rebounds a night sit with him, especially his tenacious offensive rebounding, which will free up defensive boards for us and hopefully mitigate our struggles on the glass. Of course, that's assuming he does sit.

This game is very winnable, really. We just need the main guys to show up to a reasonable extent, and replicate the improvements in the defense we saw against Denver: the slower pace of the Thunder should help with that, to some degree. Hopefully we can go out there and improve our record again. 4-0 to make up for starting 0-4 sounds good

Let's go and get the win! #WBD

[Creative]

BIG game for us.

[6warddude]

OKC losses have been really close games......if we block out and keep noel off the boards we should be good......i want to see lonzo and jrue hold cp3 in check and end the game early....

[13 - 3]

Give the ball to Ingram

[KevinDavis1022]

Steven Adams is out tonight. Hopefully Okafor can have a good game

[Pelly Pel]

Is this game on TV or streamed anywhere easy to access?

[luckyman]

Jrue has to continue to step up. No more duds.

[JJackisangry]

Jrue has to continue to step up. No more duds.

Ditto. You can have bad nights, but don’t make it a regular thing.

[JJackisangry]

Is this game on TV or streamed anywhere easy to access?

FSNO

[Pelicanidae]

Ditto. You can have bad nights, but don’t make it a regular thing.

His last game was pretty good (shot poorly from the field overall but lit it up from deep, 7 assists, good defense) so I hope he follows it up with another good one tonight.

[Pelicanidae]

Lol at Jrue denying Noel in the post first play

[Pelicanidae]

Liking the defensive activity so far, even if it's not paying off that much yet. It will if you keep it active.

Need to make some buckets tho

[JJackisangry]

Actually a little unlucky for Oak so far. He was whacked on one of his drives and just missed the other. We have to be less sloppy regardless

[Pelicanidae]

Chris Paul is still a magician.

[Pelicanidae]

Actually a little unlucky for Oak so far. He was whacked on one of his drives and just missed the other. We have to be less sloppy regardless

Oh sure, it's not like we're playing terrible offense or anything. Just missed some shots, and OKC have been disruptive. Makes sense, they're the 4th rated defense.

[Pelicanidae]

SGA has such ridiculous body control and smoothness in his finishing. I get that we don't have any insane rim protectors right now, but still.

[JJackisangry]

Already in the bonus at least

[Pelicanidae]

That was a dual mistake. Lonzo shouldn't have dished that to Okafor, at least not so early; he still had Noel up on him, and he doesn't have that midrange game to take advantage of the dropping big, but at the same time, Okafor should have recognised that and just moved it to the corner which was actually pretty open at the time, and he just didn't see it.

[JJackisangry]

At least we have one player who is willing to put the team on his back. We need other guys to make some shots.

[Pelicanidae]

Something I've liked from Ingram so far tonight: he's getting to the rim. Good to see.

[JJackisangry]

Wow. Reddick come on my dude. Ingram set the most hilarious pick ever that utterly confused the defense and left you wide open to miss a point blank floater. We have to capitalize on comedy

[Pelicanidae]

That should have been a foul call for Ingram.

[bloodypelican]

these refs are so disrespectful

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[JJackisangry]

these refs are so disrespectful

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They have robbed Ingram and Oak so far

[Pelicanidae]

Need some more versatility on the offense here. Right now it's either Ingram drives or it's nothing. You can't run the same thing every time down the floor.

Hopefully with Jax on the floor, we can run some PnR offense and mix it up a little