Timberwolves Season Series Preview: Oklahoma City Thunder
By Nick Kelly
This is the fourth part in our series previewing each of the Timberwolves’ opponents and the upcoming season series.
Let’s take a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder and how the division opponent will match-up with the Timberwolves during the 2016-17 season.
Tale of the Tape: Oklahoma City went 3-1 last year against the Wolves, but the one win is much more important in my eyes. Minnesota grinded out a 99-96 victory in OKC on a 24-foot, buzzer-beating three-pointer from Ricky Rubio, giving fans a glimpse of promise in what this team was becoming.
The Thunder, on the other hand, are entering their 2016-17 campaign coming off a disappointing Western Conference Finals loss after taking a 3-1 lead.
What’s new? The Thunder are entering a world without Kevin Durant for the first time in the history of the franchise. They have typically had one of the premiere offensive teams in the league, but a new look could provide a new result. No KD is no insignificant change.
Victor Oladipo and Ersan Ilyasova come to OKC via trade from the Orlando Magic. Oladipo is an emerging young star who can do a little bit of everything. He’ll see a lot of touches and have plenty of opportunity to put points on the board. He’s not the threat we’re used to seeing, though.
Ilyasova, on the other hand, is still one of the more underrated players in the league, and should fit in perfectly with the Thunder’s fast-paced tempo. He’s capable of stretching the floor and has some range, allowing the Thunder to run a small-ball lineup if they so choose.
The Thunder also have another new big man in Joffrey Lauvergne. He played a small role in Denver last season, but should see an increase in minutes as a part of OKC’s second line.
Key losses: Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka, Dion Waiters
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What’s the same? Russell Westbrook now takes the reigns in OKC; this is the position he has been dreaming of for years.
Personally, he is one of my favorite players to watch. He plays the game with so much controlled recklessness that you can’t help but admire. Nearly impossible to defend, he is going to score in bunches every single night.
Westbrook is a tenacious defender on the other end, as well. The only hope Minnesota has in putting a lid on his production is to force turnovers and try to get the ball out of his hands. A tough task, to be sure.
Steven Adams and Enes Kanter return to lead the front court along with Nick Collison. All three have been solid when on the floor and provide terrific rebounding abilities. Adams and Kanter specifically provide a tough paint presence that must be accounted for.
Andre Roberson returns to OKC, likely seeing a different role. Starting all 70 games he appeared in last season, Roberson will likely come off the bench this year in favor of their new pieces. Although he is a solid defender, he struggles on the offensive end and lacks the ability to provide explosive outbursts.
Kyle Singler also returns to the Thunder as the likely starting three. He’s not your ideal small forward, but he is an above average passer for the position.
I expect him to provide more of a boost in assists and rebounding rather than scoring, but he is capable of nailing a mid-range jumper here and there.
My prediction? Oklahoma City has been a dominant force in the West for the last several years, but this year could signal a change in the landscape of the conference.
Although the perception of the team has changed, the heart is still there, and this team wants to win. The key for the Timberwolves success in these match-ups is using their athleticism to their advantage. They’ll have to wear out the bigs to force them to become one-dimensional. If they can do that, I see at least a split this season.
The Thunder are a very tough team to beat at home, regardless of who’s there. The Timberwolves have greatly improved, and this team provides a chance to showcase that improvement.
Next: Top-5 Kevin Garnett Games With The Timberwolves
The Wolves take on the Thunder in OKC on Saturday, November 5th in the first encounter of the season between the two Northwest Division rivals.