Story Created:
Nov 29, 2009 at 10:32 AM CDT
Story Updated:
Nov 29, 2009 at 4:07 PM CDT
Home court dominance is beginning to occur for the
Thunder at the Ford Center. Friday's 108-90 blistering of the Milwaukee Bucks was their second straight home court victory by 18 points or more. The timing of 9-7 OKC ramping it up at home is impeccable, as it faces it's second of five in a row on Ford Center hardwood tonight as 8-8 Houston is in for a visit. The Thunder are going after their tenth win of the season tonight before the month of November expires--IMPRESSIVE!
Oklahoma City confronts a Rockets team that's fallen on hard times lately, suffering back to back losses to Dallas and San Antonio of late. This team is without perennial All-Stars injured
Yao Ming and
Tracy McGrady so it's running a ton, spreading out opposing defenses while attempting the third highest number of three pointers in the NBA...firing up 23 treys a game.
Houston is balanced and potent offensively, averaging 102.2ppg. Rick Adelman's Rockets have four scorers averaging at least 15 points per game. Lightning quick point guard
Aaron Brooks (16.0ppg, 5.6apg), athletic off-guard
Trevor Ariza (18.3ppg, 2.1 steals per game), emerging power forward
Luis Scola (15.3ppg, 9.9rpg), and sensational sixth man
Carl Landry (15.6ppg, 5.6rpg) are all scoring at or above the impressive clip of 15 points a night.
The Thunder were beaten by Houston November 6th in Texas 105-94, struggling that night to get a handle on the Rockets diverse offensive attack. Oklahoma City yielded 22 fast break points and 53% field goal shooting defensively in the road loss.
Clearly tonight the Thunder must defend at a higher level. OKC floor leader
Russell Westbrook (16.7ppg, 6.9apg) exploded for his season high of 33 points at the expense of the Rockets point guards and would appear to be capable of more of the same against the tandem of Aaron Brooks and reserve Kyle Lowry tonight. Also, the Thunder will need outstanding efforts from
Jeff Green (14.7ppg, 6.1rpg),
Nenad Krstic (8.3ppg, 4.9rpg),
Serge Ibaka (3.6ppg, 4.4rpg) and any other front line performers that head coach Scott Brooks calls upon to neutralize Houston's active front court that has it a plus 43 in offensive rebounds for the season.
This could be a classic case of the Thunder's strong defense colliding with Houston's explosive offensive attack. In Oklahoma City the likely advantage goes to the home team especially the way the Thunder have performed at the Ford Center lately.
