Yeah, sometimes Thursdays can be real bummers for NBA fans. We were spoiled with 10 games last night, including a buzzer-beater in Orlando.
Tonight we get only two games, which means no League Pass alerts and a lot more commercials. But there's good news: tonight's matchups shouldn't disappoint.
Cavaliers at Thunder
| Record | nERD | Offensive Eff. | Defensive Eff. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavaliers | 13-7 | 63.2 | 111.8 | 106.1 |
| Thunder | 8-13 | 42.4 | 101.4 | 102.4 |
Now, I know if you just looked at this table, especially at the difference in record and total nERD, you'd expect this game to be a complete blowout in favor of the Cavs. But these numbers are, of course, skewed by the fact that fourth-most potent offense. It'll be interesting to see if the Thunder can contain the likes of (as long as he plays).
Matchup to Watch: Irving vs. Westbrook
I know this wouldn't normally be the matchup to watch in this game -- it would be KD v. LeBron. However, KD's still on a minutes restriction, and LeBron is a game-time decision with general soreness in his left knee. Ugh.
But we still get a very juicy matchup between two of the best offensive point guards in the league in Irving and Westbrook. Both players average over 20 points and 5 assists per game. But what has separated the two, at least in the past, is defense. Westbrook has made strides as a defender, from his defensive rating of 111 his rookie season, to a rating of 102 a year ago, to a career high 100 so far this year. Irving, on the other hand, has struggled defensively. His average defensive rating over his first three-plus years is 109.
However, under LeBron's wing, Kyrie is now posting a career-best 107. Kyrie will have to be even better than that if he wants to stop this freak of basketball nature. I know one thing -- it'll be fun to watch.
Rockets at Kings
| Record | nERD | Offensive Eff. | Defensive Eff. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockets | 16-5 | 63.5 | 104.6 | 100.3 |
| Kings | 11-11 | 50.8 | 107.5 | 107.5 |
This matchup isn't what it was supposed to be just a few weeks ago. And, hopefully, when these teams meet again on April Fools Day, it will be what we imagined it would be before injury and sickness struck both MVP level. He continues to put up 25 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds per night, and even in a loss last night to the defensive-minded Warriors, the Beard put up 34 points on 14-27 shooting from the floor and 3-8 from three point land. Tonight, he will likely see the youngster Ben McLemore, but I don't see that ending well for McLemore, who hasn't stopped many opposing shooting guards this season (defensive rating of 110). It's likely that Harden bests Gay tonight, but we'll have to wait and see if Rudy is up to the task.