ajh18
04-11-2011, 11:38 PM
So as I consider the Thunder as our likely second round opponent, I can't help but be reminded of a younger version of the 2008-2009 Denver Nuggets.
Obviously, both teams rely on a high-scoring small forward (Durant and Carmelo) and a point guard (Billups and Westbrook) as their number one and two options on offense, with the Thunder's duo being a bit more proficient.
That Nuggets team made up for the point difference inside, with Nene, Martin, Anderson, and Kleiza combining for 43 pts, 24 rebs, and just over 5 blks a game, while OKC's combo of Perkins, Ibaka, Kristic, and Collision have combined for 35 pts, 25 rebs, and just over 4 blks.
JR Smith and James Harden fill that 3rd scorer role, with Dahntay Jones and Sefolosha serving as these teams' equivalent of defensive stoppers.
On offense, the 09 Nuggets were 6th in PPG and 7th in Offensive Rating, while this year's Thunder are 4th in PPG and 5th in Offensive Rating.
This actually surprised me, because I assumed this year's Thunder were the better team defensively rather than offensively, particularly given their slower pace (13th compared to the 09 Nuggets being 6th).
But in fact, those Nuggets were 18th in PPG and 8th in Defensive Rating, while this year's Thunder are 17th in PPG but just 15th in Defensive Rating.
These numbers are all pretty close though. So when considering matching up with OKC in the second round (not to overlook our first round opponent), it could be an interesting case study to use the '09 Nuggets as a potential benchmark for them.
Obviously, both teams rely on a high-scoring small forward (Durant and Carmelo) and a point guard (Billups and Westbrook) as their number one and two options on offense, with the Thunder's duo being a bit more proficient.
That Nuggets team made up for the point difference inside, with Nene, Martin, Anderson, and Kleiza combining for 43 pts, 24 rebs, and just over 5 blks a game, while OKC's combo of Perkins, Ibaka, Kristic, and Collision have combined for 35 pts, 25 rebs, and just over 4 blks.
JR Smith and James Harden fill that 3rd scorer role, with Dahntay Jones and Sefolosha serving as these teams' equivalent of defensive stoppers.
On offense, the 09 Nuggets were 6th in PPG and 7th in Offensive Rating, while this year's Thunder are 4th in PPG and 5th in Offensive Rating.
This actually surprised me, because I assumed this year's Thunder were the better team defensively rather than offensively, particularly given their slower pace (13th compared to the 09 Nuggets being 6th).
But in fact, those Nuggets were 18th in PPG and 8th in Defensive Rating, while this year's Thunder are 17th in PPG but just 15th in Defensive Rating.
These numbers are all pretty close though. So when considering matching up with OKC in the second round (not to overlook our first round opponent), it could be an interesting case study to use the '09 Nuggets as a potential benchmark for them.