Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder: Match preview and predictions - 27th October 2019
Match details
Fixture: Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Date and time: Sunday, October 27th, 2019 at 3:30 PM ET.
Venue: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK.
Last game result
Golden State Warriors (0-1): 122-141 loss against Los Angeles Clippers (October 24th, 2019)
Oklahoma City Thunder (0-2): 85-97 loss against Washington Wizards (October 25th, 2019)
Match overview
OKC lead this Western Conference matchup 138-112 after 250 meetings. Last season, the Warriors won the regular-season series two games to one with the one-loss a blowout at Oracle Arena. Now, Oracle is the Warriors' old home as they start to play in the new Chase Center across the Bay in San Francisco. Their roster is different too. Gone are Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala, two key performers in the Warriors dominating the NBA in recent seasons. Their departure has been softened by the addition of D’Angelo Russell, acquired from Brooklyn in a sign and trade deal. It is too early to tell how the Warriors will fair this season but they sit 11th in the West after losing their season opener to the Clippers.
The Thunder also saw significant changes to their roster this past off-season and if the Warriors simply retooled (waiting for Klay Thompson to return from injury), then the Thunder are definitely in a rebuilding phase. When Kawhi Leonard signed as a free agent with the Clippers, Paul George was shipped from OKC to LA. The Thunder also decided to part ways with point guard Russell Westbrook and swapped him for Chris Paul formerly with the Houston Rockets. Both of these teams are normally playoff contenders in the West but the 2020 playoffs may occur without these two franchises.
Key players
Oklahoma City Thunder-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
A sophomore guard drafted in the first round by the Clippers in the 2018 NBA Draft, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a solid point guard leading the in transition Clippers’ roster to a playoff berth lasting six games against the Warriors in the first round to conclude last season. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 10.8ppg and 3.3apg in 26.5mpg for the Clippers in 2018/19. So far, after two contests for the Thunder, he has dropped a combined 54 points playing the two-guard spot against the likes of Bradley Beal and Donovan Mitchell in two losses to the Wizards and Jazz. While two off-season deals also saw the Thunder receive Danilo Gallinari, Chris Paul and several draft picks to secure their future, their fans can and will be entertained by Gilgeous-Alexander.
Golden State- D’Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell was given up on by the Los Angeles Lakers and traded away to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2017. It wasn’t until last season after the Nets failed to extend Russell’s rookie contract that this talented guard began to explain why he was drafted second overall in 2015 by the Lakers. He averaging 21ppg and led the Nets to the playoff. Due to a $117-4 year max contract in a sign and trade deal, Russell is now employed by the Warriors. When Klay Thompson returns from his knee injury the Warriors will have a trio of great shooters to rely on. However, for now, Russell did manage to score 20 points and added eight assists in his regular season debut for the Warriors.
Predicted starting lineups
Golden State – Stephon Curry, D’Angelo Russell, Kevon Looney, Glen Robinson III, Draymond Green.
OKC Thunder – Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Terence Ferguson, Steven Adams, Danilo Gallinari.
Warriors vs Thunder match prediction
These two teams are extremely different from last season. The Golden State Warriors, who in recent years, have never really relied on a big-man or dominant center are perhaps even smaller and shallow in the center position than usual. For the moment, they will employ 7-footer but lean Willie Cauley-Stein and 6’9” Kevon Looney in that spot. In Thursday’s loss to the Clippers, the Warriors were outscored 58-40 in the paint and recorded zero blocked shots. While Cauley- Stein did not play due to injury, Looney recorded just three points and nine rebounds in 10 minutes and Marquese Chriss recorded eight points and four rebounds in just 14 minutes off of the bench.
The Thunder’s problem is that they will struggle to score. In their two losses, they scored 95 against the Jazz and 85 against the Wizards. The issue is not sophomore Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as he scored 26 and 28 in the two games, respectively. Chris Paul, on the other hand, only scored six points in the loss to the Wizards. He needs to be consistent and productive offensively for the Thunder.
A second major concern for the Thunder is their 3-point shooting. In their two contests so far, they have taken 47 three’s but made just 11. Shooting three's at just 23.4% is not good and something they need to improve quickly.
Both the Warriors and Thunder are significantly different teams from last. While the Warriors might struggle with a lack of size and interior defence, they still have potent shooters. The Thunder will need to shoot from long range at a higher percentage than they have done thus far. If not, expect the Warriors to pull off a win on the road
Where to watch Warriors vs Thunder?
This Western Conference match-up can be seen on Fox Sports Oklahoma or stream it live online with NBA League Pass.