San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder
Time: 8 PM ET (ESPN)
Spread: OKC -4
Total: 208
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Former Florida Gators guru Billy Donovan has finally made the leap to the NBA, and he could not be doing it with a team any more loaded. Last season’s scoring champ Russell Westbrook welcomes back a healthy Kevin Durant as the Thunder look to dismantle the 2014 NBA Champs in opening week action on ESPN.
Donovan realizes the difference in his new task saying, “82 games is a lot of games…Right now we’re in October, it’s the first game of the year.” Yes, adjusting to a schedule with over twice as many games might be difficult, but having the league’s best and high scoring tandem should make it more palatable.
Durant has led the NBA in scoring four times, and Westbrook strung together a 10-game stretch of 40-plus point efforts.
Despite that, the Spurs now have nearly unarguably the best frontcourt in basketball with 2014 Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, a newly inked LaMarcus Aldridge and all-time legend Tim Duncan. Aldridge came to San Antonio in a surprise signing that left the Portland Trail Blazers stranded (and rebuilding).
Aldridge is one of the league’s best pick and pop players, and having an experienced point guard like Tony Parker will suit him well.
Coming in off the bench is a legitimate starter in David West, inked at a vet minimum $1 million contract. If Manu Ginobili has some hoops left in his sneakers, he and West could head one of the league’s most productive second units.
The Spurs have the most victories over the past 20 years in league history, and likely have one of their most-talented units since the David Robinson-Duncan pairings early in the run.
Duncan beamed over the signing, saying to ESPN, “Over the years we’ve missed out on a bunch of people. It’s kind of the first time we’ve gotten a guy (Aldridge) of this caliber. I was floored by it.”
The Thunder do have a good frontcourt to counter with Durant, defensive demon Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter. Kanter came when the Jazz decided to go with Rudy Gobert as its star 5-man and dealt the center at last year’s trade deadline. He is a huge offensive upgrade over Kendrick Perkins, though some cite Kanter as a poor defender.
What Kanter is, is a big body and strong center who can draw some attention in post-up situations. The Thunder also can bring in Steven Adams in off the bench, or even start him if the Kanter experiment does not pan out well.
Whatever the Thunder end up doing, it is a team carried by Durant and Westbrook, and Donovan is high on Westbrook’s talents: “He keeps it real, I think he lets you know exactly what is going on. He doesn’t let nothing slip between the cracks. He makes sure everybody’s aware of what’s going on…and everybody’s on the same page.”
Keeping Westbrook on the same page that Durant is this team leader seems beneficial, but some question whether it is even the right move. A point guard can be the scoring leader of a team while still keeping everyone happy. And Durant is going to get his looks; there does not have to be a power struggle. While Donovan has a lot on his plate, balancing egos may not necessarily have to be in the job description.
The Spurs are now a powerhouse, and have been a powerhouse, but OKC is seeking to get back to the Finals for the first time since 2012. Unfortunate injuries and mediocre coaching by Scott Brooks led to Donovan’s hiring. The Thunder brass assume bringing aboard an NCAA champion is the best way to become NBA champions.
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