Vitals: Thunder vs. Spurs

Originally Published: Nov 14, 2010 3:38 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

Oklahoma City Thunder (5-3) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7-1)
Sunday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. CST
The Oklahoma City Arena
Game 9 of 82

Anticipated Starting Lineups

Injuries
Oklahoma City: PF Nick Collison (knee, OUT), F Jeff Green (ankle sprain, QUESTIONABLE)
San Antonio: SG James Anderson (fractured right foot)

Where to find it:
On TV: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: Thunder Radio Network (Matt Pinto)

What you need to know...

Year after year, the Spurs somehow manage to keep a solid core and compete for a Western Conference title. Tim Duncan, who still puts up relatively the same production despite getting older every year, teams with Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker to form one of the league's top trios over the past few years. OKC GM Sam Presti began his executive basketball career as an intern with the San Antonio Spurs, and began to slowly but surely work his way up. Presti played a large role in the Spurs' drafting of players such as Tony Parker and others who were relatively unheard of at the time but have made names for themselves. After Presti took over as General Manager of the Supersonics (soon to become the Thunder), he began to build the organization in the mold of San Antonio, his former organization. These days, the Thunder and the Spurs might look different based on overall age and experience. But Presti is building the young Oklahoma City squad in the image of the Spurs.

After a mediocre start to the season, the Thunder have now won two straight and have moved two games above .500. They have managed this despite the absence of two starting-caliber players in forward Jeff Green, who has missed three straight games with an ankle sprain and center Nick Collison, who should return in the game to help shore up the OKC frontline. The Thunder have been winning games with their free-throw percentage, easily leading the NBA through the young season at a remarkable 88 percent as a team. OKC was 24-of-26 from the line against Portland in a two-point victory.

Who to watch...

Spurs center DeJuan Blair has been making teams pay for passing on him in the 2009 draft. Blair fell to 37th overall after teams expressed concern about his height and long-term injury status. Despite standing just 6-7 on a good day, Blair is a more-than-capable rebounder, averaging nearly 8 per game and uses his body for position as well as almost anyone in the league. Thunder center Nenad Krstic, who is not exactly known for his physical play, will have to stay in position to keep Blair off the offensive boards. Meanwhile, OKC's Serge Ibaka will be faced with the task of containing Tim Duncan.

As Kevin Durant continues to impress and keep his name in the MVP race, Russell Westbrook is becoming one of the more underrated players in the league. Westbrook is certainly putting up All-Star numbers, averaging 24 points, eight assists and 6.5 rebounds. He put up 36, 7 and 7 in the win against Portland on his 22nd birthday and is proving to be more than just a "solid complement" to Durant for the Thunder. Westbrook's mid-range jumper has improved dramatically since he entered the league and his scoring capabilities now include more than just lightning-quick drives to the hole, which is a scary thought for defenders. Westbrook has typically had big games against older, less athletic point guards. While Parker isn't exactly as old or outmatched as Derek Fisher, for example, he will still have a tough task in keeping Westbrook in front of him.