The Thunder in Atlanta tonight to play the Atlanta Hawks. Hawks currently at 11-8 and the seventh seed. Atlanta should have a nice season, but hard to envision them as a serious championship contender to take it all in the East. Atlanta comes in off a twenty point loss at San Antonio on Saturday night and are 4-6 in their last ten games.
OKC enters tonight carrying a four game winning streak going 7-3 in their last ten. With Kevin Durant’s return—the Thunder have settled down somewhat and have played good enough in fourth quarters to win four straight games and improve to 11-6.
Two good teams playing tonight, but both teams not really where they want to be as far as overall level of play.
Hawks lost Demare Carroll from their core of a year ago which should help Kevin Durant have a pretty good night. Paul Milsap, Al Horford, and Jeff Teague remain the core, while Dennis Shroeder, Kyle Korver, Kent Bazemore, Thabo, Mike Scott and Mike Muscala round out the Hawk primary rotations.
OKC needs to continue playing better team defense, moving the ball, keeping Serge Ibaka involved offensively, and trying to stay within a reasonable distance of San Antonio for the second seed in the West. Find a way to win and get better defensively.