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BARCELONA – Spain has been a wonderful host country for the Thunder over the past few days, but the Thunder knows that if Barcelona is anything like Madrid, there will be a rowdy and passionate crowd there to cheer on FC Barcelona in tonight’s preseason game at Palau Sant Jordi.
While Head Coach Billy Donovan will give his team a scouting report on the Spanish team that is headlined by Juan Carlos Navarro, it will be more about how the Thunder can control it’s style of play and brand of basketball. Navarro will only play about 10-15 minutes according to Barcelona’s coach, and it remains to be seen whether a few of Navarro’s teammates will sit out due to injuries as well. As a result, it will give the Thunder a chance to attack the 48 minutes in a way that is more focused about the process of how it plays, in addition to its execution.
“You want to try to have our guys have an idea of who they’re playing against but really it’s more about what we’re trying to do to continually improve and develop,” Donovan said.
The Thunder learned in the second half against Real Madrid that European teams play a different style of basketball than the NBA, and that just about every player on the floor is a threat to shoot the three. In order to come away victorious tonight against FC Barcelona, the Thunder will need to control the ball and be aware of what types of shots its foe is trying to generate.
“Those situations are going to help our team get better,” Donovan explained. “Playing against some of these teams here in Spain, the way they run their offense and the way they cut and move is a little bit different than what we’re accustomed to seeing in the NBA. It still becomes very challenging to guard and really tests your focus and concentration.”
Here are a few other notes from shootaround:
– Donovan noted that Domantas Sabonis will start again tonight, and while Steven Adams will not play, the Thunder general said that Nick Collison and Joffrey Lauvergne will both be available
– When talking about Sabonis, Donovan said that he played well at the center position when he slid over from power forward at times on Monday, but fouled too frequently, just like the whole team did against Real Madrid. Donovan is high on the Thunder rookie, saying he is very intelligent with a great basketball IQ.
– Russell Westbrook stressed defense, defense and more defense as what he wanted to see from himself and his teammates tonight. It won’t be about who is lined up across them, according to Westbrook, but about how his team can defend at a high level for 48 minutes regardless of opponent.
– Tonight will be the return of Alex Abrines to his former club, FC Barcelona, so of course the Spanish media has been out in full force to pepper the Thunder rookie with questions. Donovan said that he was proud of the way Abrines stepped in, and stepped up, against Real Madrid, his former rival. Abrines, or Lobenzo (Wolverine), as fans in
Spain dubbed him, came in and knocked down some huge three-pointers for the Thunder when they really needed them. It’ll be exciting to see how he follows up that performance tonight against his old club.
