Each night, the Clarion will choose the top game on the NBA calendar and select a winner. Keep checking out our pick every day, and let us know what you think in our comment section below.
Portland (1-2) at Oklahoma City (2-0)
Though the scenario of the 2007 number one draft pick (Greg Oden) going against the 2007 number two pick (Kevin Durant) has died down since Durant is much further in his development than Oden, this should still make for some incredible basketball.
Both team features a young core of guys who were drafted high – Brandon Roy (2006, 6th pick) LaMarcus Aldridge (2006, 2nd pick) Russell Westbrook (2008, 4th pick) Jeff Green (2007, 5th pick) – and making leaps in their improvement each year.
The Blazers are on the cusp of being a championship-quality team after being a sleeper pick for the NBA Finals last year. In my opinion, the Thunder are the 2007 Blazers, a young team that no one expected to do so well, so early.
I see this game featuring beautiful display of offense and a lot of buckets will be exchanged.
Oklahoma City 112, Portland 109