Gameday Preview Charlotte Bobcats vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Pump Up Music: Billy Idol -- "Rebel Yell (Acoustic, Live)"

The Big Picture: Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder remind me that the Bobcats' biggest moment since being born is yet to come. When the Cats draft a transformative player, everything will change. I'm not talking about a Shawn Marion type, or a Gerald Wallace type, or even a Joe Johnson type. I mean 'Melo. Durantula. CP3. Dirk.

OKC has that one guy, and they're surrounding him with other young players that could, in theory, stick with him for the next few years. It's the perfect storm of talent sitting in the crock pot together and forming one gooey, delicious, concoction.

They're at 41-24 right now, and there's no end in sight to their run. Is it inconceivable that some aging superstar might think OKC represents his best chance at a title, if he's the final piece? They're already at the five seed in the West, so if they think they can land someone special this offseason in exchange for their excess young players, they could go for it next year. The difference between them and the Bobcats is that the Cats have attempted it without that one pole holding up the whole circus tent.

Key to Victory: I'd like to see Stephen Jackson restrain himself from jacking up shot after shot, just once. And Tyrus Thomas. I love them for what they represent on defense, especially, and because it's healthy to have one and a half potentially unhinged characters around, just to keep everyone on their toes, but the clock is finite, and there's better use for that time than launching contested jumpers at the edge of their range.

Detail That May Interest .08% of You: James Harden's beard has over 100 fans on Facebook. Too bad he's out for this game with injury.