Thunder: OKC gets first crack at 'Lob City' duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul on Monday night

With the league's best record in tow at 16-3, the Thunder will do what it can to contain the Clippers' captivating “Lob City” combo on Monday at 9:30 p.m. at Staples Center.

A former point guard, Brooks has a deep appreciation for those who excel at the position, and Paul leaves Brooks shaking his head.

“The guy is one of the best,” Brooks said. “He's clever. He's tough. He's a coach on the floor. He will make Blake better because he finds him in the right spots.”

Brooks said the Clippers are much more than “Lob City.” Paul is so good, Brooks jokingly said he and Paul together would have made a solid backcourt.

“He can make a lot of players better,” Brooks said. “I probably could have played in the backcourt with him and there would have been a lot of open jump shots for me.

“It's not just the lobs. It's the timing plays when you need to get the ball on time. Paul gets it there. If you the transition with Paul, he's going to find you on the break, find you in the wings, find you at the basket. He can find players who are open when other players can't see it.”

Nothing is more difficult to consistently defend than the perfect pick-and-roll and the perfect lob combination. Griffin already was a monster. His fangs grew longer with the addition of Paul.