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Oklahoma City Thunder:

Russell Westbrook



Thabo Sefolosha



Kevin Durant



Starting PF

Kendrick Perkins



Bench: Reggie Jackson, Derek Fisher, Caron Butler, Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Williams, Nick Collison, Perry Jones III, Andre Roberson, Steven Adams, Hasheem Thabeet


VS.


San Antonio Spurs

Tony Parker/Danny Green/Kawhi Leonard/Tim Duncan/Tiago Splitter






Bench: Patty Mills/Cory Joseph/Manu Ginobili/Marco Belinelli/Austin Daye/Matt Bonner/Aron Baynes/Boris Diaw/Jeff Ayres

I like the matchup on paper, but these guys always play us tough.

OKC in 5 or 6 if they win one of the first two in OKC.

Lot of people including the so called experts are really trying to act as if Memphis can challenge the Thunder OKC have been playing poorly recently but they should be able the Grizz in at least 5 if not sweep them, there is no way they can put up enough points to compete

Thunder in 5. Grizz get game 3.

It'll be interesting if they decide to sell out on defense and start Allen and Johnson. I expect several techs in this series.

I'll be interested to see if Adams plays a decent part this series, as you said there could be foul issues and Adams is able to absorb some blows from Z Bo and Gasol. I'm cautiously optimistic for the series, just hope the defense gets right asap.

bondom34 wrote:I'll be interested to see if Adams plays a decent part this series, as you said there could be foul issues and Adams is able to absorb some blows from Z Bo and Gasol. I'm cautiously optimistic for the series, just hope the defense gets right asap.

Adams shouldn't guard Gasol, he looks uncomfortable away from the rim.

I think Brooks goes with the older guys this entire series. Memphis is a vet club that is going to try to slow the pace down so benches aren't as much of a factor. I really don't like this match up, I would have preferred any other team outside of LAC and SAS.

comingbacktousa wrote:

bondom34 wrote:I'll be interested to see if Adams plays a decent part this series, as you said there could be foul issues and Adams is able to absorb some blows from Z Bo and Gasol. I'm cautiously optimistic for the series, just hope the defense gets right asap.

Adams shouldn't guard Gasol, he looks uncomfortable away from the rim.

I think Brooks goes with the older guys this entire series. Memphis is a vet club that is going to try to slow the pace down so benches aren't as much of a factor. I really don't like this match up, I would have preferred any other team outside of LAC and SAS.

I think so too, but he may be needed w/ fouls. I'm hopeful for the series as I agree its a tough matchup, but they all are in the west. The one semi-comforting thing (makes me feel a little better, maybe it will help you too!) is that the big weakness of late has been the 3 point defense, and that's one thing Memphis isn't good at, so hopefully that's a good thing.

I would feel a lot better about this series if their roster didn't include Mike Miller. Here come the flashbacks....

retrospect05 wrote:Lot of people including the so called experts are really trying to act as if Memphis can challenge the Thunder OKC have been playing poorly recently but they should be able the Grizz in at least 5 if not sweep them, there is no way they can put up enough points to compete

Definitely not here to argue, but what are you basing this on (just not being able to score points)? Recent history shows a different story. Our two teams have played 12 total playoff games the past few years, 7 of which the Grizz have won (albeit without Westbrook last year, which does make a difference I know). But even the last two regular seasons, We have played 7 times, with the Thunder winning 4 and the Grizz winning 3. Seems like enough points to get some wins. This particular comment just made it seem like the Grizz were some sort of weak, inexperienced team that was just going to get swept right out of the playoffs. Guess I took it too personal upon first read haha.

Even with this being said (I really just came to see what Thunder fans were thinking), my head tells me that the Thunder will win this series in 6. I just hope my heart is right...

Cant wait for the series to start. Good luck guys

Skrilla Steve wrote:

retrospect05 wrote:Lot of people including the so called experts are really trying to act as if Memphis can challenge the Thunder OKC have been playing poorly recently but they should be able the Grizz in at least 5 if not sweep them, there is no way they can put up enough points to compete

Definitely not here to argue, but what are you basing this on (just not being able to score points)? Recent history shows a different story. Our two teams have played 12 total playoff games the past few years, 7 of which the Grizz have won (albeit without Westbrook last year, which does make a difference I know). But even the last two regular seasons, We have played 7 times, with the Thunder winning 4 and the Grizz winning 3. Seems like enough points to get some wins. This particular comment just made it seem like the Grizz were some sort of weak, inexperienced team that was just going to get swept right out of the playoffs. Guess I took it too personal upon first read haha.

Even with this being said (I really just came to see what Thunder fans were thinking), my head tells me that the Thunder will win this series in 6. I just hope my heart is right...

Cant wait for the series to start. Good luck guys

Good luck to you guys too! I think this will be a tough series personally, my only rebuttal would be that of the games you mentioned, as you said most of the wins for the Grizzlies have been w/o Westbrook (the one this season and last season's playoffs were all without him). Honestly, there's no such thing as an easy opponent in the west this year, best of luck!

Oh I agree Westbrook makes a huge difference. We just threw all sort of double and triple teams on Durant in the playoffs last year (and he still put up 30+ in the first two games I believe but really struggled in the last two).

But also on 2 of the losses this year for the Grizzlies, one was without Gasol and the other was without Conley. So, I guess it'll be fun to see both teams with a full roster. I just took that comment too personal on first glance haha. I'm too passionate of a fan sometimes!

Bad matchup for the Thunder

I'm afraid of Brooks adjustments,
Fisher playing out of of position
Gasol will eat Perkins alive
Westbrook is back

Thunder in 7

Thunder in 6.

Always love Memphis fans in OKC. They're awesome.

I'm really curious as to what approach Memphis takes to this series. Shut everyone else down and let Durant get his or the opposite. Allen can lock down Westbrook but struggles a bit against Durant due to height. Prince and Johnson are still good defenders one on one with Durant. But if they put Allen on Durant and shade him with Gasol, and just let Conley guard Westbrook who is a pretty good defender himself, they may be able to really lock down the OKC offense.

Ibaka has to stay out of foul trouble. Memphis's bigs starters and backups are too good to play small ball vs them.

Brooks in the last couple of games that all of the bigs have been healthy for, has kept Perk on Randolph and Ibaka on Gasol. At first I thought that was kind of dumb, but both from looking at stats and watching it play out, I've been pleasantly surprised.

Anyone else going to the game.

Two higher seeds have already lost home court.

Edit: Now 0-3. Here's hoping we break that streak.

Our D has been unbelievable. I know the grizz don't have much outside but we've been all over on ever pass, rotation, and shot

wizkid27 wrote:Our D has been unbelievable. I know the grizz don't have much outside but we've been all over on ever pass, rotation, and shot

very impressive but hard to maintain over a postseason.