12/29 | G33: Oklahoma City Thunder at Memphis Grizzlies | 7PM CST

[Patches Perry]

Memphis was tough even when Katie was here. This is just a brutal matchup, especially as well as they're playing, and in the grindhouse. This would be a great win, but not a shocking loss.

[NaturalThunder]

19 points, 5/15 shooting, 6 turnovers, 0 assists for Westbrook in the 1st half. The result? Getting shellacked by the Mike Conley-less Grizzlies by 16 at halftime.

I'll never sour on Russ or not be a huge fan, but you still have to call a spade a spade. The guy was terrible in the 1st half. Just an ugly, ugly 1st half by Russ.

[NaturalThunder]

How was that a foul on Westbrook? That was a terrible call!! Harrison extended his arm and shoved Russ and it's a foul on Russ?! What a joke!

[NaturalThunder]

I really should watch more Memphis games to see if Gasol makes as many awkward, almost out control, bumbling shots against other teams as he does against us.

[NaturalThunder]

Tonight is going to really hurt Westbrook's triple-double pursuit. Ejected after two technicals (to be fair the refs have been awful from what I've seen) and finishes with just 5 rebounds and 0 assists.

[Andre Roberstan]

Well boys let's pack it up

[Patches Perry]

This would have been a great time to work Cam Payne back into rhythm.

[Osirus89]

Huh Russ was ejected well on to the clippers game I guess.

[spearsy23]

Disappointed but not surprised. Also feels like a good time to point out we are 12th in the league in srs. A weak schedule has masked some flaws.

[DoubleJ13]

This got completely out of control once Russ got fouled like 3 times on that 1 possession without getting a call & Donovan got that tech. Just been a snowball rolling downhill since including 3 more techs & Russ getting ejected which killed any chance of ever getting on any kind of run going.

[SvenniSterki]

The Grizzlies team is hard to play against. They outhustled OKC and the gameplan was to go hard on Westbrook. The officials didnt make it much easier but I agree with Michael Cage when he said that there is only one thing to do, play through it!

Westbrook couldnt control himself and I think the combination of him forcing things, Grizzlies playing him hard and officials allowing it got to his head and he got an early bath. I think Donovan was smart to get a T, showing Westbrook he supported him and taking the pressure of him to complain too. But unfortunately this escalated out of control quickly. IMO, Westbrook needs to be and play smarter.

The only player who really showed up was Kanter. Adams had alot of rebounds but somehow he never got anything going offensively.

Now I just hope Westbrook steps up and ends the new year with a big game against Chris Paul.

[oken]

If Adams was on a good day they could counter this hack-fest with bigs with similar toughness but he somehow was a bit off. Maybe he's worried about his homeland as Netanyahu seems intent on erasing them from the map.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/12/27/report-netanyahu-threatened-new-zealand.html?via=desktop&source=copyurl

[Bergmaniac]

Memphis did a great job taking advantage of your lack of shot creators with Dipo and cam out. They made sure not to overhelp on Westbrook's drives or Kanter's post-ups, closed Westbrook's passing lanes, especially the one to the rolling big man on pick and roll and dared him to shoot or attack the crowded paint and it worked perfectly. Not only Westbrook didn't have any assists, he also barely had any potential assists either. A lot of it was on him, he was way too careless with the ball and missed open players at times, but they also made it much harder for him than usual by being disciplined and closing the passing lanes. And they did a good enough job on him to keep his scoring under control. Of course, it helped a lot that the Grizzlies at home seem to get away with murder on the defensive end more than any team in the league. Still, terrible game by Westbrook and pretty much everyone else.