NBA: 10 Keys for the Thunder Beating the Grizzlies -- and Final Prediction

**ElNono** · 04-16-2014

10. Bench Production
The Grizzlies don't have much in the way of a bench, while the Thunder have arguably the best bench unit in the NBA. Historically, bench production is much more valuable in the regular season than the playoffs. But if the Thunder can dominate this area, it'd put a ton of pressure of Memphis' starting five to be flawless.

9. Reggie Jackson's Continued Excellence
I though Reggie Jackson was damn good. But I also thought he was damn good against the Rockets last year in the first round. This year, he needs to prove his flameout in the second round against the Grizzlies was a fluke. He can do that by shooting confidently and playing ferocious defense -- especially when he's switched off onto Mike Conley.

8. Keep Memphis off the Line
The Grizzlies have been the best team in the playoffs at getting to the free throw line. The Thunder have been the best team in the playoffs at keeping their opponent off the free throw line. Something has to give; let's hope it's in Oklahoma's direction. Limiting their charity stripe visits will not only test Memphis' sometimes creaky offense, it lessens the chance that the three main bigs (Perkins, Ibaka, Collison) will get in foul trouble. The bigs beyond those three don't match up well with the Grizzlies but they don't need to even play as long as the fouls don't pile up.

7. Patience from Russell Westbrook
Memphis feasts on trapping and then jumping passing lanes. When Russell Westbrook isn't at the top of his game, he tends to suc b to that type of defensive gameplan. But as long as he plays smart and remains patient, he can avoid those costly mistakes. When trapped in this series, the simplest pass is the right pass to make -- not the one-handed, looping, crosscourt pass. Depending on how they defend him, Westbrook may need to be very aggressive with his scoring or take a backseat. He needs to read what's needed and react accordingly.

6. Keep Kevin Durant Moving
Marc Gasol is last year's Defensive Player of the Year. While it's a travesty that he has now won this award and Tim Duncan never has, the Spaniard is legitimately a very good defender. On the low block, he has the length, size and craftiness to bother Durant. But where KD has an advantage is on the move -- especially if he's hitting his outside jumper. If that J is hitting net, then Durant can mix in pump-fakes and drives to the basket. Running the court is another area where he can find easier baskets. Plus, offensive rebounding could be an avenue for success for Durant since Gasol is deceptively just a mediocre defensive rebounder. Four Down has been great to the Spurs over the years but in this series, it'd be unwise to go to it more than three or four times per game.

5. Limit Turnovers
This is obviously a key against any team but it takes on extra importance against the Grizzlies. First of all, Memphis is very likely the best team in the league at forcing turnovers. And they tend to force those turnovers in bunches -- which leads to prolonged runs. The second reason why it's important to limit turnovers as much as possible against the Grizzlies is simple: It fuels their offense. No team relies on their defense to generate offense as much as Memphis, so if you cut off that supply line to easy points, things become much easier for your defense.

4. Defensive Rebounding
The Grizzlies are a great offensive rebounding team. The Thunder have struggled in this area at times in the postseason -- sometimes horrifically so. If Oklahoma fails to clean up the defensive backboard, Memphis has the personnel to beat you living off of the offensive glass alone. The Thunder must be physical, box out every possession and not rely on flopping under the rim. The Grizzlies bigs rarely get called for fouls for pushing off or going over the back -- so it'll come down to simply manning up and eating that glass.

3. Push the Pace
This will be another battle of wills. The Grizzlies play at the slowest pace in the league. The Thunder prefer to play at the fastest pace possible. Again, something will have to give. For the Thunder, if they turn this into a track meet, it will work in their favor. Not only is it easier to score against the Grizzlies in fast break situations, it also exposes Memphis' lack of a quality bench. The Grizzlies are experts at keeping the pace slow so it will be tough to speed things up. But for the Thunder, this has to be the No. 1 time-wide goal of this series. Run, run and run some more.

2. Creation from Russell Westbrook
To push the pace and score in the fast break, Russell Westbrook is the key. To score against the Grizzlies set defense, Westbrook's pick-and-roll game will be the best choice. To create open three-pointers, Westbrook needs to be slicing and dicing. When the shot clock is ticking toward zero, Westbrook going one-on-one will be the best weapon at the Thunder's disposal. In other words, Westbrook being able to create in this series is going to be paramount. When healthy and at his best, he's built to carve up the Grizzlies unlike anyone in the NBA outside of perhaps LeBron James.

1. Toughness from Ibaka
If Ibaka is at his best, the Thunder become a strong favorite in this series. When he's hitting on all cylinders, he's the perfect player to put next to Perkins in order to slow down the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, Ibaka was at his best in the middle of the season and has slowly but surely declined since then. In these playoffs, he hasn't put together many solid quarters -- much less solid games. However, there is some hope because his best stretch of his postseason was his play to end Game 6 in Houston. If he can play like that against the Grizzlies, the Thunder can and should win the series.

-----

For the record, my official prediction is Grizzlies in 6. Obviously, I'm praying/hoping/wishing/begging to every possible divine spirit/force/power that the Thunder win this series, but I'm not going to lie when that's how I logically see the series panning out in the most likely scenario. I've been wrong plenty before so hopefully I'm wrong again and the Thunder make me look stupid for doubting them.

Why do I still think Grizzlies in 6? I simply don't trust Ibaka at this point. His drop in production has been too consistent for me to think it's reasonable to expect him to bounce back. He was great in January but then worse in February, even worse in March, worse yet in April and the worst so far in May. Can he turn it around against the Grizzlies? He has to in order for the Thunder to win this series.

And, also, I don't think Russell Westbrook is healthy. He doesn't whine about injuries but something isn't right -- and it's more than just that calf bruise. Without Westbrook near 100% health, it'd be really, really difficult to score against the Grizzlies.

I apologize for the pessimism but I don't don't get paid be a cheerleader, I don't get paid to write it like I see it.

**King Emmanuel** · 04-16-2014

**lefty** · 04-16-2014

Cool we dont have an OKC vs Grizz thread

**lefty** · 04-16-2014

but yeah

at Westbrook

**unforeseen** · 04-16-2014

Originally Posted by ElNono

10. Bench Production
The Grizzlies don't have much in the way of a bench, while the Thunder have arguably the best bench unit in the NBA. Historically, bench production is much more valuable in the regular season than the playoffs. But if the Thunder can dominate this area, it'd put a ton of pressure of Memphis' starting five to be flawless.

9. Reggie Jackson's Continued Excellence
I though Reggie Jackson was damn good. But I also thought he was damn good against the Rockets last year in the first round. This year, he needs to prove his flameout in the second round against the Grizzlies was a fluke. He can do that by shooting confidently and playing ferocious defense -- especially when he's switched off onto Mike Conley.

8. Keep Memphis off the Line
The Grizzlies have been the best team in the playoffs at getting to the free throw line. The Thunder have been the best team in the playoffs at keeping their opponent off the free throw line. Something has to give; let's hope it's in San Antonio's direction. Limiting their charity stripe visits will not only test Memphis' sometimes creaky offense, it lessens the chance that the three main bigs (Perkins, Ibaka, Collison) will get in foul trouble. The bigs beyond those three don't match up well with the Grizzlies but they don't need to even play as long as the fouls don't pile up.

7. Patience from Russell Westbrook
Memphis feasts on trapping and then jumping passing lanes. When Russell Westbrook isn't at the top of his game, he tends to suc b to that type of defensive gameplan. But as long as he plays smart and remains patient, he can avoid those costly mistakes. When trapped in this series, the simplest pass is the right pass to make -- not the one-handed, looping, crosscourt pass. Depending on how they defend him, Westbrook may need to be very aggressive with his scoring or take a backseat. He needs to read what's needed and react accordingly.

6. Keep Kevin Durant Moving
Marc Gasol is last year's Defensive Player of the Year. While it's a travesty that he has now won this award and Tim Duncan never has, the Spaniard is legitimately a very good defender. On the low block, he has the length, size and craftiness to bother Durant. But where KD has an advantage is on the move -- especially if he's hitting his outside jumper. If that J is hitting net, then Durant can mix in pump-fakes and drives to the basket. Running the court is another area where he can find easier baskets. Plus, offensive rebounding could be an avenue for success for Durant since Gasol is deceptively just a mediocre defensive rebounder. Four Down has been great to the Spurs over the years but in this series, it'd be unwise to go to it more than three or four times per game.

5. Limit Turnovers
This is obviously a key against any team but it takes on extra importance against the Grizzlies. First of all, Memphis is very likely the best team in the league at forcing turnovers. And they tend to force those turnovers in bunches -- which leads to prolonged runs. The second reason why it's important to limit turnovers as much as possible against the Grizzlies is simple: It fuels their offense. No team relies on their defense to generate offense as much as Memphis, so if you cut off that supply line to easy points, things become much easier for your defense.

4. Defensive Rebounding
The Grizzlies are a great offensive rebounding team. The Thunder have struggled in this area at times in the postseason -- sometimes horrifically so. If Oklahoma fails to clean up the defensive backboard, Memphis has the personnel to beat you living off of the offensive glass alone. The Thunder must be physical, box out every possession and not rely on flopping under the rim. The Grizzlies bigs rarely get called for fouls for pushing off or going over the back -- so it'll come down to simply manning up and eating that glass.

3. Push the Pace
This will be another battle of wills. The Grizzlies play at the slowest pace in the league. The Thunder prefer to play at the fastest pace possible. Again, something will have to give. For the Thunder, if they turn this into a track meet, it will work in their favor. Not only is it easier to score against the Grizzlies in fast break situations, it also exposes Memphis' lack of a quality bench. The Grizzlies are experts at keeping the pace slow so it will be tough to speed things up. But for the Thunder, this has to be the No. 1 time-wide goal of this series. Run, run and run some more.

2. Creation from Russell Westbrook
To push the pace and score in the fast break, Russell Westbrook is the key. To score against the Grizzlies set defense, Westbrook's pick-and-roll game will be the best choice. To create open three-pointers, Westbrook needs to be slicing and dicing. When the shot clock is ticking toward zero, Westbrook going one-on-one will be the best weapon at San Antonio's disposal. In other words, Westbrook being able to create in this series is going to be paramount. When healthy and at his best, he's built to carve up the Grizzlies unlike anyone in the NBA outside of perhaps LeBron James.

1. Toughness from Ibaka
If Ibaka is at his best, the Thunder become a strong favorite in this series. When he's hitting on all cylinders, he's the perfect player to put next to Perkins in order to slow down the Grizzlies. Unfortunately, Ibaka was at his best in the middle of the season and has slowly but surely declined since then. In these playoffs, he hasn't put together many solid quarters -- much less solid games. However, there is some hope because his best stretch of his postseason was his play to end Game 6 in Houston. If he can play like that against the Grizzlies, the Thunder can and should win the series.

-----

For the record, my official prediction is Grizzlies in 6. Obviously, I'm praying/hoping/wishing/begging to every possible divine spirit/force/power that the Thunder win this series, but I'm not going to lie when that's how I logically see the series panning out in the most likely scenario. I've been wrong plenty before so hopefully I'm wrong again and the Thunder make me look stupid for doubting them.

Why do I still think Grizzlies in 6? I simply don't trust Ibaka at this point. His drop in production has been too consistent for me to think it's reasonable to expect him to bounce back. He was great in January but then worse in February, even worse in March, worse yet in April and the worst so far in May. Can he turn it around against the Grizzlies? He has to in order for the Thunder to win this series.

And, also, I don't think Russell Westbrook is healthy. He doesn't whine about injuries but something isn't right -- and it's more than just that calf bruise. Without Westbrook near 100% health, it'd be really, really difficult to score against the Grizzlies.

I apologize for the pessimism but I don't don't get paid be a cheerleader, I don't get paid to write it like I see it.