The stage is set, and the excitement’s almost palpable as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a thrilling first-round playoff matchup. The Thunder, with their dazzling record of 68-14 and a net rating that sings through the annals of history (second only to Jordan’s Bulls!), are not just the top seeds; they’re the heralds of a new era in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies, fighting their way to a 48-34 record, are no easy prey. They’ve got grit, they’ve got determination, and they’ve had more than their share of drama this year. What a series this promises to be! The last time these teams clashed in the playoffs, the Thunder edged out the Grizzlies in a nail-biter; wonder if history will revisit itself or will the Grizzlies be out for revenge with a new touch of Finnish flair in their coaching lineup.
The internal debate was reportedly centered around Memphis’ offense, which for the season settled into sixth, generating 117.3 points per 100 possessions. Pretty good! Only they ran pick-and-roll — the NBA’s almost ubiquitous offense — less often than every other team. That may not have sat well with superstar point guard Ja Morant. And it may not have worked in the playoffs, either. So Memphis made the move, even if Iisalo was lauded for his more motion-centered offense. It is, to say the least, a weird situation.
Advertisement
What we know about the Thunder
AdvertisementThe Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
The Thunder outscored the Grizzlies by 30.8 points per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander was on the court, operating offensive and defensive units that would have led the NBA by wide margins. It did not matter who was on the floor with him. Hartenstein, Wiggins, Williams and Dort were +21 in eight minutes. Wiggins, Wallace, Kenrich Williams and Ajay Mitchell were +11 in four minutes. Go down
the list.
Game 1: Sunday @ Oklahoma City (1 p.m., ABC)(via BetMGM)
Series schedule (all times Eastern)
AdvertisementThe Thunder swept their regular-season series with the Grizzlies, 4-0.AdvertisementGame 2: Tue., April 22 @ Oklahoma City (7:30 p.m., TNT)Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Ja MorantAdvertisementIt is funny: One of OKC’s most-used fourth-quarter lineups is its garbage-time outfit, since the Thunder blew the doors off so many opponents this season. The same was true in four games against Memphis.When push came to shove in the clutch of a play-in game against the Golden State Warriors, Iisalo trusted Morant, Jackson, Bane, Edey and Scotty Pippen Jr. That group barely played together during the regular season. There is also some question as to whether the slow-footed Edey can stay on the floor in this series. The Thunder have the size and athleticism to make it awfully hard on him. Then again, swapping Santi Aldama’s shooting in for Edey has not been a recipe for crunch-time success, either. To be frank, Iisalo will be lucky to even have the opportunity to search for a proper clutch lineup against OKC.
More series previews
The Grizzlies’ best player this season was Jaren Jackson Jr. (22-6-2 on 49/38/78 splits), the league’s 2023 Defensive Player of the Year. Desmond Bane (19-6-5 on 48/39/89 splits) remains a productive shooting guard. Beyond them are a bunch of developmental success stories, including rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, who both started for the Grizzlies this season — until Wells suffered a season-ending injury.Advertisement
Post Comment