Home > Preview > Grizzlies vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

Grizzlies vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer

vs.

Memphis Grizzlies (17-19. 6-13 road) vs. OKC Thunder (24-13, 13-6 home)

TV: FSOK (Cox 37, HD 722, Tulsa Cox 27, DirectTV 679, UVerse 754)
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 7:00 CT

Offensive Rating: Thunder – 108.8 (9th), Grizzlies – 105.7 (18th)
Defensive Rating: Thunder – 107.1 (16th), Grizzlies – 105.0 (12th)
Pace: Thunder – 93.2 (12th), Grizzlies – 93.4 (9th)

View from the enemy: 3 Shades of Blue

A chance at redemption. For a lot of parties involved. Jeff Green, for not grabbing a rebound and getting abused by Zach Randolph. Kevin Durant, for six turnovers and a questionable shot with time ticking out. And really the entire team for playing what felt like a lackadaisical game that didn’t include much focus.

Memphis coming in: The Grizzlies are actually playing probably their best basketball of the season right now. They’ve won three straight, with the wins coming against the Lakers, the Thunder and the Jazz. They last played Friday.

THE MATCHUPS
Nothing has really changed since the last time. Jeff Green can’t get dominated inside by Zach Randolph. Marc Gasol can’t be a huge factor against Nick Collison, Nenad Krstic and whoever else. And the Thunder’s got to control Rudy Gay to some degree.

Oh, and don’t let Tony Allen punch you in the face with 19 points randomly.

Other than that, last week’s game is pretty fresh. Mike Conley is pretty good, O.J. Mayo should play and OKC needs Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant to play well. Not really a grand scientific formula here.

The game will probably be decided for the Thunder on the defensive end in two ways: 1) getting stops and 2) getting the rebound that comes after the stop.

Tip at 7:00 CT. Go Go.

Share:
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Fark
  • StumbleUpon

Preview

Post comment as twitter logo facebook logo
Sort: Newest | Oldest

@justin
Pats are like the Celtics - really good, to the point of being obnoxious, but you know they work as hard as anyone. The Jets are like the Yankees - a bunch of overrated pricks on a bought team that the media can't stop gushing over. It's partially how much I hate Sanchez, who has been terrible both years but still has the media all over him.

@justin
Can we take their football team too? Seriously though, that run by Lynch was one of the best I've ever seen in the playoffs.

Seattle's winning the super bowl anyway, so it doesn't matter. :)

Jets are more likable than the Pats, IMO.

I don't think they have much of a chance against the Pats, so it's all good.

justin :
Man that Jets-Colts game was great.

At least Caldwell's not our coach, haha

@Daniel
If only the Jets weren't so unlikable.

@justin
Agreed. I'm no Jets fan, but I had made a bet with a buddy of mine for them, and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire game.

Man that Jets-Colts game was great.

Milsap and Williams bring Utah back in the 4th and OT. Rockets have no answer

Turkoglu with 17 assists tonight, and has been playing really well since his return. Incredible how poor of a player he's been with Toronto and Phoenix, but great on Orlando.

If we have Marc,we can improve much better in rebound.Zach Randolph got too many rebounds.

Bryan :
Green had a decent game…. come on

I'm not dogging on Green here. He did a great job of passing up 3s and working inside but this is a perfect night to play him 30 minutes and use Harden's shooting to space the floor.

Jazz are going to win this game now looks like.

@Greg

Maybe. He's a good post player, and great passer out of the post. He had a low-ish USG last year too. He's turning the ball over more, shooting worse, and his rebounding is down.

I'd still take him.

@justin
He attempted 4 shots in 34 minutes tonight, really strange. Maybe his subpar year would make him affordable enough for Presti - probably not though.

Greg :
Gasol was a complete non-factor, what is his deal this year?

16.1 USG. The Grizzlies don't go to him much. 11th on the team in USG. Weird, huh?

Nice win, but I need a 4 loco. Who's with me?

@justin
Came in to say that :/

Gasol was a complete non-factor, what is his deal this year?

I like OJ Mayo better and better.He never plays one good game against us.Maybe we can won last game if he played.
Come on,OJ!!!!!!!!!

Bryan :
Green had a decent game…. come on

He did his best but he should not be playing 40 minutes against this team. He cannot guard Randolph at all.

Green had a decent game.... come on

Harden's in the game! Woot woot. Go Brooks!

Houston up 9 on Utah with four minutes left.

40 point game for Durant. 40 Minute game for Green. All is while in Thunder world.

They missed all 3pts

Rudy Gay has a tiny head.

KDeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Man...

Nenad needs 4 more rebounds for a single double. Lets keep fouling. Get him in the record books.

Wow... Kristic is working hard on the boards tonight... Good job...

Two stats I wouldn't have guessed without checking the boxscore:

Kevin Durant is 1-7 on threes (seems like half that) although 12-16 from inside the arc and Russell Westbrook only has 3 turnovers (seems like twice that

@DizzyDai
Yeah! That's why I like it for Kevin Love but I think it's an Oklahoma station so it wouldn't translate haha

justin :Can’t believe we’re still big with Collison out. Where is Harden? We’d have this game in the bag if we could score.

I think we've seen enough Thunder games to know that Brooks usually don't put Harden in the late part of 4th quater. Even thought they are losing big or winning big...

@Chas
Isn't that a radio station?

Thank you KD for saving us from Brooks' Green fetish.

At least "the junkyard dog" is scoring.

I got so excited I doubled "L" that sucker!

Wow... KD is cold blooded... Wow...

Harden has only missed one shot tonight. Just like Tuesday. Obviously you need to shoot less than stellar to get minutes with Brooks.

Good job by Ibaka, learning not to get the loose ball foul

@justin
Who would be comparable but younger?

Can't believe we're still big with Collison out. Where is Harden? We'd have this game in the bag if we could score.

Trackbacks

  1. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Royce , OK City Thunder Buzz. OK City Thunder Buzz said: Daily Thunder >> Grizzlies vs. Thunder: Pregame Primer http://buzztap.com/-T6zE2L [...]