Like many of cinema’s greatest moments, the NBA Playoffs are better when ad-libbing than when sticking to the script at hand. If all had gone according to plan, Westbrook would be gearing up to make mincemeat out of Mike Conley, Nate “I’m On Fire Like NBA Jam” Robinson wouldn’t have poured in 23 points in the 4th quarter on a Thibodeau-coached team, and Kobe would be breaking ankles instead of nursing one.
Now that the second round is around the corner, more unscripted greatness is on its way. But before the first tip-off gets underway, SJN wants to give you a hand in the outlook department.
To help you navigate through the four second-round scenarios, we’ll be breaking down all of the matchups for you―offering lineups, schedules, and predictions.
Western Conference:
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (5)
Schedule:
Game 1 – Sun May 5, Memphis at Oklahoma, 1 p.m., ABC
Game 2 – Tue May 7, Memphis at Oklahoma, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Sat May 11, Oklahoma at Memphis, 5 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Oklahoma at Memphis: Date & Network TBD
Game 5 – Memphis at Oklahoma: Date & Network TBD
Game 6 – Oklahoma at Memphis: Date & Network TBD
Game 7 – Memphis at Oklahoma: Date & Network TBD
Only one round in, this playoffs run is shaping up to be one of redemption for Memphis after having just gotten their revenge on the Clippers, who ousted them last year. In the 2011 Western Semifinals, OKC pushed the Grizzlies to a drama-filled Game 7 where Russell Westbrook skewered their Cinderella campaign with a triple-double. But with no Westbrook at hand, Memphis will have an easier time of containing the Thunder with their resilient defense. And before the series is over, they might have redeemed themselves by ending the championship hopes of two teams that did the same to them.
With Serge Ibaka, Hasheem Thabeet, Nick Collison, and Kendrick Perkins (though he now plays like little more than a stump with a scowl), Oklahoma has plenty of size to bother Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. But it’s Memphis’ rising star, Mike Conley, who should be the determining factor in the Grizzlies’ favor. Though Reggie Jackson has done a good job of taking up Westbrook’s role, Conley proved against Chris Paul, perhaps the league’s best point guard, that he’s a quiet assassin. If not for a 6-point fluke, Conley would have averaged 21.5 PPG and 8.3 APG in the last series. He’s played better than his 2012-13 season averages against the Thunder this year, and that was with Westbrook combating him on the other end. With a Jackson bout, he should average close or better than his would-be Clippers postings of 21.5 and 8.3.
With a player of Durant’s caliber, OKC has the potential to shake any team’s defense, except that Memphis has a penchant for being unshakeable. They proved their grit after overcoming a 0-2 series deficit against Chris Paul’s hand-picked regime and only got better as the series progressed. Scott Brooks has gotten much heat for running one-dimensional offensive sets―best evidenced, appropriately enough, against last year’s finals against the Heat. With a word-class defensive unit, Memphis will pick apart Brooks’ schemes like a bad Shaquille O’Neal joke.
Of course, beyond KD, the Thunder remain an experienced and talented bunch, so they should be able to pull off some games, and make this a nail-biting series. But if a young, hole-ridden Rockets team was able to shake their confidence, a no-prisoners Grizzlies bunch will have them holding on to the scorer’s table for dear life.
Outcome:
Memphis Grizzlies 4-2 Oklahoma City Thunder
