OKC - Memphis

[BigErnMcCracken]

This game got pretty fun. Anyone who doesn't like the NBA should watch a couple minutes of this.

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Can Durant stop shi77ing the bed so brooks doesn't get fired and we won't have to worry about Ollie going there?

 

[champs99and04]

Memphis has the best perimeter defense in the league. Conley, Allen, and Lee can flat out get after it on the defensive side of the ball.

Meanwhile, Scottie Brooks just looks over-matched.

 

[Scoe]

OKC living and dying by the jumpshot

 

[UCHuskies08]

OKC doesn't run sets, they just give it to someone and say "K, do something"

 

[Scoe]

the end here will take 20 minutes

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Memphis has the best perimeter defense in the league. Conley, Allen, and Lee can flat out get after it on the defensive side of the ball.

Meanwhile, Scottie Brooks just looks over-matched.

Yes, Memphis has great perimeter defense. No, Durant should not be playing this badly.

 

[aceboon]

Durant desperately needs a post game, its what took Dirk to another level, it would help him with Allen instead of trying to drive around and thru him

 

[Edge2017]

Allen is containing KD very well. Brooks is an awful coach, never draws up any sort of play. "Russell, take the ball and make a basket this time on offense, okay?"……. Next timeout……. "Reggie, your turn, score the ball so we can win".

 

[PcketknfNiels]

Durant desperately needs a post game, its what took Dirk to another level, it would help him with Allen instead of trying to drive around and thru him

Durant is significantly bigger than allen, he should be able to easily make shots over him or just draw any kind of contact and get to the line. He doesn't need to be trying to post on a team that has Marc Gasol.

 

[superjohn]

I thought whoever won this game would win this series so I'll go with OKC in 7 but Brooks is just a terrible coach. The extent of his coaching is roll the ball out and go.

 

[champs99and04]

Durant desperately needs a post game, its what took Dirk to another level, it would help him with Allen instead of trying to drive around and thru him

+1,000, Durant has a few subtle flaws in his game, and they just seem to be exacerbated every time he plays the Grizzlies (check out his shooting percentages in his last two series' with them). It's almost like Memphis is the only team that has figured out how to defend Durant - you have to play physically with him away from the ball, get underneath him when he puts it on the floor, and force him to shoot over the top. His handle can be shaky, especially when being guarded by somebody like Allen, and his lower-body strength really becomes a problem against physical defenders.

Of course, if he was playing for a coach worth anything, this wouldn't be an issue. The half-court offense Oklahoma City runs down the stretch is just abysmal and if it weren't for Reggie Jackson playing the game of his life, OKC would be on the brink. Talk about offensive predictability.

 

[aceboon]

Durant is significantly bigger than allen, he should be able to easily make shots over him or just draw any kind of contact and get to the line. He doesn't need to be trying to post on a team that has Marc Gasol.

...and for some reason the past 3x in the playoffs they faced the Grizz he's had difficulty being guarded by Allen, so obviously to everyone but you its not that easy to do that stuff against him. Its not about posting up against Marc Gasol, its about KD developing a post game for himself to use when smaller defenders get up under him on the perimeter, so that he can get closer to the basket to shoot fadeaways from the post, use his footwork to face up and get easier baskets at the rim. Wing players having a post game isn't some novel concept, Bron has worked on his, Dirk was effectively a wing type player, he developed his, Melo before he devloved into too many isos, Kobe, Pierce, Jordan, Bird, plenty of em have post games. When DD was killing it with his turnaround jumper in the postseason, it was off of post ups to take advantage of the matchup.

 

[UofMemphis]

The last three games have been epic...the next 3 (Im thinking 7 games) should be as well.

 

[huskyharry]

OKC has played awfully. As stated above, they have dreadful offensive execution. Memphis has been playing well and they area a very bad matchup for OKC (and are much better than a 7 seed as the regular season outcome was adversely affected by Gasol's injury).
That being said, although Allen is playing very good defense, Durant is also missing a large number of shots where he has a clear shot and is not being bumped, so statistically, it is very unlikely that he will continue to shoot so poorly.
I really want OKC to win for Caron's, JLamb's and Hasheem's sake (although Brooks has been entirely unfair to JLamb and could also get production out of Hasheem, if he gave him a chance).

 

[UofMemphis]

Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, Z-Bo...I just love Grizzlies basketball...it's nice having Mike Miller back, as well.

It's all Grit and Grind...just like Memphis.

 

[RichZ]

I can't figure out the lack of JLamb at all. He was playing great earlier this season, when the lack of Westbrook was allowing him minutes. As badly as KD's been shooting, you've got to at least give him a chance to see if he can give you some productive minutes now. But his warmups appear to be superglued to his body.

 

[tzznandrew]

People are concerned that if they fire Brooks, KO will take over.

I think that this might be the best time for Brooks to get fired. I don't think KO is ready for any such jump, and whoever takes over will be a better game coach. There'll be, you know, some offensive plays. They'll be smart enough to develop a bench, and they'll do a better job of managing the Westbrook/Durant team. If they get a coach who can do that, and keep that team largely intact (Westbrook-Ibaka-Durant with other peices), they'll be in business for a while. And when they're not, they'll probably not be as palatable to a college coach like KO.

 

[James]

I can't figure out the lack of JLamb at all. He was playing great earlier this season, when the lack of Westbrook was allowing him minutes. As badly as KD's been shooting, you've got to at least give him a chance to see if he can give you some productive minutes now. But his warmups appear to be superglued to his body.

KO voiced support for Brooks when he allowed lamb to flourish closing games . You can bet KO isn't happy with how brooks tossed him in the doghouse after a meaningless subpar performance vs the suns late in the season . Not that it matters , but brooks has seriously effed his development

 

[Inyatkin]

People are concerned that if they fire Brooks, KO will take over.

I think that this might be the best time for Brooks to get fired. I don't think KO is ready for any such jump, and whoever takes over will be a better game coach. There'll be, you know, some offensive plays. They'll be smart enough to develop a bench, and they'll do a better job of managing the Westbrook/Durant team. If they get a coach who can do that, and keep that team largely intact (Westbrook-Ibaka-Durant with other peices), they'll be in business for a while. And when they're not, they'll probably not be as palatable to a college coach like KO.

Exactly. Better now than down the road when Ollie has an even longer record of success. I just can't see him skipping town after two years.

 

[CallMeBruce]

There's no way that Ollie is leaving this season. He's already said he's not interested in the NBA right now, and he'd look like a ridiculous hypocrite if he went this year.