Playoff Matchup Round 2: Thunder (4) Vs. Grizzlies (8)

yeah fo sho, nice looking curl and pass. Except it's to Mayo instead of Kmart.

 

The Grizzlies are pushing the Thunder's buttons and it's getting to them.

Durant isn't used to being played this physical and he is obviously frustrated. Battier and others are also doing a good job of needling Westbrook and eventually he's going to do something stupid in retaliation.

 

Memphis needs to get Westbrook to get pissed off or go hero mode. He's the most mentally unstable and likely to ruin OKC's game plan.

 

(guess)
Battier previously shoved WB in the back, on that play he ran in and did it to Ibaka and WB took offense. (/guess)

 

The downside of the chippiness and physicality is that the officials are now going to call this game really tightly. Get ready for a ton of out of control drives into the lane looking for a foul call.

 

8 turnovers for OKC the lead should be bigger.

 

That 2nd foul on KD, and his in-suing walk to the bench are looking pretty huge at this point.

 

Harden for starting PG.

 

Battier LOOKS tougher in a Memphis uniform.

 

Harden just stepped on Batt's face on purpose?

 

It brings out his inner Dukey.

 

<!-- http://twitter.com/#!/coachthorpe/status/69213038007422977 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox69213038007422977 {background:url(http://a1.twimg.com/profile_background_images/47671664/NBA_bg.jpg) #642d8b;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox69213038007422977'><p class='bbpTweet'>Mayo's dunk came off a play Battier brought from Houston. It was their best play and was used often. Beat Utah with it at games end.<span class='timestamp'><a title='Sat May 14 01:30:48 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/#!/coachthorpe/status/69213038007422977'>less than a minute ago</a> via <a href="http://ubersocial.com" rel="nofollow">ÜberSocial</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=69213038007422977'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=69213038007422977'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=69213038007422977'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/coachthorpe'><img src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1148714605/wedding4_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/coachthorpe'>david b. thorpe</a></strong><br/>coachthorpe</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->

 

Same thing Shane would have done tonight.

 

Somewhat off topic to the game, but seeing Durant on the bench made me think. Is there no other convenient place to put a towel other than on your head? I understand that you might need to wipe your head and face after you come off the floor, but couldn't you put it somewhere else after that point? I'm not sure why every player that is "using" a towel on the bench has it resting on his head.

 

Thunder bench coming up big so far in this game. They have a great bench.

 

Not that this is new for them, but OKC sure makes it tough on themselves with their turnovers and inability to get offensive rebounds (or perhaps giving them up to their opponent).

 

Westbrooke is like Derrick Roseque on transitions. Too fast too athletic

 

Looking like there will be no game 7's for the 1st 2 rounds of the playoffs.

Come on Memphis.

 

man the griz need rudy gay BAD. they simply don't have offense when zbo doesn't touch the ball

him and derrick rose are pretty much interchangeable.

 

Big 3 of OKC: Durant, Westbrook, Harden