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Eleven days since the last Thunder victory, the team will try to capture their third win of the year against the last team they vamboozled, the Memphis Grizzlies. Does that mean we can write down another win for the Thunder? After all, the game is at the Ford Center. As the legendary Lee Corso would say, "Not so fast my friend!" Did we learn nothing from the second Timberwolves game? This is the NBA, just because you beat a team once doesn't mean you'll beat them every proceeding time, unless you're talking about the 2007 NBA Finals.
Backstory: Last time, Coach Ivaroni and Cheese made the mistake of trying to beat the Thunder at their own game, and going small. Why hasn't he been fired yet? Don't expect him to make that move again, though. Rudy "No Homo" Gay ay center? He's barely an NBA power forward. In round two of the Grizzz-Thunder match-up, look for a lot more Marc Gasol. If we were the Warriors of a few years ago, we might command some respect for our run and gun attack. But we aren't, not even close. Our players are hardly even out of AAU ball, and not really equipped to run an NBA small ball game.
Match-Ups:
Russell Westbrook vs Mike Conley
Edge: Westbrook
I have to admit, I doubted him, but now Westbrook has proven he's the main, if not the only servicable, point guard on the team right now.
Damien Wilkins vs. O.J. Mayo
Edge: Mayonaise
O.J. was my predicted ROY. Though it's still unlikely a Grozzlies player will get any such award with all the little national attention, he's still doing really well. Where was this in college, asks Tommy Trojan
Kevin Durant vs. Rudy Gay
Edge: Durant
Gay has great athleticism and is always in the top 5 in dunks in the league, far ahead of his fellow small forward colleagues. Still, KD's got game too
Jeff Green vs. Darrel Arthur
Edge: Green
The former Jayhawk won't have the edge tonight against Green. It's more of a mismatch on his end than Jeff, though he has had trouble at the 4 recently.
Chris Wilcox vs. Marc Gasol
Edge: Gasol
The much more physical and less finesse version of the Brothers Gasol, the rookie has put up some good numbers this season
Battle of the Benches
Edge: Thunder
Nick Collison has proved to be a good bench guy, and Watson has finally started getting assists now that he isn't starting.
Coaching and Intangibles
Edge: Thunder
Ivaroni or Scott Brooks? Hmmm, what a conundrum. Well, OKC's at home, so I guess they get the edge, if there even is one.
Player to Watch: Jeff Green on the rebound
God of Thunder's Prediction: Grizzlies 102, Thunder 98
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