The first round is over and we will see a new look in the western conference playoffs. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder look to get to the elite status and climb up the playoff ladder.
Memphis Grizzlies
The giant killers Memphis Grizzlies are looking to keep on slaying the beasts of the west. The first round was a huge step for the Grizzlies taking down the #1 seed San Antonio Spurs. Excited to be in the playoffs they showed they belonged by electrifying the fans in Memphis and a sell out crowd.
Zach Randolph the biggest key to the winning success will see much more athleticism in the second round with the OKC Thunder. The one man wrecking crew that has carried the load all season and so far in the playoffs will need help as an up and down ball game seems to be brewing. I could still see Zach getting double doubles as he had an average of 21.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game in the first round. In the second round, I could see it continue as they feed the big man the ball and his aggressiveness around the basket will get him his rebounds, but once again help will be needed.
Rebounding will be as important as scoring against the Thunder so the fast break can be slowed down and the second chance points will be limited. The job will be up to Marc Gasol to keep the ball in the hands of the Grizzlies more than the Thunder to out weigh the scoring chances back in favor of the Grizzlies. He also will need those long arms to attack the scorer as the penetrate to allow for the block shot.
Mike Conley will need to increase his 14.3 points scoring average and help distribute the ball more to keep the defense on their hills. He has the ability to create his own shot and that might be a key to stop the double teams of Randolph.
The back court defensive presence of Tony Allen will have a huge affect in the outcome of the series as he will need to be a bee to honey on the ball!
If the pieces fall like in round one we could see something spectacular.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Can you hear it the Thunder rolling? Do you think the Oklahoma City Thunder and there fans are happy to see the Grizzlies instead of the Spurs? Do you think it matters to this young team and there passion to win it all? The regular season series belonged to the Grizzlies 2-1? Playoff basketball usually brings out the intensity of the players and the team. So which team will step up?
Kevin Durant leads the youth movement in OKC as he scored an average 32.4 points a game in round one. He is not one dimensional his very quick feet and hands will serve him well on the defensive side. He gets at least a steal a game with a highlight "Thunder" dunk at the end of it. Look for more of that in the second round as the distribution of the ball will goo through Durant as the offense is built with the franchise player getting most of the touches. Seeming that Memphis will not be able to contain Durant the highlight reel they will need to make sure he doesn't feed his teammates easy baskets like the alley oops he will be recieving.
Russell Westbrook will be looking to get his name filling up the stat sheet as well. He has delivered 23.8 points a game in the first round as the Spurs had a tough time matching up. Mike Conley will have his hands full trying to keep the ball in front of him and stopping the slash to the basket or the pass to Durant.
Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins will have the tough task of stopping the force of Zach Randolph. That I believe it will be asking to much so the team will have to live and die with stopping the perimeter from getting the ball down low and to help out Perkins.
The x-factor could be James Hardin and his ability play defense and stop the inlet passes and creating steals and start the fast breaks of this running young team.
Oklahoma City Thunder in 5 games!
