The Memphis Grizzlies will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in their opening playoff series. You won’t want to miss the action this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET, live on ABC! The Grizzlies surely have their work cut out for them in this one. They’ve had such a hard time all year defending just the opposing point guards. The Thunder are now favored by 13.5 points. They’ll be starring MVP front-runner, and that not only increases the stakes for Memphis, but they’re hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The deck is heavily stacked against the Grizzlies in this matchup. They will be without their top player, Jaylen Wells, who is currently out with a wrist injury. The Memphis documentary team It’s the Memphis squad that’s hurt the most by this unexpected turn of events. Now they’re preparing to face the most explosive Thunder offense ever. The over/under for total points is 229.5. Regardless of who it is, both teams will need to adjust quickly to the high-pressure energy that is playoff basketball.
Struggles Against Point Guards
All season, the Grizzlies have had one of the worst perimeter defenses against opposing point guards in the league. This vulnerability has been used by several teams to create game-changing scoring chances for their opponents. It gets worse playoff matchup against the Thunder, with an all-world point guard, a bigger hurdle.
Amen Thompson has emerged as a key player for the Thunder and has showcased his ability to facilitate the game effectively. On average, he dished out 9.5 potential assists per game in only 34 minutes. This incredible performance serves as a reminder of just how powerful Ingram was this season. Thompson has hit this line in 14 of his last 20 games. This outstanding outing is evidence of his all-around dependable play and ability to manufacture high-quality opportunities for his comrades.
Thompson has been a positive revelation against the Celtics this season. He’s cleared this line in each of the three matchups to date. His ability to perform under pressure will be crucial as he faces a Grizzlies defense that has struggled against players in his position.
Key Player Absences
Both teams are leaving staff and players to quarantine, but Oklahoma City will be hit the hardest. The Thunder won’t have Ousmane Dieng (calf) and Nikola Topic (knee). With all these setbacks, Oklahoma City is still very much a favorite to win it all given their tremendous depth and focus on defensive schemes.
The Grizzlies losing Jaylen Wells is a huge blow to their depth. Wells has been Memphis’ biggest and most important variable. His absence forces the team to design a new game plan. The burden will now be on everyone else, on other players stepping up to fill the Wells void.
Both teams have been looking forward to this very competitive first-round playoff matchup. Coaching decisions regarding when to substitute players and approach to defending key, dangerous players will be pivotal. Either way, the Grizzlies need to adjust and adjust well. By constraining the Thunder’s scoring chances, they can keep themselves in a game and control the final results.
Expectations for the Game
That third and final playoff game is quickly becoming a highly charged blood feud. Both squads hungry for the best possible opening to their postseason journeys. Fans should be ready for a fast paced game! The Thunder’s offensive firepower is the perfect test to help push Memphis defensively as they work to address these disappointments up to this point.
Thunder no-doubt favorites to win the whole thing. In order to surprise them, Memphis will need to improve and meet their challenges, particularly on that end, at the very least. Amen Thompson’s development will be perhaps the most important storyline for Oklahoma City. Close behind are leaders of the big box retail industry, looking to prey on Memphis’s vulnerabilities.
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