MEMPHIS – Once again the Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies will do battle. And yet again both teams will try to turn the game into a contest that matches its style.
Head Coach Scott Brooks’ club knows what the Dave Joerger-led Grizzlies want to do – pack the paint, force tough jump shots then turn around on offense and feed the ball into the low block and pound away at the offensive glass. Tonight’s test will be a major one for Thunder big men Steven Adams, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Nick Collison as they take on Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. It will also be up to Thunder guards and perimeter players to help out on the boards and close out on perimeter shooters like Mike Conley, Courtney Lee and Jeff Green.
“We have to play them physical, don’t let them get offensive rebounds, don’t let them score a lot of points in the paint and take care of the basketball,” Brooks said. “We have to move their bigs around and continue to find good shots.”
On the other end of the floor, point guard Russell Westbrook will be charged with the duty of setting up the offense, getting everyone in position and making sure that teammates play with crisp execution. The pace and tempo with which the Thunder cuts, sets screens and attacks immediately upon catching the ball can make a big difference when trying to score against Memphis’ defense. In order to create advantage situations, the Thunder must move the Grizzlies’ defense to create driving lanes for scores at the rim or kick-outs to open shooters.
“We have to move the ball,” Westbrook said. “We have to be able to run it some pace, run it with a sense of urgency and execute our plays.”
Thunder Thrilled to Have Westbrook and Durant Heading to All-Star Weekend
For the sixth consecutive season, the Thunder will have at least one player representing the team in the All-Star Game, as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were both selected to the squad on Thursday.
This is Durant’s sixth-straight All-Star Selection and the fourth of Westbrook’s career. So far this season, the NBA’s reigning MVP is averaging 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.9 percent from the floor. Westbrook had an incredible month of December, and is averaging 25.2 points, 7.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game so far this year.
“It’s definitely an honor to get picked and be on the team,” Westbrook said.
“They represent our city well,” Brooks said. “It gives them another opportunity for the weekend to represent all of us well during the three or four days in New York.”
Broadcast Information
Tip-Off: 7:00 p.m. CT
Television: Fox Sports Oklahoma
Radio: Thunder Radio Network, WWLS the Sports Animal