Grizzlies vs Thunder: Oct 7, 2009

Written by Chip Crain

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 07:50

grizz Memphis kicks off the pre-season schedule with a marquee match-up of two of the best young teams in the league. Which also corresponds to two of the worst teams in the league last season. Memphis has upgraded their lineup with Zach Randolph replacing Darrell Arthur at power forward as well as increasing the talent if not experience of the bench with the drafting of Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young. The rookies join 2nd yr players Darrell Arthur and Hamed Haddadi and veteran Allen Iverson. Oh, did I forget to mention that the 10 time NBA All-Star has signed with the Grizzlies to show them how to win.

Thunder Oklahoma City will take the floor likely with the same five that left it at the end of the season. The only difference should be the evolution of their skills and maybe some added muscle from Kevin Durant. The starting five is going to average under 24 years old and with third overall pick James Harden waiting to take over the starting shooting guard spot they can only get younger. While the starting five is virtually the same, OKC's bench has been overhauled. Gone are former Grizzlies Earl Watson and Chucky Atkins as well as veteran Malik Rose. Enter Shaun Livingston, Serge Ibaka, Byron (Don't call me BJ) Mullins and D J White. The roster is young and raw but extremely talented. This preseason will be a lot about finding a rotation that works, figuring out lineup combinations that gel and seeing who should maybe be sent down to the D-League Tulsa team. The Daily Thunder

Matchups:

Conley
Point Guards: Mike Conley vs Russell Westbrook
Assuming Mike Conley is still starting (and that is a big assumption) this battle could be a preview of point guard battles for years to come. Conley turns 22 in late October and Westbrook turns 22 in November. Right now Westbrook is the more athletic of the two. His size and leaping ability are awesome for a point guard. Conley will have a lot of difficulty with Westbrook driving the lane. Conley however seems to be the better floor general and is a far better perimeter shooter. Scary to think about but true just the same. Conley's biggest problem will be looking over his shoulder because on the bench will be Allen Iverson who will be itching to get into the game. The difference maker in this matchup is Westbrook's defense.
Advantage: Oklahoma City

Shooting Guards: O J Mayo vs Thabo Sefolosha
Like Conley Thabo is looking over his shoulder at the bench. At least Conley knows that he can wait out his replacement. Thabo has no such illusions. If he loses his starting job to James Harden he most likely won't get it back. The 3rd overall pick in the draft will not be seated for long either. Sefolosha is a nice player just not a spectacular one. He averaged 8.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.7 spg and 1.1 bpg last season in Oklahoma City but his poor shot selection (a team wide problem) makes him ill-suited to start. Mayo will struggle to get his shot off against the 6-7 Swiss Shooting Guard but he won't have to waste a lot of effort on defending him either.
Advantage: Memphis

Durant
Small Forwards: Rudy Gay vs Kevin Durant
During the regular season this matchup is worth the price of admission and that includes courtside seats! Kevin Durant and Rudy Gay are both from the Baltimore area and have competed against each other most of their lives. This summer both players took it on themselves to muscle up. Rudy is rumored to have put on 20 pounds of muscle to improve his interior game. The Daily Thunder thinks the extra muscle for Durant is to improve his defense and protect against injury. Either way the two players have wonderful matchups whenever they play against each other. Too bad this one won't last that long being pre-season and all.
Advantage: Oklahoma City

Zach Green
Power Forwards: Zach Randolph vs Jeff Green
An interesting matchup between a prototypical power forward who likes to occassionally drift outside and an atypical power forward who lives on the perimeter but can sneak in a surprise you inside on occassion. Jeff Green hit an astonishing high percentage of his three point attempts last season probably because most PF's can't guard him on the perimeter but was exposed down low way too often. Built more like a small forward Green suffers when people force him to defend around the paint but the former Georgetown Hoya knows how to play tough. He just doesn't have enough size to compete most nights. Randolph should consistently bang him down low to wear him out but his desire to show his range may get him in trouble at times.
Advantage: Memphis

Gasol Kristic
Centers: Marc Gasol vs Nenad Kristic
Two European Centers and so different in their approach to the game you would never know it.