vs. 
OKC Thunder (7-3, 2-2 road) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (6-5, 4-1 home)
TV: ESPN (Cox 29, HD 720);
Stream: Click here
Radio: WWLS The Sports Animal (98.1 FM, 640 AM, 97.1 FM Tulsa)
Time: 8:00 CT
Series: OKC leads 3-2
View from the enemy: 3 Shades of Blue
This is where you hope past experience really does mean something. Where you hope the Thunder learned, developed and evolved a bit. Game 4 on the road in Denver with a chance to close, Oklahoma City was right there, but a number of elements prevented the Thunder from finishing it out. It was on the road against a team with a ton of pride and good home crowd. It was tough.
So did they learn something? Did they take anything from that? If so, now’s the time to remember it and use it. Beating Memphis in Game 6 tonight will be a serious challenge. Almost more because of the butt-kicking in Game 5. The Grizzlies may or may not care about the perceived showboating, but I would assume they’ve got more of an issue with getting worked by 27 in the biggest game of the series.
The Thunder have done a terrific job containing the Grizzlies’ big guys and forcing other players to beat them. If that happens again, I think the Thunder can actually cruise a bit again. But Memphis will be a team playing with emotion and their arena is going to try and will them to a win.
This feels like a game where OKC is in need of a Kevin Durant performance that we talk about for a while. This game will likely be within a possession or two in the fourth quarter and here’s where Durant and Russell Westbrook will have to get together and finish off the Grizzlies.
If the game comes back to OKC, it’s not the end of the world. But it’s better to just handle things there and get it over with. The Thunder have the momentum and made a clear, loud statement in Game 5. Time to make another.
Tip at 8:00 CT. Go Finish.
@Daniel Hawaii
Haha. Wow, sorry you feel similarly. Its tough stuff. I wanted win it all, but now ill he more content if we just win this series
nick :@Daniel
Plainview
Ah, the problem is my stupidity, thanks for that. Or you could actually explain your point of view, but that would be no fun. Obviously I’m being stubborn by not admitting to being wrong when I don’t think I’m wrong. Silly me!
Nope, youre response didnt dissappoint. Youre giving "ad infnitum" a whole new connotation.
On that note, Im moving forward. Attempting to respond to you required an ire I do not have today. Go Thunder!
dylan :im seriously not going to be able to watch sunday’s game. i dont think i can take it
Well, you could do what I do. I always DVR the games, then I go do something else while the game is going on. Then I come back and fast forward through it quickly. If we are losing, I skip ahead faster from possession to possession. If we are winning, I obviously watch more of it. If we lose, I quickly delete the whole game. If we win, then I'll go back and watch it again, this time in its entirety.
I know it sounds crazy but this is the only way I feel I can go through an entire playoff game without completely losing my mind.
For Sunday's game, I am going to sleep right through most of it since it will start at 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time, then I'll wake up and scroll through it. I can't bring myself to watch it live. I just can't.
@Daniel Plainview
Ah, the problem is my stupidity, thanks for that. Or you could actually explain your point of view, but that would be no fun. Obviously I'm being stubborn by not admitting to being wrong when I don't think I'm wrong. Silly me!
@nick
"struggling to understand..." Aye, theres the rub. I do appreciate the concession though
@Daniel Plainview
Nope, I'm entirely complicit in the inanity. I've taken part the entire way and, as you mentioned, repeated myself quite a bit. I'm just struggling to understand how I'm being stubborn and how our disagreement somehow reflects on my ability to be objective, and I've yet to get an explanation on that one. Your move sir.
@gr8ball83
A thousand???Im already laying down, its 1:50 here
nick :@Daniel
Plainview
I get strange enjoyment out of inane discussions. I also have fun arguing with brick walls. And being stubborn, apparently.
I suppose, despite the fact that it takes 2 to tango, your hands are clean of the inanity? Im sure youre response wont dissappoint
@gr8ball83
I agree. That's why I'm hoping to keep it going haha.
@nick
gotta say its pretty entertaining
@gr8ball83
Thanks for keeping the faith! Seriously, I'm impressed that you're keeping up with the discussion. Good work.
@Daniel Plainview
I get strange enjoyment out of inane discussions. I also have fun arguing with brick walls. And being stubborn, apparently.
:)
@nick
@Daniel Plainview
come on, you can take this to 1,000, i have faith in you!!
Im not sure I can watch sundays game
@nick
Reapeating yourself equals fun? Or is it my prose style youre so enamored with?
@Daniel Plainview
Too bad, I was having fun ...
@nick
Thats a wrap!
@Daniel Plainview
Ok ... so remind me how I'm being stubborn then? I don't think being stubborn should be defined as disagreeing with you. I would be being stubborn if I refused to admit I was wrong when I actually believed I was wrong. Since that's not the case, how am I being stubborn? We just disagree. It happens.
nick :@Daniel
Plainview
… Sarcastic? This conversation confuses me as much as anything.
Ah, yes, youve said you dont feel wrong like 93 times
@gr8ball83
Or worst. Its unfortunate it happened. Again, Ive admitted shame for my behavior. It is unprecedented of me to be have like that and it was contingent on our sad loss as well as his ill-advised words, which i admit, were product of the moment. I dont recall Nick being a troll or a stooge or having words with him ever before. on that note, unfortunate
@gr8ball83
Definitely!
:)
@Daniel Plainview
... Sarcastic? This conversation confuses me as much as anything.
@nick
@Daniel Plainview
best DT argument ever??
@nick
You didnt think you were wrong? Oh, I must have missed that part.
@Daniel Plainview
Hahaha, you have an interesting point of view. Its totally unreasonable in this instance, but interesting nonetheless. I'm happy to admit fault when I believe that I was in the wrong, and I don't believe that in this instance. Just because I disagree with you doesn't make me stubborn. If you'll notice, I actually apologized to Royce if people were offended by what I said. I don't think I was wrong, but I am sorry if I bothered anybody, you included. I'm sorry to anybody reading this for continuing this somewhat inane discussion, but I found that post too funny to ignore.
@DJ 7
This happened with like 30 seconds left in teh game. I said I was ashamed that I lost my cool. the reposter edited out my repentance
Joey Gladstone :
Daniel Plainview :@nick
Apologized before using it? Ha. Your choice was ungrateful and shameful. Its sad that you cant show a little contrition
Did the person who just few posts ago said “fuck your mother, sister, brother, family” to another poster REALLY just have the audacity to call someone else “shameful”?
You cannot be serious.
Please kill yourself.
Thats being ridiculous.
We're all acting a little ridiculous. We'll be lucky if Royce doesn't ban us all.
@nick
Its not a grudge, its me doubting your ability to be objective. Stubborn people who do not admit fault are usually people with a limited perspective because they can not consider other peoples angles. They hold so dear onto every decision they make or thing they imagine and never take blame. Its a limitation and that's your right. Im talking from experience only. Dont take it personal, Ill just be less inclined to read your posts is all. No reason to be hurt.
It's good to believe in things. I guess I'm just cynical. :)
@justin
About what? That Brooks is an idiot? I say he isn't and the organization is getting its moneys worth at this time and stage of its development, but I am just a basketball fan. If Presti says otherwise, that is good enough for me. I do think that Harden will start soon, but that is not my call and no one outside of the coaches have all of the information necessary to make that decision. Not even you. I am not going to spend a lot time going back and forth with you in the future on this...I like this forum too much for that.
Sometime young teams and newly assembled teams need to be force feed. We are both. Maynor does it all the time. He' ll point at Harden, dude come get this ball. You wave Collison or Naz to come set a pick. Westbrook wasnt that bad tonight. Just something that unit needed. KD was bad, Sef was bad, cook was bad.......but we were in it still
I always think KD should try to draw the fouls when his hands is cold.He is smart to know how to use his superstar role to do it and please do it Sunday which is the most important game.
I dont think KD can play 2 consecutive game.He know how to adjust himself.And our team are the same.
@Daniel Plainview
Haha, I thought I was done, but you managed to pull me back in. You "believe this will prevent us from having any rational discussions in the future"? Um, that's pretty unreasonable. I disagree with your take that I need to be contrite for expressing my disappointment with KD in the way that I saw fit. I'm sorry I offended you and I'm sorry we disagree, but its pretty ridiculous that you will refuse to have any rational discussions in the future because we disagree about something. Like you, I would characterize myself as an amicable poster, and I think people here would back me up on that. It doesn't seem like you should hold a grudge because we disagree on how to express ourselves after a tough loss.
Daniel Plainview :@nick
Apologized before using it? Ha. Your choice was ungrateful and shameful. Its sad that you cant show a little contrition
Did the person who just few posts ago said "fuck your mother, sister, brother, family" to another poster REALLY just have the audacity to call someone else "shameful"?
You cannot be serious.
Please kill yourself.
@nick
I am an amicable poster. Again, I never attack people, and only defend others when they are harrassed. Came to skeletors defense earlier today. We lost, I was pissed, you lit my fire by your ill-chosen words. Your inability to admit error or show the slightest regret in your choice is unfortunate and I believe this will prevent us from having any rational discussions in the future.
gr8ball83 :@okc
baby
what did you want westbrook to do down the stretch, no one was moving?
Maybe what they were doing in the 1st half. And if their not moving be the captain of the ship.
I missed this game and the result is so bad.But thanks god we will play G7 at home.
One thing i will say though, is this. I know alot of people would say it wouldn't have been easy, and Grizz fans will more than likely take this as an insult.
The Thunder had 3 different opportunities to close this in 5. Had we showed up to play Game 1, win Game 2 like we Did, and didn't choke in Game 3, it wouldn't have mattered whether we won or lose Game 4. Same vice versa with Game 3 & 4, but we should have defended home court. Even then we lost Game 1, won Game 2, choked on Game 3, and won Game 4. Had we not choked in Game 3, we would have closed this out at home two days ago. This is what happens when the superior team doesn't close out.
Memphis is great team but out of the last 6 games, the Thunder have won i believe 14 quarters out of this. The 2 quarters keeping us from that 4th win, the 4th quarter of Game 3, and the 3rd Quarter of Game 6. We've outplayed Memphis Every game minus Game 1. Memphis is great, and yes they played their part but really when you look at it. We lost Game 3, and tonight. We shot ourselfs in the foot, and gave the game away. We're the better team, and we need to play like it for a full 4 quarters. If not Memphis will pull another upset.
@ChilamBilam12
Collison played greta D on Randolph. Zach hit several difficult shots with a hand completely in his face.
@Daniel Plainview
I didn't quote myself, but here you go.
nick :
I never thought I’d say this, and sorry for the language, but … fuck you Kevin Durant. Once again, my favorite player in the league and generally terrific, but just pathetic tonight.
Once again, I apologized for the language before using. As I explained countless times, I used the language to highlight my disappointment in Durant's effort. I said many positive things about Durant in general after that, including the fact that he is my favorite player in the league. I explained my language, and I didn't attack anyone personally. You attacked me personally and did so ridiculously graphically. I don't feel like I need to apologize, and I'm sorry you disagree. I will say that I'm disappointed that you reacted the way you did, because I've generally thought you were an amicable poster and what you said was pretty horrible. Sorry if that was preachy, I'm moving on from this discussion. Go Thunder, I know KD will come with the kind of effort he didn't come with tonight.
Truthfully i wish we would go back to a more basic starting lineup.. i know it would probably be considered going small.. but Westbrook, Durant, Harden, Ibaka, and Collison would absolutely put us on the offensive early and allow for a lot more distribution and defensive double teaming.. i know its a pipe dream because Brooks is so set in his ways that adjusting our starting lineup won't happen until after the second coming, but just thought it would make a lot of since in this series, especially with the way Collison has been playing Randolph as of late
@TylerD951
DarnellMayberry Darnell Mayberry
Best guess: Thunder should land at about 2 a.m.
@okc baby
what did you want westbrook to do down the stretch, no one was moving?
Westbrook went a little hero down the stretch and KD playing bad just compounded it.
[Darn spam filter. Let me try it this way.]
On deciding wether to go meet the plane or not:
“I never get enough sleep. I stay up late at night, cause I’m Night Guy. Night Guy wants to stay up late. ‘What about getting up after five hours sleep?’, oh that’s Morning Guy’s problem. That’s not my problem, I’m Night Guy. I stay up as late as I want. So you get up in the morning, you’re exhausted, groggy… oooh I hate that Night Guy! See, Night Guy always screws Morning Guy. There’s nothing Morning Guy can do. The only Morning Guy can do is try and oversleep often enough so that Day Guy looses his job and Night Guy has no money to go out anymore.”
- Jerry Seinfeld
I am all for meeting them at the airport. When might we know when they arrive?
gr8ball83 :@justin
who was Thabo on that team?
No but Ricky Pierce was, and Karl had a stupid habit of playing Vincent Askew (defensive role player) ahead of him.
Hopefully Maynor, Collison get more PT next game. And the starters learn to play together more. Plus Cook should get more time if hes able to shoot better.
@justin
who was Thabo on that team?
@okc baby
glass houses. you were calling people 'retarted' last game (your spelling, not mine), right?