Thunder Vs. Grizzlies Predictions: Russell Westbrook Vital For Oklahoma City Victory

This is not going to be an easy series for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Honestly, facing the San Antonio Spurs probably would have been easier than facing the Memphis Grizzlies. Tim Duncan's lack of foot speed stopping dribble penetration would have been massively exposed by the Thunder's drive-at-all-costs philosophy, and San Antonio also doesn't have anyone to guard Kevin Durant. The Grizzlies, though, are great at cutting off driving lanes, and they have Tony Allen to throw at Durant. There's a reason Memphis took three of four in the regular season.

This is a series where they desperately need Russell Westbrook to perform. Westbrook had his problems in the last two games of the Nuggets series, jacking up too many shots and forcing things off the dribble. In a weird twist of fate, the Thunder might need Westbrook to keep forcing the issue against the Grizzlies. Allen is capable of taking Durant out of a game, and did so in the second of two games the teams played this season. Therefore, Westbrook is needed, big time. If the Grizzlies' defense has a weakness, it's that it fouls a little more than it should. They put San Antonio on the line far too often in Games 2, 3 and 5. Marc Gasol is really good at sliding over to cut off dribble penetration, but Westbrook shoots out of there like a jet when he is on. His power taking it to the hoop could overwhelm Mike Conley in a way Tony Parker could not. He just has to have his head on straight.

On the other end, Zach Randolph should have a field day against the Thunder bigs. Serge Ibaka is good, but he is slender. It's better than trotting out Jeff Green to stop Randolph, but it's still not ideal. The Thunder, like most teams, aren't built to stop two post players. Kendrick Perkins could check Randolph, but Randolph is probably too perimeter-oriented to make that work on a consistent basis. O.J. Mayo vs. James Harden off the bench is also a key barometer in play.