Joey Crawford will be the lead official for the Oklahoma City Thunder's Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which tips of Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on ABC. Crawford's presence would have been more notable if it were the San Antonio Spurs instead of the Grizzlies in this series; the vocal* vet has had serious run-ins with the Spurs, and particularly Tim Duncan, in the past.
Joey Crawford Leads Referee Crew For Thunder Vs. Grizzlies Game 1
Marc Davis and Zach Zarba will join Crawford on the sidelines. Sean Wright is the alternate.
The referees will be busy during this series. Oklahoma City drew fouls more frequently than any other team in the NBA during the regular season, and both teams play a physical defensive style that draws whistles often enough. Watching Kevin Durant's infamous rip move and Russell Westbrook's penetration will be particularly key.
* That’s a nice way of putting it.
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