My Team - Game 1, Grizzlies at Oklahoma City

The Thunder should win. I would love to see, and expect to see, a seven-game contest like two years ago. It's gonna be fun, and more fans should get to see just how well Memphis is playing this post-season.

Every NBA fan knows about the Thunder. They just took out a game Houston team in six games on Friday night. Everybody knows about Durant, one of the world's best players. Everyone knows about Westbrook's injury & how he probably won't play against Memphis. Everyone knows about Perkins' toughness, Ibaka's blossoming offensive game and Sefolosha's versatility. Everyone knows Martin comes off the bench shooting, and Collison comes off the bench crashing the boards and playing tough post defense.

Allen has matched up with Durant in the past and held his own. Durant has gotten stronger over the years, though. Reggie Jackson, the backup point guard, is good enough to get the ball to his team's scorers. He'll also hit the boards. He should be a handful for Conley.

Sefolosha and Prince will play to a standstill. Perkins, Ibaka, Collison and maybe former Grizzlies' first-round draftee Hasheem Thabeet are a good enough rotation to neutralize Randolph and Gasol at times. Will Bayless repeat his Clippers'-series-Game 6 shooting exhibition, or will he come off the bench to do a "4-for-15" night?

My Game 1 guess is Oklahoma City 101, Memphis 96. It will be an entertaining game. Durant will make late buckets every time Memphis gets it within one or two points.

(A Long Time) After the Game: Oklahoma City 93, Memphis 91. Memphis coulda/shoulda won this game.

For the Grizzlies, it was 35 field goals, 13/11 assist/turnover and 5 steals. Gasol (20 points, 10 rebs) and Randolph (18 and 10) did what they could. Conley had 13 points, but needed 15 FGA to get there. Pondexter (13 points) and Bayless (10 points) did their part, but Pondexter's late FT misses were glaring.

For the Thunder, it was 33 field goals, 13/10 assist/turnover and 2 steals. Durant scored 35, and added 15 rebounds & 6 assists. Somebody check that guy! Martin scored 25 off the bench, and Jackson added 12. Nobody else for the Thunder scored in double figures. Sefolosha, Ibaka and Perkins combined for 4/21 FG/A.

Yep, it was close. Yep, Durant made the plays a superstar makes to get his team a playoff win. Memphis getting outscored 29-18 in the fourth shows they got out of their game plan a bit. Move the ball, get to the line, hit your free throws, get out of there with a win. Maybe we will see that in Game 2...