The Thunder and the Grizzlies have been down this road before but never in the first round. The two previous meetings have come in the conference semi-finals with each team winning one series.
Now the two familiar foes tangle in round one and from a Thunder perspective two things stand out when looking a season stats.
Read MoreThe Oklahoma City Thunder worked about as long as they've ever worked in a practice session. It was supposed to have started at about 11 o'clock and didn't end until around 3.
Much of the work involved looking at film and going over very detailed scouting reports.
Read MoreWe all know things tend to change in the playoffs from what happened during the regular season especially with all the injuries and lineup adjustments both Oklahoma City and Memphis made in this regular season.
The Thunder didn't have their regular starting five on the court in any of the four games they played against Memphis and what has become the Grizzlies starting five was on the floor against OKC in just two of the four games.
Read MoreFor the third time in the last four years the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies are set to meet in the NBA Playoffs.
Three seasons ago the Thunder won a thrilling seven game series that included a triple-overtime instant classic propelling them into the Western Conference Finals. Last season, again in the semifinals, the Grizzlies took advantage of the loss of Russell Westbrook to beat the Thunder in five games.
Read MoreWhile a lot of playoff bound NBA teams will be resting their starters tonight, or at least limiting their minutes, the Thunder can't afford that luxury if they want to secure the #2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
"A lot of people put an emphasis on seeding but we just wanna play our best basketball at the right time," Thunder superstar Kevin Durant told reporters today after shootaround. "But you also do wanna have a Game 7 on your home court."
Read MoreWe've made it to the last day of the NBA's regular season and there's still much to be decided when it comes to the Thunder's playoff situation.
The simplest answers to the questions are a Thunder win tonight against Detroit secures the #2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and the Thunder would start that run by hosting the winner of tonight's Dallas-Memphis game.
Read MoreWell this week certainly hasn't started the way I figured. You see I thought the Thunder would go up to Indianapolis, take advantage of some matchup mis-matches and take care of business against the Pacers.
Then I figured since the Pelicans hardly had enough healthy players to fill out a lineup sheet the Thunder would beat them almost no matter what.
Read MoreThe worst thing that happened in the Thunder's 102-97 loss to Indiana yesterday is that backup point guard Reggie Jackson got hurt trying to fight through a screen and his playing status is in question for tonight's game in New Orleans.
Jackson didn't return to yesterday's game in Indianapolis after running headlong into a screen being set by one of the Pacer's big men.
Read MoreAfter it appeared the Thunder had solved some critical issues now that the regular starting five is back in place, old demons reared their ugly heads Sunday in Indianapolis.
Once again the Thunder struggled to defend the perimeter, another role player went off for a big game and the Thunder took and missed too many 3-pointers.
Read MoreThunder forward Serge Ibaka didn't score the most points Friday night but he probably prevented more points from being scored than anyone else on the floor.
While most folks figure Kevin Durant has the Most Valuable Player Award wrapped up, Ibaka let his play lobby for him being named Defensive Player of the Year as the Thunder blitzed past the New Orleans Pelicans 116-94.
Read MoreThe Thunder starting five should be back on the floor for tonight's game with New Orleans. Head coach Scott Brooks is not expected to have anyone on the shelf for this game because the starting unit has been together just three times now since Christmas.
Even though everyone in that unit is a veteran and they've all been playing together now for a few years, you'd still like to fine tune some things, like timing and communication as you get ready for what will hopefully be a long playoff run.
Read MoreOh what a difference a healthy lineup makes.
For just the second time since Christmas Day the Oklahoma City Thunder sent their regular starting five out on the court, a group that had played together in just 20 games this season, winning 17.
Now you can make that 18.
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