We 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 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.
Read MoreThe Thunder's regular starting five has been out on the floor together for just 20 games this season. Tonight, if we all cross our fingers and toes, just might be the 21st.
Kendrick Perkins returned last week from his strained groin, Russell Westbrook has been back for a while though he continues under restrictions and last night Thabo Sefolosha was back.
Read MoreThe Oklahoma City Thunder got an important win last night but even more important to the upcoming playoff run is that the team appears to be healthy again.
Thunder defensive whiz Thabo Sefolosha returned to the lineup for the first time in more than a month and Kendrick Perkins was out there playing too and the Thunder beat Sacramento 107-92 thanks to a 21-2 run from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth that was fueled by stout defense.
Read MoreThe Oklahoma City Thunder have faced a murderous schedule the last month or so of the season and their record has suffered because of it.
Six sets of back-to-back games in the span of 30 days is difficult enough but sprinkle in some injuries and some minutes restrictions and the plan of holding Russell Westbrook out of one game of each of those back-to-backs and you have a difficult situation.
Read MoreThe Oklahoma City Thunder knew what was coming, knew exactly how the Phoenix Suns would attack them because they'd seen it up close before and still they were helpless to stop it.
For the second time in a month the Suns burned Oklahoma City with hot shooting, hitting almost 60 percent of their shots overall and almost 50 percent of their 3-pointers.
Read MoreThe last time the Oklahoma City Thunder played in the Valley of the Sun their defense was roasted, toasted and quick fried to a crackly crunch, giving up a season high 128 points.
That night the Thunder also gave up a career-high 41 points to Gerald Green who hit eight 3-pointers as the Suns won 128-122. It was the most points the Thunder had given up since 2009.
Read MoreThe Thunder lost a game they probably should have won and lost in the disappointment of giving away a game in Houston is another division title for Oklahoma City.
When the Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Phoenix Suns the Blazers were eliminated from the race giving the Thunder their fourth straight Northwest Division Championship and the chance to hang another banner from the rafters of The Peake.
Read MoreIt was deja-vu all over again for the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night. The last time they had a really long winning streak (20 games in the 2011-12 regular season and playoffs) the Thunder ended it on the court at Chesapeake Energy Arena in the Western Conference Finals.
This time the Spurs came in streaking again, 19 straight wins to set a regular season franchise record. And once again the streak stopped inside The Peake.
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