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 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 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.
Read MoreWe've had the first part of the week to talk about it and speculate. Who do the matchups favor? What will the matchups even be, with questions surrounding who will and who won't play tonight.
What we know for sure is the two best teams in the Western Conference go at each other tonight. The time for waiting and talking and speculating is just about over.
Read MoreThunder fans have been hoping that Reggie Jackson, Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins would be back in the team's lineup soon and listening to Scott Brooks after practice it sounds like that day is getting close.
Like say tomorrow.
Read MoreThese next three days should be interesting for those of us who pay attention to the Thunder and the Spurs as both teams play back-to-backs and both will face some interesting lineup decisions.
San Antonio hosts Golden State tonight, The Thunder host the Spurs tomorrow night and then Oklahoma City goes to Houston on Friday.
Read MoreThunder head coach Scott Brooks doesn't really like talking about injured players and how close, or not, they are to returning to the lineup.
Today of course he was asked about the progress of Reggie Jackson, Thabo Sefolosha and Kendrick Perkins and whether they were able to participate much in Monday's practice.
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