NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 117 Thunder vs. Grizzlies

On the evening of May 2, Jia Fei and Sharapova had a video call.

"Jia, congratulations on making it to the Western Conference semifinals!" Sharapova said with a smile.

"Congratulations on winning the WTA title!" Jia Fei congratulated her. Sharapova defeated Chinese tennis superstar Li Na in the final of the recently concluded WTA tournament to win the championship.

"Thank you!" Sharapova was very happy. Jia Fei knew she had won the championship, which meant he had been paying attention to her.

“Maria, take good care of yourself while you’re competing. If you’re feeling down, come talk to me!” Jia Fei said earnestly.

"Okay, Ja, I'm going to Madrid for a tournament. I'm feeling a bit tired. Wish me luck!" Sharapova looked weary. Indeed, for a tennis player, there are countless tournaments throughout the year. And these are all singles tournaments. For a player ranked among the top in the world like her, the pressure to achieve results and the high expectations from the outside world mean she can't afford to slack off. So many young players want to beat her and make a name for themselves, so for stars of their caliber, they dare not be careless in the slightest.

"Okay, you get some rest. I'll come watch your game after the playoffs!" Jia Fei said.

"Really? I'm so happy!" Sharapova's face beamed with a smile.

May 3, Thunder team's daily practice.

Westbrook hasn't decided whether to have surgery. He doesn't want to have surgery and prefers conservative treatment so that if the Thunder perform well and make it to the Western Conference Finals, he still has a chance to return. However, the medical team believes that surgery is the better option for the sake of his future career. But once he has surgery, his return date will be uncertain, and he will obviously miss the rest of the season.

But regardless of whether he has surgery or not, Westbrook will definitely miss the next series against the winner of the Clippers-Grizzlies matchup.

During practice, Coach Brooks had Fisher replace Westbrook in scrimmages. It's clear that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will be the starting lineup for the next series.

Jia Fei wasn't surprised at all. Knowing Coach Brooks' style, even if Westbrook wasn't playing, he wouldn't put Kevin Martin in the starting lineup, because the second unit needs a scorer, and Kevin Martin isn't a point guard. Fisher may be old, but he's still a genuine championship point guard. There's no reason a guard who could survive playing alongside the Los Angeles Snakes couldn't play under Durant.

On May 4th, the Clippers and Grizzlies played Game 6 of their series. For the Grizzlies, leading 3-2, this game was their match point, and they naturally didn't want to go to a Game 5. Winning at home would be ideal.

The Thunder organized for their players to watch the game in the tactics room.

Watching competitors compete in this environment is a completely different experience from watching as a spectator. The matches were intense, with lots of physical confrontations.

The Grizzlies' "Grit and Grind" duo completely dominated the paint, while the Clippers' "Lob City" team failed to perform at all in the playoffs, with Griffin and Jordan being completely shut down.

As the Clippers battled on, they discovered that their toughest and most reliable player was actually Chris 58, who is only 183cm tall. This team lacked a star wing, a wing who could step up and solve problems when the tactics failed.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies defeated the Clippers at home and advanced to the Western Conference semifinals.

This sets up two matchups for the Western Conference semifinals: Thunder vs. Grizzlies, and Spurs vs. Warriors.

The Thunder vs. Grizzlies series will tip off on May 6 at the Thunder's home arena, the Ford Center.

Regarding this series, predictions from outside sources, including betting odds and major media outlets, are basically a 50/50 split. This is understandable; the Thunder certainly possess a top-tier superstar like Durant, but Westbrook's absence is undeniable. The Grizzlies' strength was evident after their victory over the Clippers; this team excels in the playoffs. If the Grizzlies' "Grit and Grind" duo could defeat Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, then defeating Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins shouldn't be too difficult. Furthermore, the Grizzlies have abundant resources to defend Durant; both Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince are well-suited to guard him.

After confirming their opponent was the Grizzlies, Thunder head coach Brooks appeared particularly worried. The Clippers were also a tough opponent, but the Grizzlies were clearly more difficult to beat. The Thunder had lost to the Grizzlies several times during the regular season; this team excels at physical play, and Durant is the star player who least enjoys physical battles.

On the evening of May 6, at the Ford Center.

In the home team's locker room, Westbrook appeared on crutches, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

"I've decided to have the surgery. Let's do our best to beat the Grizzlies!" Westbrook said.

Westbrook's words reignited everyone's passion, and there was no doubt that they didn't want to stop there.

The Ford Center was packed to capacity for this game, proving the fans' enthusiasm was unquestionable.

This game was broadcast live on TNT, with Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller providing commentary.

"Steve, if Russ doesn't play, which side do you favor more, OKC or Memphis?" Reggie Miller asked.

Kerr, being a shrewd old fox, didn't give a direct answer: "Everyone has a chance; it all depends on how they perform on the day!"

"Who do you think OKC will start in place of Russ?" Reggie Miller continued.

Cole thought for a moment and said, "Derrick Fisher and Reggie Jackson are both possibilities, but given Scott's coaching style, Derrick is more likely."

Soon, the starting lineups for both teams were displayed on the big screen.

For the Thunder, the starting lineup consisted of Perkins, Ibaka, Durant, Sefolosha, and Fisher.

For the Grizzlies, the starting lineup consists of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, Tayshaun Prince, and Mike Conley.

"Steve, you were right, Derrick is starting!" Reggie Miller laughed.

Kerr calmly stated, "Derrick doesn't need the ball; his three-point shooting is more consistent, and he can create space. Spacing has always been a problem for OKC's starting lineup, and starting Derrick can free up KD to some extent."

The game started quickly. Both sides focused on half-court offense, and their offensive pace was incredibly slow. The Grizzlies had Tony Allen primarily guarding Durant, avoiding double-teaming him and locking down the paint and other players.

As a result, only Durant was able to score for the Thunder, while everyone else struggled to score. Durant is indeed formidable; he was previously shut down by Tony, but now he can no longer be easily shut down, even by Tony.

However, relying solely on his scoring isn't enough to defeat the Grizzlies, especially since his efficiency isn't high. This highlights Westbrook's importance; with him on the court, Durant doesn't have to work so hard, and his teammates can get more easy baskets.