Oklahoma City Thunder fans who watched their team’s narrow Game 3 win against the Memphis Grizzlies understand that their 3-0 lead isn’t as comfortable as it seems.
The team had to mount a 29-point comeback to win against the Grizzlies at the FedExForum. While they had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren to thank for the win, the final score showed how confident the Memphis squad was in front of their home fans.
Moreover, one analyst warns them of how dangerous they looked with Ja Morant on the floor. Sure, his scary fall leaves plenty of question marks on his availability for the remainder of the series. However, one analyst made it clear that the Western Conference’s top seed cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
Analyst reminds the Oklahoma City Thunder to stop Ja Morant in Game 3
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Ja Morant only played fifteen minutes of basketball in Oklahoma City’s 114-108 win before sitting out the remainder of the game because of a scary fall. However, he had an impressive stat line of 15 points, one rebound, and five assists.
Thunderous Intentions’ Mark Nilon reminded Thunder fans that Game 3 is a stern reminder of Memphis’ threat. He especially highlighted one aspect of Morant’s game that Mike Daigneault’s defensive schemes failed to cover:
With his effective penetration and frightening attack-mode mentality right out of the gates, Morant’s presence alone greatly benefited Memphis’ offensive game plan, as he was directly responsible for 36.3 percent of his team’s 77 first-half points and opened up clean scoring looks with his early efficiency.
If Morant doesn’t return for the series, Mike Daigneault’s squad might have an easier time defensively. However, Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane are capable of taking on the scoring load for the Grizzlies.
It’s not like the top seed to hope for Morant to sit out the remainder of the series, though. Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, and the rest of the defensive unit must effectively implement an effective defensive game plan to push the Thunder for a convincing sweep.
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