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Memphis Grizzlies vs. OKC Thunder Game 5 NBA Preview & Free Pick

Memphis vs OKC Handicapping

Since David Stern took over the NBA, the Association has never been shy about implementing its star system.

Western Conference
Memphis Grizzlies (3-1) at Oklahoma City Thunder (1-3)
Wednesday, May 15
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
9:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Thunder -4.5 at Bovada
O/U – 185

ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!

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The best players not only get the money and the entourages; they get the benefit of doubt from referees, who are ever reluctant to explain to their bosses why they fouled out a big-name player on national television with TV ratings on the line.

The problem is, when your team is two-star dependent and one star is down with an injury, you have problems. Ladies and gentlemen, your Oklahoma City Thunder, who are starting to look a lot like a playoff version of the Dominique Wilkins Atlanta Hawks.

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Kevin Durant is much more of a team player than Nique was, to be sure, but the injury to PG Russell Westbrook has obviously left a gaping hole in the Thunder ship. OKC has lost 3 straight to the upstart Memphis Grizzlies, and the Thunder are now only 48 minutes away from possible elimination from a post-season in which they were at least even money to get to The Finals and a second straight go-round with the Miami Heat.

The Thunder may have been able to recover from the Westbrook injury had it happened a month earlier and given coach Scott Brooks some time to game-plan for the loss of a player who accounted for 23.2 points and 7.4 assists per game.

Instead, Brooks was forced to figure things out on the fly, and his solution – run every half-court offensive set through Durant and keep him on the court for almost the entire game – has had mixed results.

After OKC’s skin-of-their-teeth win at home in Game 1, the Thunder have dropped 3 straight. In none of those 3 games has Durant shot 50 percent or better from the field. Perhaps more telling, his minutes have ballooned – from 42 in Game 2 to 46 in Game 3 to more than 48 (including overtime) in Game 4. [ad-6571516]

To count out a team that won 60 regular-season games and went 34-7 at home is absurd, even if its second-best player will be in street clothes tonight. But no doubt Brooks has spent the last few days trying to find another way to penetrate the Grizzlies’ sticky defense, one that might not be so Durant-dependent.

THE PICK – Get set for some ugly basketball as the Grizzlies try to get this game played on quicksand rather than wood.

Memphis now has three shots at winning and getting to the conference finals for the first time in franchise history. They love what they’re getting from C Marc Gasol, who tortured the Thunder for 23 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in the Grizz’s Game 4 win.

Still, looking for a Thunder comeback here behind a crazy home crowd. OKC to cover 4.5 and send this back to Tennessee for Game 6.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!