Two days after getting swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Memphis Grizzlies are likely checking into resorts around the world, enjoying tropical vacations. And while that sounds great to most of us, Memphis would much rather be awaiting the winner of the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals right now.
It’s unbelievable that 27.8 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks per game could be considered a subpar performance, but even Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would tell you he wasn’t at his best through three of the four games in the series. Most notably, his field goal percentage — 52% during the season — took a noticeable dip to just 40.2%.
So, how did OKC sweep the series despite its best player not being at his best?
The answer: OKC’s wave of defenders. More specifically, Lu Dort, Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace.
Dort is OKC’s best on-ball defender. He’s brutal, physical and highly skilled. He’s also OKC’s assignment guy — whoever’s cooking gets to see Lu. Dort kept Ja Morant at bay in the Game 1 blowout, holding him to one made 3-pointer on 1-of-4 shooting over four minutes, but his best work came against Desmond Bane and Scottie Pippen Jr. throughout the series. The duo combined for just three points on 1-of-12 shooting in 11 minutes when guarded face-to-face by Dort.
That threw Memphis off its offensive rhythm, and OKC capitalized on offense during those stretches.
Each of OKC’s big runs started on the defensive end of the floor, especially in that historic 29-point comeback. That’s where Caruso and Wallace became even more valuable.
Caruso is the veteran leader — a methodical defender doing whatever it takes to add extra possessions or make it harder for opposing players to score.
During the comeback, in the second half alone, Caruso forced a steal on Jaren Jackson Jr., blocked a shot attempt by Pippen Jr., and rejected Bane’s 3-point attempt. In the fourth quarter, with OKC down eight points, Caruso took it up another notch: ripping the ball away from Jackson twice under the basket, blocking another of his shot attempts, forcing a charge on 7-foot-4 rookie Zach Edey, and stripping Pippen Jr. on the perimeter — capping off OKC’s 32-point turnaround.
All the while, Wallace, the energetic rookie, did a little bit of everything defensively — getting deflections, altering shots and jarring the ball loose from drivers attacking the basket.
OKC’s defensive trio is surrounded by other highly skilled defenders like Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Isaiah Joe, all of whom more than hold their own on that end of the floor.
For once, the biggest impact didn’t come from Gilgeous-Alexander. It came from OKC’s defensive prowess — and more specifically, its relentless wave of perimeter defenders.
