I guess the good thing about the Memphis beatdown is that none of the other games is likely to be that bad. So, smart scheduling to put it in the early timeslot.
Note that the Grizzlies were dead even with the Thunder in the 20:33 that Bane was off the court.
Also note that even in regular season games, just two players have ever had a worse plus/minus is the dame or less playing time: https://stathead.com/tiny/2iMVn
But of course, OKC is the better team (like the Warriors were then).
Personally, I think it's perfectly reasonable for the 2nd play-in winner to have a horrible schedule with little rest because they either lost a play-in game already (like Memphis) or were seeded 9th or 10th (Miami) and wouldn't have made the playoffs at all under old rules.
Honestly, I was glad that it was a blowout. Memphis (mostly) ran out of lucky shots after that
Edit: I would expect at least one single-digit game (score differential, not Memphis failing to break 10 points lol I guess you never know at this rate) in this series (probably game 4 as a closeout game)
Actual Estimated Plus/Minus (best players under 23)
5 Wembanyma (21, 1st pick SA)
27 Chet Holmgren (22, 2nd pick OKC)
30 Amen Thompson (21, 4th pick HOU)
36 Alperen Sengun (22, 16th pick HOU)
47 Ausar Thompson (21, 5th pick DET)
49 Derek Lively II (20, 12th pick DAL)
67 Paulo Banchero (22, 1st pick ORL)
72 Jaylin Williams (22, 34th pick OKC)
78 Dyson Daniels (21, 8th pick NO)
86 Brandon Miller (22, 2nd pick CHA)
91 Brandin Podziemski (21, 19th pick GSW)
102 Mouhamed Gueye (22, 39th pick CHA, but traded for Nnaji who was then traded for 3 second round picks and some scrubs)
108 Jaylen Well (21, 39th pick MEM)
113 Josh Giddey (22, 6th pick OKC)
127 Zach Edey (22, 9th pick MEM)
134 Moses Moody (22, 14th pick GSW)
149 Jeremey Sochan (21, 9th pick SA)
153 Jalen Duren (21, 13th pick CHA, but then traded to Knicks for picks, including the one that netted Gueye above. Knick then traded him to Pistons for pick)
172 Jalen Green (22, 2nd pick HOU)
174 Cason Wallace (21, 10th pick DAL)
178 Patrick Baldwin, Jr. (22, 28th pick GSW)
187 Gui Santos (22, 55th pick GSW)
195 Jonathan Kuminga (22, 7th pick GSW)
199 PJ Hall (22, undrafted DEN)
210 Jabari Walker (22, 57th pick POR)
213 Ryan Rollins (22, 44th pick GSW)
These are the top 26 players under 23 by this metric.
Here are the teams with the most draft picks (or signed free agents) listed above:
91 Brandin Podziemski (21, 19th pick GSW)
134 Moses Moody (22, 14th pick GSW)
178 Patrick Baldwin, Jr. (22, 28th pick GSW, traded to dump Poole's contract)
187 Gui Santos (22, 55th pick GSW)
195 Jonathan Kuminga (22, 7th pick GSW)
213 Ryan Rollins (22, 44th pick GSW, traded to dump Poole's contract)
So the Warriors drafted (or acquired on draft day) 6 of the top 26 players under 23 by this metric. Only one of these picks was in the top 13.
27 Chet Holmgren (22, 2nd pick OKC)
72 Jaylin Williams (22, 34th pick OKC)
113 Josh Giddey (22, 6th pick OKC then traded for Alex Caruso)
OKC drafted three, including two with top 6 picks.
30 Amen Thompson (21, 4th pick HOU)
36 Alperen Sengun (22, 16th pick HOU)
172 Jalen Green (22, 2nd pick HOU)
Houston drafted three, including two with top 4 picks.
86 Brandon Miller (22, 2nd pick CHA)
102 Mouhamed Gueye (22, 39th pick CHA)
153 Jalen Duren (21, 13th pick CHA)
Charlotte drafted 3, two with top 13th picks, but traded all but Miller.
49 Derek Lively II (20, 12th pick DAL)
174 Cason Wallace (21, 10th pick DAL)
Dallas drafted two, both with top 12 picks.
5 Wembanyma (21, 1st pick SA)
149 Jeremey Sochan (21, 9th pick SA)
San Antonio drafted 2, both with top 9 picks.
108 Jaylen Well (21, 39th pick MEM)
127 Zach Edey (22, 9th pick MEM)
Memphis drafted 2, one with the 9th pick.
That's just 7 NBA teams who drafted more than one of the top 26 young players. But only the Warriors drafted more than one of these players outside the top 13 picks. And the Warriors drafted 5 of these players outside the top 13 picks.
Detroit, Orlando, and New Orleans drafted one each, all with top 8 picks. Denver signed undrafted PJ Hall, and Portland picked up Jabari Walker with the 57th pick.
That's just 12 of 30 NBA teams who drafted even one of these 26 young players. And, other than the Warriors, only OKC, Houston, Charlotte, Memphis, Denver, and Portland either drafted or acquired even one of these players outside the top 13 picks.
Note that this why I would rather have incoming than outgoing picks. The Warriors have already traded their second round picks for 2026, 2027 (to dump Poole), 2028, 2029 and 2031 as well as their first round pick for 2030 (to dump Poole) away.
ESPN has OKC's win probability at 99.9%, and while I'm normally against assuming that the future is 100% certain, I'm having trouble picturing what would have to happen for OKC to lose. Whole-team forfeit? Spontaneous combustion? Killer bee attack? Tsunami?
A tsunami in OKC would probably wipe out half the USA so an all-teams forfeit seems the likely outcome. Maybe we should consider something a little less... overwhelming.
And now for my grand stretch as to how to interpret this OKC-Memphis travesty as good for the Warriors. The most important thing that OKC lacks is big clutch playoff game experience. They are not gaining any today. If we meet them in the conference finals, we want them untested. This idea somewhat falls apart when we understand that they have to get past Clippers/Nuggets.
Clips with healthy Kawhi are legit. But Jokic is Jokic. I'd call it a tossup as to who wins but I do think that OKC can defend Jokic one on one and that is the key.
Someone needs to explain to me why Chet and Shai are still out there. At this point the risk of injury and their uniqueness would seem to be a reason to sit them down.
I guess the good thing about the Memphis beatdown is that none of the other games is likely to be that bad. So, smart scheduling to put it in the early timeslot.
I know Suggs is hurt, but Orlando has to do better than Cory Joseph at starting PG.
Ask and it shall be given to you... Anthony Black.
And weed ain't even legal in Tennessee.
Whiskey is, though ...
+51 is the 5th largest margin of victory in NBA playoff history: https://stathead.com/tiny/ILxDy
Bane's -51 plus/minus set a new NBA playoff record: https://stathead.com/tiny/LdkHb
Note that the Grizzlies were dead even with the Thunder in the 20:33 that Bane was off the court.
Also note that even in regular season games, just two players have ever had a worse plus/minus is the dame or less playing time: https://stathead.com/tiny/2iMVn
Name someone having a better day than Taylor Jenkins
I think that comes under the category "bittersweet." Mark Daigneault on the other hand is probably feeling very good right now.
Taylor Jenkins' lament (with apologies to Ray Charles and others):
It should've been me /
With that real fine chick /
It should've been me /
With that real fine chick /
It should've been me /
Driving that Cadillac /
Nico Harrison maybe.
Nico Harrison has had no good days of late unless one defines a good day as not having been caught by Mavs fans.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202205110MEM.html
But of course, OKC is the better team (like the Warriors were then).
Personally, I think it's perfectly reasonable for the 2nd play-in winner to have a horrible schedule with little rest because they either lost a play-in game already (like Memphis) or were seeded 9th or 10th (Miami) and wouldn't have made the playoffs at all under old rules.
That game tied for the highest margin playoff loss of any team that went on to win the NBA Championship: https://stathead.com/tiny/o9W5U
But note that 3 of the last 4 NBA Champions lost onw playoff game by 38 or more.
I was thinking about that game and how Dubs just bounced back. It was annoying but not terrifying. As you say, GS was better and OKC is better by far.
Honestly, I was glad that it was a blowout. Memphis (mostly) ran out of lucky shots after that
Edit: I would expect at least one single-digit game (score differential, not Memphis failing to break 10 points lol I guess you never know at this rate) in this series (probably game 4 as a closeout game)
Yeah, they thought it was their time. High on their own supply.
HA- yeah, even Memphis will score double in each game of the four games. . .
Actual Estimated Plus/Minus (best players under 23)
5 Wembanyma (21, 1st pick SA)
27 Chet Holmgren (22, 2nd pick OKC)
30 Amen Thompson (21, 4th pick HOU)
36 Alperen Sengun (22, 16th pick HOU)
47 Ausar Thompson (21, 5th pick DET)
49 Derek Lively II (20, 12th pick DAL)
67 Paulo Banchero (22, 1st pick ORL)
72 Jaylin Williams (22, 34th pick OKC)
78 Dyson Daniels (21, 8th pick NO)
86 Brandon Miller (22, 2nd pick CHA)
91 Brandin Podziemski (21, 19th pick GSW)
102 Mouhamed Gueye (22, 39th pick CHA, but traded for Nnaji who was then traded for 3 second round picks and some scrubs)
108 Jaylen Well (21, 39th pick MEM)
113 Josh Giddey (22, 6th pick OKC)
127 Zach Edey (22, 9th pick MEM)
134 Moses Moody (22, 14th pick GSW)
149 Jeremey Sochan (21, 9th pick SA)
153 Jalen Duren (21, 13th pick CHA, but then traded to Knicks for picks, including the one that netted Gueye above. Knick then traded him to Pistons for pick)
172 Jalen Green (22, 2nd pick HOU)
174 Cason Wallace (21, 10th pick DAL)
178 Patrick Baldwin, Jr. (22, 28th pick GSW)
187 Gui Santos (22, 55th pick GSW)
195 Jonathan Kuminga (22, 7th pick GSW)
199 PJ Hall (22, undrafted DEN)
210 Jabari Walker (22, 57th pick POR)
213 Ryan Rollins (22, 44th pick GSW)
These are the top 26 players under 23 by this metric.
Here are the teams with the most draft picks (or signed free agents) listed above:
91 Brandin Podziemski (21, 19th pick GSW)
134 Moses Moody (22, 14th pick GSW)
178 Patrick Baldwin, Jr. (22, 28th pick GSW, traded to dump Poole's contract)
187 Gui Santos (22, 55th pick GSW)
195 Jonathan Kuminga (22, 7th pick GSW)
213 Ryan Rollins (22, 44th pick GSW, traded to dump Poole's contract)
So the Warriors drafted (or acquired on draft day) 6 of the top 26 players under 23 by this metric. Only one of these picks was in the top 13.
27 Chet Holmgren (22, 2nd pick OKC)
72 Jaylin Williams (22, 34th pick OKC)
113 Josh Giddey (22, 6th pick OKC then traded for Alex Caruso)
OKC drafted three, including two with top 6 picks.
30 Amen Thompson (21, 4th pick HOU)
36 Alperen Sengun (22, 16th pick HOU)
172 Jalen Green (22, 2nd pick HOU)
Houston drafted three, including two with top 4 picks.
86 Brandon Miller (22, 2nd pick CHA)
102 Mouhamed Gueye (22, 39th pick CHA)
153 Jalen Duren (21, 13th pick CHA)
Charlotte drafted 3, two with top 13th picks, but traded all but Miller.
49 Derek Lively II (20, 12th pick DAL)
174 Cason Wallace (21, 10th pick DAL)
Dallas drafted two, both with top 12 picks.
5 Wembanyma (21, 1st pick SA)
149 Jeremey Sochan (21, 9th pick SA)
San Antonio drafted 2, both with top 9 picks.
108 Jaylen Well (21, 39th pick MEM)
127 Zach Edey (22, 9th pick MEM)
Memphis drafted 2, one with the 9th pick.
That's just 7 NBA teams who drafted more than one of the top 26 young players. But only the Warriors drafted more than one of these players outside the top 13 picks. And the Warriors drafted 5 of these players outside the top 13 picks.
Detroit, Orlando, and New Orleans drafted one each, all with top 8 picks. Denver signed undrafted PJ Hall, and Portland picked up Jabari Walker with the 57th pick.
That's just 12 of 30 NBA teams who drafted even one of these 26 young players. And, other than the Warriors, only OKC, Houston, Charlotte, Memphis, Denver, and Portland either drafted or acquired even one of these players outside the top 13 picks.
Note that this why I would rather have incoming than outgoing picks. The Warriors have already traded their second round picks for 2026, 2027 (to dump Poole), 2028, 2029 and 2031 as well as their first round pick for 2030 (to dump Poole) away.
Wild to see PBJ that high, good for him lol.
He’s still young. I would be happy to get him back on a minimum contract or better yet a two-way.
As well as OKC is playing right now they should be up even more lol. They’re getting good shots on every possession they’re missing some honestly
quick! Memphis is winning the quarter! 4-3.
ESPN has OKC's win probability at 99.9%, and while I'm normally against assuming that the future is 100% certain, I'm having trouble picturing what would have to happen for OKC to lose. Whole-team forfeit? Spontaneous combustion? Killer bee attack? Tsunami?
Consider the location ...
one word for you. Zombie cattle invasion.
A tsunami in OKC would probably wipe out half the USA so an all-teams forfeit seems the likely outcome. Maybe we should consider something a little less... overwhelming.
Team gets notice to relocate back to Seattle mid-game?
malice at the . . . Paycom Center?
Thunderdome: 30 players enter, 30 players ejected
Mind control convincing the entire thunder team that they should be shooting at the other basket (and putting back any Grizzlies miss)
Yes, that just might do it.
This game is pushing the definition of garbage time to what 2 mins into the 3rd quarter?
Let's try on "Garbage series" for size
expansive thinking, I like it.
It could have started 6 minutes earlier, with zero risk to OKC.
Fair, I was being too generous.
Bane hasn't taken this much of a beating since The Dark Knight Rises.
LOL.
And now for my grand stretch as to how to interpret this OKC-Memphis travesty as good for the Warriors. The most important thing that OKC lacks is big clutch playoff game experience. They are not gaining any today. If we meet them in the conference finals, we want them untested. This idea somewhat falls apart when we understand that they have to get past Clippers/Nuggets.
My head says Clippers win that series but my gut says Nuggets. Who’s the tougher matchup for OKC? I personally think either team can beat them
Clips with healthy Kawhi are legit. But Jokic is Jokic. I'd call it a tossup as to who wins but I do think that OKC can defend Jokic one on one and that is the key.
This is why firing an experienced coach days or weeks before the playoffs begin is a risky move.
What is Denver beating the Clippers in game one then?
If memphis had had Popovich, Spoelstra and Kerr teaming up to coach them all year, I still think OKC would have thumped them
You are not a genius owner so you wouldn't understand.
memphis owner robert pera brushing some lint off his own shoulders right now in a humble brag manner.
Miami Cleveland will be very telling.
Someone needs to explain to me why Chet and Shai are still out there. At this point the risk of injury and their uniqueness would seem to be a reason to sit them down.
nvm, they are out now.