Even in a squat, Memphis center Zach Edey remains taller than OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
That’s how the rookie was forced to catch a handful of his entry passes, whether that was with Gilgeous-Alexander digging underneath him or with one of the Thunder’s forwards in his way.
Edey was a minus-38 in 20 minutes, posting four points on five shots Sunday in the Thunder’s 131-80 win over the Grizzlies in Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs. All the second efforts, the easy standing-reach baskets his presence was designed for were diminished.
He never quite knew what hit him —so many of his defenders stood below his line of sight. Gilgeous-Alexander scrapped and fronted. Caruso held his own. Hard fouls. Stolen possessions.
OKC wasted no time cross matching, nor did it shed any tears doing so. Thunder bigs Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren traded off on the big Grizzlies. Thunder guards Alex Caruso and Lu Dort both saw possessions defending All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr.
JJJ might’ve been pushed even further out of his comfort zone. He shot just 2 for 13 for four points, his fewest points in any game this season in which he played at least 10 minutes.
It’s not unlike this Thunder team. It pushed Cleveland forward Evan Mobley from his place near the rim, and at other times trampled him underneath it when the teams met in January without Holmgren or Hartenstein.
When teams go high, OKC unties shoes and makes centers regret being tall altogether.
Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Support Joel’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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