The Oklahoma City Thunder Are Officially Moving On After Completing Their Inevitable Sweep Of The Grizzlies

Adam Hagy. Getty Images.

For the second straight season, the Thunder have begun their playoff journey with a first round sweep. While this outcome is what most expected when the playoff matchups were first finalized, there's still something to be said for going out and pulling off the sweep. While we'll never know what this series might look like had Ja Morant not gotten hurt in Game 2, that's the reality of the playoffs. Shit happens. The Thunder still managed to come back from 29 in that win, and then today backed it up by not fumbling their chance to end a series early. That stuff matters, if only because it gives you more rest and prevents any sort of injury that might derail your season. Just ask the Grizzlies about that.

And while getting swept is always tough, I do respect the Grizzlies for at least going down swinging. The Thunder definitely had to earn this sweep between the comeback the other day and today's win. It wasn't like they blew doors in all 4 games, this series easily could be at 2-2 right now had they not made enough plays down the stretch to secure both wins. 

But they did. Just as they have all season.

For OKC, their playoffs don't truly start yet. SGA was pretty much dogshit in 3 of the 4 games and none of it mattered, but that most likely won't be the case as they advance to tougher opponents. For them, the challenge starts whoever they face next round and beyond, seeing as how they still need to break through their recent 2nd round ceiling. The good news is the very things that made OKC so tough during the year are all translating to the playoffs. Incredible defense, the depth is flourishing, SGA figured shit out today and that can only help moving forward

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I'd say this version of SGA was a much closer representation of the guy who is probably going to win the MVP. Things were much more focused around getting into the paint into his midrange zone and not so much form behind the arc, and as a result his efficiency got back to normal. With that approach correction also came the double digit FTA, and when it came time to make the daggers, he obliged in vintage SGA fashion. 

That's about as cold a dagger as you're going to find. On the road, to end a season, with a move that is virtually unguardable. Credit where credit is due, that move rocked. In a moment like that, it's on the best player to close the door and end the series. That's why you're "The Guy", for moments and buckets just like that. 

The Thunder only shot 43/20% in this win, so it's not like this was anywhere close to the best they can play, which is why ending a series while still not playing your best is always a good place to be. Take the next few days and regroup/get healthy and hope to be better in Round 2.

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For the Grizzlies, once Ja went down, we knew where this series was headed. As soon as they let Game 3 officially slip away, today was a formality. In some ways, it's poetic that their season ended with Ja unavailable and a game in which they turned the ball over 21 times, which translated into 33 points. Both things have been massive issues for the Grizzlies all year, and today it ended their season. SPJ with the game of his life (30 points) only to make a boneheaded frustration foul 94 feet from the basket after a turnover pretty much sums up his night. The Grizzlies needing Jaren Jackson Jr to show up and be a franchise player, only for him to respond with 3-12 (0-2) with 5 TOs, which has been a recurring theme for him as of late. Desmond Bane also having a bit of a no show of his own with a 7-20 (2-8) showing. This will probably be a "what if" series for a lot of those guys, and given the uncertainty around the Grizzlies overall, you have to wonder if this was the last time we see this iteration of the roster play together.

As to who OKC will see in the next round, that's still very much to be determined. It feels like the Nuggets and the Clippers are destined for a long series, and honestly either one would make for a great series. Now all they have to do is sit back, rest up and see who makes it out of that series alive.