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After two straight blowouts, the Oklahoma City Thunder are in firm control of their Round 1 series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Not just because they're up 2-0 in the series, but because of how they got there.
The Thunder's 131-80 Game 1 win flirted with history. A 51-point win is up there among the most lopsided playoff games in NBA history. It made OKC's 118-99 Game 2 win feel like small potatoes in comparison.
Depending on how the Thunder perform at Memphis in Games 3 and 4, this could be one of the most one-sided playoff series in NBA history. Only the 1985-86 Los Angeles Lakers against the San Antonio Spurs had a higher point differential through two games at plus-75.
According to Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo, it's time for them to take care of business. It's the only mindset the eighth-seed squad can have after two deflating losses.
"The message to the team was very short. Let's get on the plane as soon as possible," Iisalo said. "They took care of their business, now it's time for us to take care of our business at home. Nothing more to that."
Before their Game 1 loss, the new Memphis coach said all the pressure was on the first-seeded Thunder to win their first two games. While conventional wisdom agrees with him since a playoff series doesn't truly start until the road team wins, to say it loudly was a bit surprising and went off script from what coaches usually tell the media.
The Thunder entered the playoff series and have shown why folks were right to say that. But now it faces a new challenge of proving it on the road in a hostile environment. That'll add a new challenge that could tighten the talent gap between the squads.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Tuomas Iisalo: It's Grizzlies' turn to take care of business at home
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