Oklahoma City Thunder prep for Game 3 against Memphis

Coming off wins in the first two games against the Grizzlies, the Oklahoma City Thunder are hours away from tipoff for Game 3 in Memphis.

News 9 Thunder Reporter Steve McGehee is in Memphis with the latest from the team before Game 3 gets underway.

Despite nervous anticipation surrounding the NBA playoffs of years past, McGehee says something is different with this Thunder team.

"Usually in the playoffs, if you're a Thunder fan, you have a little knot in your stomach, you get a little nervous," McGehee said. "I don't think there's any way to be nervous about this series with Memphis. I don't have a knot in my stomach. I did a few years ago with Russell [Westbrook] and Paul George, and even with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook ... But Oklahoma City feels really good."

McGehee says the Grizzlies are counting on their home crowd to help propel them into a win, but the Thunder may still come out on top.

"Plain and simple, Oklahoma City is the better team," McGehee said. "Definitely can go all the way, and this happened in the off-season. We saw the deficiencies in that series with Dallas when they lost narrowly in Game 6."

McGehee said the Thunder excelled in offensive talent, but fell short on the defensive side of the ball in the 2023-2024 season. Recent additions such as Alex Caruso, whom the Thunder received in a one-for-one trade with the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey, as well as a lack of injuries plaguing the team as they did last season, could be the difference Oklahoma City needs to make their big push this postseason.

"Caruso is a bulldog on the court; plays great defense, can shoot threes, he just disrupts," McGehee said. "He's a disruptor out there, and teams would love to have him on their side, but Oklahoma City has him. Also, they needed more height to help out Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams, and they get that with Isaiah Hartenstein. Both of these guys have been a big factor all season long, and those are the two guys that are gonna help this team hopefully win an NBA title in June."

As for the team's presence on and off the court, McGehee said it is obvious the team has a certain dynamic when together.

"We've seen it from day one when I talked to you guys before the first game in Denver ... This team really enjoys being together," McGehee said. "There's no one guy that's maybe in question, everybody loves everybody. It sounds kind of like a cliché, but it's true, and that shows on the court."

McGehee says with all the pieces in play, the Thunder right now have their best chance to win it all.

"It's been fun to watch them win all those games in the regular season, and it would be a disappointment if they don't reach their goals this year," McGehee said. "Remember, I've said this before: If they don't win it this year, they are set up to do it again next season."