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Thunder’s Russell Westbrook healthy and ready for series with Grizzlies

By Michael Collins

Apr 11, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts to a play in action against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2014; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts to a play in action against the New Orleans Pelicans during the third quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

A year ago without Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder got steamrolled by the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference semifinals.

This year the Thunder and Grizzlies will meet again — in the first round — and the Thunder will have their star point guard back on the court, and reportedly healthy.

A healthy Westbrook means that the Grizzlies tough defense will have fewer players to commit to defending scoring champion Kevin Durant, and that means that both Westbrook and Durant can work on the two-man game against a stingy Memphis defense that ended up third in the league in points against.

Westbrook’s Thunder teammates will be glad to have their number two scorer back and healthy for the playoffs.

“It’s huge because he’s a great player, and we rely on him for a lot of what we do,” Thunder forward Nick Collison said via the Ledger-Enquirer. “I think it really hurt us last year for how sudden it was for him to be hurt, and we really didn’t have much time to deal with it. I think we feel better about it this year, going in at full strength. He’s one of our best players, one of our leaders, and we’re much better off with him, that’s for sure.”

“He’s one of the best players in the league,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “His numbers are first- or second-team all-NBA numbers. Those are amazing numbers.”

Can the Thunder exact some sweet revenge? If nothing else, having Westbrook back on the court should at least keep the OKC from being eliminated in five games as they did last year against Memphis.

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/04/18/3062837/thunder-g-westbrook-healthy-for.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/04/18/3062837/thunder-g-westbrook-healthy-for.html#storylink=cpy

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