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Game 4 grades: Reggie Jackson, Reggie Jackson, Reggie Jackson

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Reggie Jackson stepped up and saved the day and perhaps the Thunder's season with a bench performance for the ages. Here is how he performed as well as the rest of the Thunder.

Andy Lyons

What is it with these two teams the Thunder and Grizzlies and overtime games? This marks the 3rd game in a row in THIS SERIES that has required an extra overtime, but this time OKC figured out a way to win. Reggie Jackson outscored Kevin Durant & Russell Westbrook COMBINED, and Jackson saved the day and quite possibly the Thunder's season. This win was also OKC's first playoff win in Memphis since May 9, 2011. Here is how each player performed.

Game 1 Grades

Game 2 Grades

Game 3 grades

***

Durant_medium

KEVIN DURANT GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game stats)
49 15 13 4 0 2 5 0
SARAH Grade_c_medium

This is not the Kevin Durant fans are used to seeing. In Game 4, Durant went 4-for-19 on shots at least 10 feet from the basket. With Tony Allen guarding him, Durant went 1-for-9, 0-for-8 in regulation. He did help solidify the win for OKC with his two free throws with a minute left in OT.

JUSTIN Grade_c_medium I don’t think the grade "C" has ever been put next to Kevin Durant’s name.  But tonight, unfortunately, the grade fits the circumstance.  It was the Tony Allen show in the matchup between the future MVP and the defensive menace.  Allen forced KD into rushed shots and three pointers that Durant chucked up in desperation just hoping for that spark.  As for his made shots, just 6 of them to go along with 15 points, and 23.8% from the field.

Westbrook_medium

RUSSELL WESTBROOK GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game stats)
44 15 9 7 1 3 7 +5
SARAH Grade_c_medium Also scoring 15 points in Game 4, Westbrook and Durant were not on their A-game. Together, the fellas were 11-for-45 against Memphis. They both Reggie Jackson big time for bailing them out.
JUSTIN Grade_c_medium If you had not watched the game, saw Durant had a lackluster game, and the Thunder still won, you would guess that Russell Westbrook must have gone for 40 points.  Wrong!  Westbrook was flat on shooting and was nearly invisible on the court.  To win this series, we need our dynamic duo to overcome the Grizzlies defense and get back to the way they usually play.
Sefolosha_medium

THABO SEFOLOSHA GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game stats)
15 3 3 0 0 0 1 +1
SARAH Grade_d_medium
Thabo didn't have much of a presence in Game 4, finishing the night with 3 points and played for 15 minutes.
JUSTIN Grade_cplus_medium
While Thabo Sefolosha did not receive as many minutes as last game, he still filled his role as the defender and did not play half-bad.  Offensively, though, it was another situation.  Again, Sefolosha’s shooting was flat, but he’s not a starter for his offense.

Ibaka_medium

SERGE IBAKA GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
42 12 14 0 5 1 1 +1
SARAH Grade_bplus_medium
The power forward finished the night with 12 points and by blocking Tony Allen with 2.7 seconds left in regulation, he helped keep OKC's playoff run alive and send the game into OT.
JUSTIN Grade_a_medium
Serge Ibaka might be, wait, he IS the most consistent playoff Thunder player this season.  Every game, Ibaka brings his crazy defensive presence and strong rebounding.  While his offense has not been living up to his regular season statistics, his defense is exceeding his play in the regular season.  With 14 rebounds and 5 blocks, Ibaka came up big near the end of regulation with a block and was the only help for Reggie Jackson.
Perk_medium

KENDRICK PERKINS GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
25 4 6 0 0 0 0 +3
SARAH Grade_cminus_medium
Kendrick Perkins kept a low profile in Game 4, scoring 4 points in 25 minutes.
JUSTIN Grade_cplus_medium Kendrick Perkins missed three shots from in the paint.  For a big bodied center like him, almost every shot should go in.  C’mon Perk!

Jackson_medium

REGGIE JACKSON GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
37 32 9 1 1 1 4 +2
SARAH Grade_aplusplus_medium
Reggie Jackson for President! The man bailed out Westbrook and Durant by playing the greatest game of his career. Jackson nailed the final five points to force the game into OT. He finished the night going 11-of-16.
JUSTIN Grade_aplusplus_medium And the first ever A++ goes to…Reggie Jackson!  Reggie Jackson is a hero.  Not only did he save the Thunder from going down 3-1 in the playoffs, but he stepped up when Durant and Westbrook stepped down.  He scored 8 points in overtime and lead the 5 points comeback late in the 4th.  After having some rough spots in the past three playoff games, Jackson finally broke out of his shell and proved that he is still an elite guard.  What a moving performance from the kid.

Adams_medium

STEVEN ADAMS GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
5 0 0 0 1 0 1 +2
SARAH Grade_cplus_medium Steven Adams saw only 5 minutes of play, but the man saw 1 block and turned the ball over once.
JUSTIN Grade_c_medium It is quite disappointing to see Steven Adams fully removed from the rotation in the playoffs, what he offers can truly help OKC.  In 5 minutes of floor time, Funaki blocked one shot and set some solid screens.  That was all he had the opportunity to do…
Collison_medium

NICK COLLISON GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
11 3 2 0 1 0 1 +6
SARAH Grade_c_medium Collision didn't contribute much. He had 3 points, 1 block, 2 rebounds in 11 minutes of play.
JUSTIN Grade_bplus_medium
Nick Collison hit a three!  It was awesome and might have been more moving than the whole Reggie Jackson thing. You only see those every so often.  But other than that 3 pointer, Nick Collison played minimal minutes, yet, was pretty active offensively and defensively with 1 block and 2 rebounds.

Butler_medium

CARON BUTLER GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
24 6 2 1 1 0 1 -7
SARAH Grade_bminus_medium
While former OU and Dallas Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer looked on, Caron Butler scored 6 points and grabbed 2 boards.
JUSTIN Grade_b_medium
Scott Brooks is finally realizing that Caron Butler’s minutes were way too high before.  24 minutes is a perfect amount for this type of player to come in, play some solid defense and score a few points, which he did.

Fisher_medium

DEREK FISHER GRADE MIN PTS REB AST BL ST TO +/-
(Game Stats)
11 2 0 1 0 1 0 +2
SARAH Grade_bminus_medium Playing in his 244th career playoff game, Derek Fisher tied with Robert Horry for most postseason appearances in NBA history. That was his highlight in Game 4.
JUSTIN Grade_c_medium Derek Fisher may have tied Robert Horry with the most playoff appearances, but it seemed like he never appeared on the floor.  His shooting was flat and he played a small role in Game 4.

Brooks_medium

SCOTT BROOKS Coaching Grade
SARAH Grade_b_medium Scott Brooks helped the team regain composure after an awful showing in Game 3. Jackson saved his career with his plays.
JUSTIN Grade_c_medium Scott Brooks kept a small rotation while handing out small minutes to players like Fisher, Adams, and Collison.  It boggles my mind as to why Jeremy Lamb has not played in this series and also as to why Steven Adams is barely on the floor.  After 3 overtimes you would think that Brooks would want to change things up a bit.

Thunder_medium

TEAM GRADE GRADE FG% 3P% AST REB BL ST TO
(Game Stats)
36.7% 28.6% 14 58 11 8 21
SARAH Grade_aminus_medium
All of Jackson's teammates owe him big time for bailing them out and helping them tie the series up. In the end, that's all that matters.
JUSTIN Grade_b_medium
I would give the Thunder a lower grade if they hadn’t showed that much brotherly love.  They were supportive off the court with Jackson.  But other than that, the offense was horrible.  OKC shot 36.7% from the field, but luckily, the Grizzlies were worse.  Overall, it was not a great effort from the whole Thunder team.  That is why I will acknowledge them as the Oklahoma City Reggie Jackson’s for this game.

*All player images via US Presswire