The sixth game of the playoffs found both teams back in Memphis to compete.
Even though the Grizzlies still held a game point, but because the Thunders had home-court advantage, if they couldn't wrap up the series at home, then the seventh-game decider would be on the Thunders' turf, where their chances looked grim.
The variables in the playoffs were right here—the Grizzlies had lost just one game but were already pushed to the edge of the cliff.
On that cliff edge, Hollins made his choice; he likewise decided to trust his instincts and was resolute in focusing the strategy on the inside game.
This time he ignored the players' reactions and even took a page out of Popovich's playbook, making sweeping five-man substitutions.
He was obviously trying to prove that losing Game 5 meant that the previous methods were ineffective and that if they wanted to win, it would have to be his way.
