Fri Apr 25 04:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Grizzlies’ Yuuki Kawamura Reflects on Playoff Intensity After Game 1 Loss
**Oklahoma City, OK** – Memphis Grizzlies two-way player Yuuki Kawamura spoke exclusively to NBA Japan before Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. While two-way players are ineligible to play in the playoffs, Kawamura is with the team in Oklahoma City.
Kawamura expressed disappointment in the Grizzlies’ Game 1 loss, a 50-point defeat. He highlighted the Thunder’s significantly superior defensive intensity as a key factor. “The Thunder’s defense wasn’t about special tactics,” he said. “It was the individual intensity, the unwavering commitment of each player to prevent their matchup from scoring. That intensity was incredibly high, a stark contrast to Memphis.”
Kawamura observed that the Thunder’s strong defensive rating throughout the regular season translated to an even higher level of play in the playoffs. He noted the difficulty in creating offensive opportunities against the Thunder’s disciplined defense, emphasizing that the Grizzlies spent time analyzing this in practices leading up to Game 2.
From the bench, Kawamura analyzed the Grizzlies’ offensive struggles, noting a lack of consistent strategies to create scoring opportunities. He believes his strengths, particularly in transition plays, could have helped address these issues. He also highlighted the increased pressure and intensity of the playoff atmosphere compared to the regular season, an experience he views as valuable learning opportunity.
Kawamura emphasized the unique intensity of the playoffs, describing the atmosphere as “very tense,” a significant difference from the regular season. He plans to utilize his experiences watching the games from the bench to improve his own game. The series continues with Game 3 in Memphis on April 24th (Japan time, April 25th).
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