Here to field questions if folks have yet to vote on this matchup and would like some convincing.
I've laid out some basic points about our gameplan, which echoes that employed by Golden State during the last round: rely on tough interior defense, and good perimeter defense to force LeBron's supporting cast to beat us.
Ellis will have to contend with Rose, or Shumpert, if the Wolves go small and move LeBron to PF (where Taj will get the defensive assignment on LeBron).
Ibaka will have to contend with Taj (or Dwight, if the Wolves go small and move Ibaka to C).
LeBron will be marked by Shumpert at SF, or Taj at PF.
In all cases, the operating principle for the defense will be to sag/cheat a bit off their man and entice Ellis/Ibaka into shooting jump shots, rather than attempt to come into the middle. If the Wolves do try to force the issue and take the ball into the paint, our help defense should be able to react in time to challenge or block shots.
Scoring wise, OKC still will rely on the pick and roll. If Rose's man doesn't fight through the pick, Rose will have good looks close in. If Howard gets the ball rolling to the hoop, he's likely going to score or draw the foul. Taj will be setting screens and rolling to the hoop as well for putbacks and layins off the extra pass. Shumpert will also occasionally crash the boards, and I also expect Ben Gordon and/or Marco Belinelli to have opportunities for wide open shots.
I expect this series to be a real slugfest, with both teams packing the paint. One additional wrinkle: coach Mike Brown knows LeBron James' in-game tendencies and moves better than any other coach in the playoffs. This knowledge, coupled with Brown's aptitude for defensive schemes, will serve OKC very well when trying to game-plan for an offense that revolves around James.