Grizzlies Go Home & Get Physical For Game 3 Win To Extend Series.
Thursday night, the Memphis Grizzlies returned home after losing the first two games of their first round series on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers. In game two, it looked like the Clippers erased the Grizzlies spirit from the series with Chris Paul hitting a game winning off balance floater; but with Mark Gasol receiving his defensive player of the year award (well deserved by the way), Memphis already put that in the back of their minds heading home to protect their court.
Game 3 opened with Zach Randolph pushing the emphasis of his post scoring to pound the paint, which he would score 13 points in the 1st quarter. The Grizzlies front-court would score the teams first 19 of their first 21 points finally setting the tone in the series we had been waiting for to make it a competitive match-up. Blake Griffin would also score double digits in the first quarter at 10 but would finish the game with only 6 more points.
The Grizzlies physical play continued into the second quarter where the only offense coming from the Clippers would oddly be Matt Barnes. He would score Los Angeles only points in the top half of the quarter, as the Grizzlies would push the lead to double digits with help from their other role players.
In the second half, Memphis would keep their foot on Los Angeles’ neck even going up by as many as 15 in the quarter, with Tony Allen starting with Quincy Pondexter, Keyon Dooling and Darrell Arthur helping out the starters from the bench. L.A. would come to within 5 in the middle of the fourth quarter but a few costly turnovers and unnecessary fouls decided their fate.
Zachery and Matthew Bond During Intermission .
The series now stays in Memphis for game 4, where the Grizzlies will still have their backs against the walls to extend the series to 6 games, versus going back to Los Angeles down 3-1 for a potential game 5 first round exit. Memphis, who had home-court advantage last year lost on their home floor in game 7 in the first round, which they’re looking to avoid the same fate this year. Winning game 4 and one in Los Angeles will be the only way the Grizzlies will see second round playoff light this year already losing the first two.
The Clippers will show us their true colors on Saturday, whether they’re ready to make adjustments not being bullied by the Grizzlies to meet OKC next round; or play the same way they’re known for in the past. It starts with CP3 leading the way but now is the time for Blake Griffin to step up and prove he’s an elite PF as opposed to a highlight film.