News, opinion and tickets for the Memphis Grizzlies
After failing to finish off the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 6 at Staples Center, most counted out the Los Angeles Clippers having to go back to the Grindhouse for a deciding Game 7.
It didn’t help matters that the Clips’ two best players—Chris Paul (strained hip flexor) and Blake Griffin (knee)—were thoroughly banged up.
Yet despite being forced to fly back to Memphis, the Clippers, led by CP3′s 19 points, came up with the 82-72 win, giving them just their third playoff series win in 41 years.
If you’re like me, there’s a good chance that if you tuned into Game 1 of the opening-round series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies Sunday night, you probably either resorted to channel surfing or went to bed. The last image that came across my screen was a dejected Blake Griffin, towel drooped over head and slouched shoulders, sitting on the bench next to an equally despondent Chris Paul.
The first playoff game in six years for the franchise did not start at all how they would have envisioned it. But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish, and the Clippers are the talk of the sports world Monday after their incredible comeback.
The first week of the hectic 2012 NBA Playoffs are in the books and already there are plenty of story lines and drama that will likely ensure to become a very entertaining 40 nights to decide a champion. From the match ups to the injuries and records being broken, every game this weekend had worth watching and plenty of things to discuss: The Magic and Clippers are up 1-0, Derrick Rose is out and the Spurs and Heat look like the best teams in the postseason. Highlights from Weekend 1 include:
He may no longer rock the No. 0 on his jersey or carry the same swagger he once had under the “Agent 0″ moniker when he was one of the most prolific scorers in the league, but Gilbert Arenas is still proving he can contribute in this league.
Now a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, the 30-year-old Arenas is starting to understand that in order to remain relevant in the NBA, he has to be less concerned with filling up the stat sheet with points and contribute more as a role player in other areas of the game.
A missing key component in the Trail Blazers’ game plans as of late was play some defense. Too many times we saw opponents drive easily through the paint, guards were not cutting to follow their man and the rebounding was off. After being embarrassed in the last home blowout loss, Portland (22-25) had to try to put the brakes on the Memphis Grizzlies (25-20), the fourth seed in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies made it known that this had to be “a must win victory” after dropping the last couple of games. The Blazers throughout played some neat and crisp basketball, by the hands of Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and (a seemingly reborn) Raymond Felton. Memphis shut down the party in the third quarter but big threes and smart plays in the fourth secured a 97-93 for the home team.
Agent 0 finally has a new assignment.
The Memphis Grizzlies were able to fill their need at point guard by signing Gilbert Arenas for the remainder of the season.
The 30-year-old Arenas has averaged 21.2 points and 5.4 assists per game in his 10-year career, but is no longer at the elite level he once was due to knee injuries.
Arenas was a member of the Orlando Magic last season, but fell victim to the amnesty clause when the team decided to waive him in December. Although Arenas averaged a career-low 10.8 points a game and shot an atrocious 36.6 percent in 2010-11, the Griz want his experience because rookies Jeremy Pargo and Josh Selby just haven’t shown the type of confidence needed as backups for starting point guard Mike Conley.
When it rains, it pours. At least in Memphis it does.
That’s because it has just been confirmed that Memphis Grizzlies star power forward Zach Randloph will miss at least two months after an MRI revealed that he suffered a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.
As if things weren’t already bad enough for the Grizzlies, having already lost versatile forward Darrell Arthur—their most valued reserve—to a season-ending Achilles injury last month and Mike Conley for a short time while he recovers from a sprained ankle, now a team that everyone figured to be a competitor in the Western Conference playoff picture will have to probably tear and claw their way just to get into the postseason.
Arguably two of the biggest prizes of the current free-agency period have decided to stay with their current teams.
Denver Nuggets fans have to be ecstatic with the news that the team has re-signed center Nene to a five-year deal that is reportedly worth more than $67 million. Nene, who most of the experts considered to be the No. 1 free agent on the market, decided to stick with Denver after New Jersey, Houston and Indiana allegedly couldn’t offer him that fifth year that he wanted.
The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off what turned out to be a Cinderella-style run in the western conference playoffs. Without Rudy Gay, Z-Bo and Shane Battier took the team and led them deep into the playoffs where they eventually lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, they had games in hand in that series as well. Many people, including myself, thought that the Grizzlies were going to be the Mavs‘ opponent in the western conference finals.
It wasn’t to be, but the team made great strides. Great enough strides that Lionel Hollins has a new contract, Z-Bo is a STAR again, Shane Battier continues to add to a deceptive hall of fame resume, and when Rudy Gay returns the team will be stacked.
If I had one thing to change, it would when we vote for post-season awards. MVP and Coach of the Year shouldn’t be voted on until AFTER the playoffs.
Right now, Zach Randolph is the MVP. I LOVE Derrick Rose, but Z-Bo is like an uncaged animal right now. He’s playing totally out of his mind. It’s like he’s a slightly shorter/more nimble version of Patrick Ewing. It’s disgusting.
Lionel Hollins is BY FAR the coach of the year. No disrespect to Tom Thibodeau, but Hollins is working without his best player (or “used to be best player”) and he’s got an EIGHT SEED within one game of the west finals. WOW!
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