The best, most tightly-contested series of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs features a critical swing game in Los Angeles tonight. I'm really looking forward to this one, more so than any postseason game to this point. I love the way these two units compete.
The Clippers came back from 27 down to win Game 1, the Grizzlies stepped up for a must-have victory in Game 2 and the Clips squeaked out a one-point win in Game 3. It doesn't get much better than that.
My Game 4 Prediction: The Clippers have the homecourt advantage, but I find it difficult to believe the Grizzlies will fall behind 3-1 in this series. Los Angeles is currently leading the series, but I view Memphis as the superior team over time. That being said, I like the Grizzlies in a 93-89 ballgame.
Monday, May 7th, 10:37 p.m.: Wild finish to Game 4 of the Spurs/Jazz series. San Antonio was up 21 but Utah has cut it to 6 with 19 seconds remaining. Paul Millsap just committed a backbreaking turnover. It's likely over.
10:40: "The Spurs, seconds away from a sweep." You can book this one. The Jazz simply didn't have the depth or guard play to compete in the series.
10:42: Commercial break and then we're heading out to Los Angeles. I'm interested to see if Memphis will do a better job denying Blake Griffin's easy, high-percentage opportunities around the rim. Some of his finishes were far too easy in Game 3.
10:47: First play of the game...a sloppy possession from the Grizzlies is excused by a tough foul call against Griffin.
10:48: Griffin and Randolph going at it in the post. Z-Bo called for the foul this time. The Grizzlies are out to an early 4-0 lead on the road.
10:50: I'm rooting for the Grizzlies, but that was another tough foul call against the Clippers. It looked like Foye had the ball when he stepped in on Marc Gasol.
10:51: The Clippers look out of sorts offensively. A great, early sign for Memphis and their defense. Another turnover by L.A. -- this time it's Griffin.
10:52: Mike Conley slides through the paint for an easy bucket. Caron Butler answers with a corner jumper.
10:53: The Clippers' crowd is silent as the Grizzlies lead 10-2. Earlier I said they're the better team, and they certainly look it in the early going. We'll see how they hold up over the course of the long battle. So far so good.
10:56: Gotta give Butler credit for playing with a broken hand. Who says NBA players are all about the money?
10:58: Nice offensive continuity from the Grizzlies leads to a wide open mid-range jumper for Tony Allen. Butler responds with another score.
10:59: Wow, Rudy Gay got mugged on one end (no call) and Foye traveled on the other (no call). Talk about a homecourt whistle.
11:00: Hard foul from Gay on Griffin. Glad they didn't call that a flagrant. Just a standard hard foul.
11:01: Clippers' speed has the Grizzlies frazzled at the moment. We're all tied at 12 but Gasol is heading to the stripe for two.
11:03: Griffin is utilizing his athletic advantage over Randolph right now. Z-Bo has no answer.
11:04: The point guards -- Mike Conley and Chris Paul -- trade threes. Now Rudy for three...good. Now Butler...good. It's raining threes.
11:06: Uncharacteristic technical foul on Gay. As Chris Webber said, it looked like a clean block from DeAndre Jordan. Here comes OJ Mayo off the bench with a quick triple. Tied at 23. There's Foye for three. This is wild.
11:09: Both teams seem to have warmed up quite well from the perimeter. This will be an awfully high-scoring game if this pace continues. It's probably unlikely.
11:11: Make a wish. Offensive foul on Griffin, offensive foul on Gasol. Clips ball.
11:12: I love to see Kenyon Martin out there -- reminds me of my Nets' glory days. Thanks J-Kidd and RJ, too.
11:14: A gorgeous fadeaway from CP3. He's incredible.
11:15: Gilbert Arenas sighting. This could get interesting.
11:16: Mayo misses a gimme but Gasol draws a loose ball foul; makes one of two at the line. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are over the limit and CP3 is going to the stripe at the other end.
11:19: Clippers up 32-26 after one. They severely outplayed the Grizzlies in the second half of the quarter. I'm not sure they can continue cashing in at this rate, but they do have the ever-so-coveted homecourt advantage. The "advantage" part is real for many reasons, particularly in fourth quarters.
11:22: Gay and Mayo are getting too frustrated, too early. Lionel Hollins needs to settle them down before it gets out of hand.
11:26: Big time offensive rebound and putback by Marresse Speights. He does it on back-to-back possessions, a very impressive start off the pine.
11:28: The Grizzlies have turned up the screws defensively. There's a nice pass from Z-Bo to Conley for a lay-up. Mo Williams responds with a silky short jumper.
11:30: Mo-Will smells blood against Arenas. That reminds me, "NBARank" had Arenas ahead of Lou Williams before the season. Is that a joke or what?
11:31: Arenas fouls Nick Young in the act of a jumper. Tough call. Looked like contact exaggeration from Young. Nice job selling it.
11:32: Eric Bledsoe is a pretty tenacious, young guard. I don't think he'll be a great player but he's quick, fearless and strong for his stature and position. Useful rotation guy.
11:33: The Clippers are out-hustling the Grizzlies right now. Bad news for Memphis and their faithful.
11:34: Bledsoe might be the best on-ball defender on the Clippers. That's a funny thought, but possibly true. Conley at the line right now; he's close to automatic. Clips lead 39-36 after Conley's pair.
11:36: Hollins needs to get his top five back into the game. Too much Pondexter and Cunningham time. This one could slip away.
11:42: Things are getting chippy. Griffin vs. Randolph. Gasol vs. Reggie Evans. The latter is a master at mind games in the paint. He's currently at the foul line missing free throws.
11:44: Memphis cannot guard Griffin in the paint right now. He's carving them to pieces. It's not looking good for the Grizz.
11:45: Randolph losing his cool against Griffin. Terrible technical foul. He's overmatched in every way at the moment. I can't take it anymore.
10:40: "The Spurs, seconds away from a sweep." You can book this one. The Jazz simply didn't have the depth or guard play to compete in the series.
10:42: Commercial break and then we're heading out to Los Angeles. I'm interested to see if Memphis will do a better job denying Blake Griffin's easy, high-percentage opportunities around the rim. Some of his finishes were far too easy in Game 3.
10:47: First play of the game...a sloppy possession from the Grizzlies is excused by a tough foul call against Griffin.
10:48: Griffin and Randolph going at it in the post. Z-Bo called for the foul this time. The Grizzlies are out to an early 4-0 lead on the road.
10:50: I'm rooting for the Grizzlies, but that was another tough foul call against the Clippers. It looked like Foye had the ball when he stepped in on Marc Gasol.
10:51: The Clippers look out of sorts offensively. A great, early sign for Memphis and their defense. Another turnover by L.A. -- this time it's Griffin.
10:52: Mike Conley slides through the paint for an easy bucket. Caron Butler answers with a corner jumper.
10:53: The Clippers' crowd is silent as the Grizzlies lead 10-2. Earlier I said they're the better team, and they certainly look it in the early going. We'll see how they hold up over the course of the long battle. So far so good.
10:56: Gotta give Butler credit for playing with a broken hand. Who says NBA players are all about the money?
10:58: Nice offensive continuity from the Grizzlies leads to a wide open mid-range jumper for Tony Allen. Butler responds with another score.
10:59: Wow, Rudy Gay got mugged on one end (no call) and Foye traveled on the other (no call). Talk about a homecourt whistle.
11:00: Hard foul from Gay on Griffin. Glad they didn't call that a flagrant. Just a standard hard foul.
11:01: Clippers' speed has the Grizzlies frazzled at the moment. We're all tied at 12 but Gasol is heading to the stripe for two.
11:03: Griffin is utilizing his athletic advantage over Randolph right now. Z-Bo has no answer.
11:04: The point guards -- Mike Conley and Chris Paul -- trade threes. Now Rudy for three...good. Now Butler...good. It's raining threes.
11:06: Uncharacteristic technical foul on Gay. As Chris Webber said, it looked like a clean block from DeAndre Jordan. Here comes OJ Mayo off the bench with a quick triple. Tied at 23. There's Foye for three. This is wild.
11:09: Both teams seem to have warmed up quite well from the perimeter. This will be an awfully high-scoring game if this pace continues. It's probably unlikely.
11:11: Make a wish. Offensive foul on Griffin, offensive foul on Gasol. Clips ball.
11:12: I love to see Kenyon Martin out there -- reminds me of my Nets' glory days. Thanks J-Kidd and RJ, too.
11:14: A gorgeous fadeaway from CP3. He's incredible.
11:15: Gilbert Arenas sighting. This could get interesting.
11:16: Mayo misses a gimme but Gasol draws a loose ball foul; makes one of two at the line. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are over the limit and CP3 is going to the stripe at the other end.
11:19: Clippers up 32-26 after one. They severely outplayed the Grizzlies in the second half of the quarter. I'm not sure they can continue cashing in at this rate, but they do have the ever-so-coveted homecourt advantage. The "advantage" part is real for many reasons, particularly in fourth quarters.
11:22: Gay and Mayo are getting too frustrated, too early. Lionel Hollins needs to settle them down before it gets out of hand.
11:26: Big time offensive rebound and putback by Marresse Speights. He does it on back-to-back possessions, a very impressive start off the pine.
11:28: The Grizzlies have turned up the screws defensively. There's a nice pass from Z-Bo to Conley for a lay-up. Mo Williams responds with a silky short jumper.
11:30: Mo-Will smells blood against Arenas. That reminds me, "NBARank" had Arenas ahead of Lou Williams before the season. Is that a joke or what?
11:31: Arenas fouls Nick Young in the act of a jumper. Tough call. Looked like contact exaggeration from Young. Nice job selling it.
11:32: Eric Bledsoe is a pretty tenacious, young guard. I don't think he'll be a great player but he's quick, fearless and strong for his stature and position. Useful rotation guy.
11:33: The Clippers are out-hustling the Grizzlies right now. Bad news for Memphis and their faithful.
11:34: Bledsoe might be the best on-ball defender on the Clippers. That's a funny thought, but possibly true. Conley at the line right now; he's close to automatic. Clips lead 39-36 after Conley's pair.
11:36: Hollins needs to get his top five back into the game. Too much Pondexter and Cunningham time. This one could slip away.
11:42: Things are getting chippy. Griffin vs. Randolph. Gasol vs. Reggie Evans. The latter is a master at mind games in the paint. He's currently at the foul line missing free throws.
11:44: Memphis cannot guard Griffin in the paint right now. He's carving them to pieces. It's not looking good for the Grizz.
11:45: Randolph losing his cool against Griffin. Terrible technical foul. He's overmatched in every way at the moment. I can't take it anymore.
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ReplyDeleteJohn, thank you so much for reading and writing! Always feel free to direct your sports-related comments to me @LegendSports7 on Twitter. Thanks again!
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