2 years ago, the Memphis
Grizzlies made headlines by becoming the fourth number 8 seeded team in the
playoffs to upset the number 1 team, which was the San Antonio Spurs back then.
They were considered as a
Cinderella team back then as they were able to push OKC Thunder to seven games
before bowing out.
This year, history is repeating
itself. Memphis Grizzlies is making some noise in this year’s playoffs.
Playing with a sense of urgency
after being quickly down 0-2 against the Clippers, Memphis came back roaring, winning the last 4
games to advance to Western Conference Semifinals and earn a rematch with
Oklahoma Thunder. Their physical type of game worked harmoniously, outrebounded
the Clippers the last 4 games and their key guys finally went to work.
Z-Bo and Marc Gasol went back to
work, simple as that.
They could as well thank the
basketball gods as Blake Griffin suffered a high ankle sprain during a freakish
incident during practice prior to the crucial Game 5.
From that point on, things have
never been the same for the Clippers. Seems like destiny smiled upon Memphis .
Not only did they crush the best
season in Clippers’ franchise history, they also nixed and jeopardized the contract
extension of star point guard Chris Paul, whom since day one has declared he
wants to play for a winner.
Now, they face a team who was
considered to win it all this season. They face a dilemma knowing that this was
the team that pushed them to the limit and broke their hearts 2 years ago. They
will also face the same team without their star point guard, Russell Westbrook.
Again, could it be the basketball
gods are smiling upon them and the term “destiny” is beginning to preach
itself?
When the Grizzlies decided to
dump the contract of Rudy Gay and traded him to Toronto in a three-way trade last January, fans
expect that this team will be on a fire sale and their downfall is on the
horizon. Yet, things turned out better as they were able to unload a ball-hog
with a hefty contract in exchange for a veteran who was known for his humongous
block on Reggie Miller during 2004 Eastern Conference Finals in Tayshaun
Prince.
Prince turned out to be the
defensive catalyst that the Grizzlies needed. They decided to let O.J. Mayo
walked prior to the start of the season and hoped to develop Jarred Bayless and
Quincy Pondexter into the role of a scoring shooting guard.
Yet, it worked.
Not to mention the brilliance of
Lionel Hollins, whom he incorporated his system into one fitting NBA team which
resembles the term “Giant Killer”. With a dominating presence of Marc Gasol to
the impending talent of Zach Randolph, to the development of floor general in
Mike Conley, Memphis
has finally matured and has become an elite basketball unit on the court.
This is their dance. On the
grandest floor which is the playoffs, this is the perfect time for them to show
what they’re really made of. Years of frustration are now behind them and their
looming future looks bright thanks largely to the improved play of Gasol and
Conley.
“We don’t bluff”. This is the
statement that the Grizzlies have handed out in their towels.
Indeed they don’t bluff. After
what we’ve seen the past few games, it makes us wonder which giant they’ll take
down.
0 comments:
Post a Comment