After one of the most impressive postseason runs for an underdog team in recent memory, the Memphis Grizzlies will return home for one final game this season. The eighth seed from the Western conference eliminated the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in a series that nobody thought that they had the chance in, and looked good in splitting their first four games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But after a 99-72 blowout loss in the first game where they really looked vulnerable, it appears as though their online sports betting services Cinderella run could be over.
Marc Gasol managed to score 15 points but only grabbed two rebounds, and was the only Memphis player that reached double-digits in terms of points in the game-five loss. Zach Randolph missed four free throws to finish with just nine points, while Mike Conley and Tony Allen combined to make just seven of their 29 shots combined. The same bench that had been so good for them in the series wasn’t awful, but 27 points wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of offense that the pay per head starters could register.
It wasn’t just the offense that was a major concern for the Grizzlies, as they had no answer once again for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Of course, neither of those two had to put up as strong of numbers as they had in past games, and Memphis allowed Nazr Mohammed and Daequan Cook to dominate with 28 points combined off of the bench. It seems as though the team that had done such an excellent job of using their speed and strength was fatigued enough that they had been rendered ineffective at both ends of the floor, and there will be a tremendous amount of pressure for them to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
At the open of the 2011 postseason, the Grizzlies’ goal was to win just a single playoff game. Three wagering services weeks later and the team is expected to push for a spot against the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, and although the home fans will be on their side for game six the pressure that will bring could end up working against them. The city has lacked the MLB team or any other major sports to take away from the spotlight cast on the magical run of the basketball team. Memphis has plenty of quality pieces to build around heading into next season, including a couple of key big men in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, but they will need to bring in more quality talent at the guard positions in order to keep up with some of the faster teams in the conference. That wasn’t a problem against the older and slower Spurs in the opening round, but the Thunder have exploited it in the second round and have now pushed the Grizzlies to their final game of the 2011 postseason with game six Friday night.
Marc Gasol managed to score 15 points but only grabbed two rebounds, and was the only Memphis player that reached double-digits in terms of points in the game-five loss. Zach Randolph missed four free throws to finish with just nine points, while Mike Conley and Tony Allen combined to make just seven of their 29 shots combined. The same bench that had been so good for them in the series wasn’t awful, but 27 points wasn’t enough to make up for the lack of offense that the pay per head starters could register.
It wasn’t just the offense that was a major concern for the Grizzlies, as they had no answer once again for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Of course, neither of those two had to put up as strong of numbers as they had in past games, and Memphis allowed Nazr Mohammed and Daequan Cook to dominate with 28 points combined off of the bench. It seems as though the team that had done such an excellent job of using their speed and strength was fatigued enough that they had been rendered ineffective at both ends of the floor, and there will be a tremendous amount of pressure for them to bounce back in front of their home crowd.
At the open of the 2011 postseason, the Grizzlies’ goal was to win just a single playoff game. Three wagering services weeks later and the team is expected to push for a spot against the Dallas Mavericks in the conference finals, and although the home fans will be on their side for game six the pressure that will bring could end up working against them. The city has lacked the MLB team or any other major sports to take away from the spotlight cast on the magical run of the basketball team. Memphis has plenty of quality pieces to build around heading into next season, including a couple of key big men in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, but they will need to bring in more quality talent at the guard positions in order to keep up with some of the faster teams in the conference. That wasn’t a problem against the older and slower Spurs in the opening round, but the Thunder have exploited it in the second round and have now pushed the Grizzlies to their final game of the 2011 postseason with game six Friday night.
