Saturday, May 11, 2013

My Team - Game 3, Grizzlies versus Oklahoma City

Saturday afternoon, the "always-pivotal" Game 3 tips off in Memphis. It's the Grizzlies' first home game since  3 March, when they closed out the Clippers. It's still a bit surprising Memphis scored 118 in that game.

Randolph, Gasol and Conley aren't anyone's "Big Three", but then need to play big from here out. Best case scenario for the team is each of them scores at or near 20 apiece. If the team gets 12 or so from Prince and Allen, the team is formidable.

Off the bench, Bayless needs to be productive with his ball-handling decisions. Go ahead and shoot, but take smart shots & make 'em. Pondexter needs to keep putting the ball on the floor, keep getting to the rim, and make the subsequent foul shots. Some combination of Arthur and Ed Davis needs to add inside scoring and some rebounding.

The Grizzlies need to continue the "no second-chance points" formula that's been successful lately. Limit the non-Kevin Durant Thunder players to one shot per possession. Memphis has shown they have the want-to to command the boards. That must continue for the Grizz to maintain momentum.

My guess: Memphis 106, Oklahoma City 103. Memphis will start slow, due in part to the 3-day layoff since Game 2. Durant will score early and often to keep his team in it, then start to include others in the offensive flow. Martin is key for OKC - can the Grizzlies continue to hinder his scoring off the bench?

Memphis' fans again need to come out and be a force. This is the playoff season where they can tell the rest of the league they are as passionate and committed as any fan base in the Association.

After the Game: Memphis 87, Oklahoma City 81. It was hard-fought, and the Thunder played with a grim determination.  Memphis made a few more plays down the stretch.

For the Grizz, it was 30 field goals, 16/11 assist/turnover and 5 steals. Gasol had 20 points, 9 rebs and 4 assists. Conley and Allen added 14 each. Bayless added 11 off the bench. Randolph and Prince struggled, scoring 8 (Randolph) and 2 (Prince) respectively. OKC's tough defense gave Randolph fits.

For the Thunder, it was 32 field goals, 10/12 assist/turnover and 7 steals. Durant had 25, 11 rebs and 5 assists. He'd have had more assists, but teammates missed make-able shots. Jackson had 16 and 10 rebs. He's really blossoming on the big stage. Ibaka and Martin had 13 each, but they combined for 12/34 FG/A.

Memphis won the 1st & 3rd quarters, despite 5 first quarter turnovers. They came out intense but sloppy. Oklahoma City was much more active on the boards this time (14 offensive rebounds). Over the course of the game, some rushed shots and poor passing blunted the momentum Memphis tried to build. It wasn't a pretty win. But, it's better to be up two games to one, than to be down by the same.

Game 4 is Monday night. As pivotal as Game 3 is, Game 4 is even more so. If the Grizz can come out strong, keep up the pressure, they can win the fourth game and take a commanding lead in this series.

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