Blake Griffin has gotten his fair share of dunks vs. the Grizzlies. (Getty Images) |
Previewing Clippers-Grizzlies Game 4 in Los Angeles.
1. Where We're At: The Clippers have taken the Grizzlies' will to live and Memphis is trying to find oxygen in any spare corner of its collapsing cell. For a team with a deep, serious playoff run under its belt and expected to make another, it's been Memphis that has looked unprepared for playoff pressure, collapsing in Games 1 and 3 to a young Clippers team without a playoff series played together yet. The Clippers lead 2-1
1. Where We're At: The Clippers have taken the Grizzlies' will to live and Memphis is trying to find oxygen in any spare corner of its collapsing cell. For a team with a deep, serious playoff run under its belt and expected to make another, it's been Memphis that has looked unprepared for playoff pressure, collapsing in Games 1 and 3 to a young Clippers team without a playoff series played together yet. The Clippers lead 2-1
2. The Big Number: 8. That's how many fourth quarter field goals the Grizzlies have had in their two losses. It's been a total offensive meltdown for Memphis who have crumpled with leads in the fourth quarter in two ouf of three games. In short, Memphis has played well enough to win, and then fallen apart when things have gotten tight.
3. Key Adjustment: Memphis has a superior scoring frontcourt, despite the presence of Blake Griffin, but hasn't gotten it involved. They've repeatedly settled for long-jumpers, which they're terrible at. If Memphis is going to have any shot at tying up the series, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have got to get some scoring inside on DeAndre Jordan and Kenyon Martin.
4. The Big Story: The Grizzlies have been outscored 87-58 in this series. If that number is even marginally closer, they likely have firm control of this series. So are the Clippers just able to take whatever Memphis gives them for three quarters and then take over, or have the Grizzlies just not executed to the level they're capable of for a few key minutes and still have the ability to wipe out the Clippers over the next three games? Monday's Game 4 will tell us a lot about that.
5. The Facts: 9:30 p.m. EST tipoff. Tony Allen's knee hasn't been a problem despite soreness. Caron Butler returned in Game 3 with a fractured hand.