Grizzlies Win, Force Game 7

When your back is against the wall, you must perform, and perform the Grizzlies did. The Grizzlies defeated the Clippers Friday night in an elimination game six to find themselves in a 3-3 series tie headed back to the FedEx Forum Sunday afternoon. After a loss in game 4, things looked bleak. We had yet to see a start to finish performance from the Grizzlies, but most still believed the series was not over. The Grizzlies kept battling and kept grinding and it has paid off in a big way. There is now an opportunity to play on your home floor on Sunday and advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs.


Tonight's win was far from perfect. The Grizzlies turned the ball over TWENTY times in the game overall and struggled through a second quarter that was plagued by nine hiccups. Yet, the Grizzlies still found themselves with a lead at halftime. Things were nodded up at 66 a piece headed to the fourth quarter, a period that the Grizzlies have struggled in all series long. Indeed, things looked rough when the Clippers exploded to an eight point lead early in the fourth, but there was no stopping the grit or the grind tonight. Memphis used a 10-0 run to blaze back into the lead and never looked back.

Lionel Hollins left Tony Allen in the ball game for the majority of the fourth quarter and it paid off. Allen played inspired basketball on both ends of the court. However, in the end, you can not say enough about the "brothers from another mother," Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. The pair combined for 41 points and 25 rebounds. That is massive. The Grizzlies crushed the Clippers on the glass 48-32 behind the brilliant performance from Z-Bo. And let's not forget about Mike Conley. He clearly outplayed Chris Paul all night long. Conley finished with 13 points and 9 dimes including 3 three pointers. We all knew Conley was going to play major minutes this evening and he stepped up in the largest of moments. Way to go Mike Conley.


So, this all sets up the first Game 7 in franchise history on Sunday afternoon in Memphis. You can guarantee mayhem in the FedEx Forum all game long. The Grizzlies are now just one win away from becoming the ninth team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. I truly believe that the Grizzlies have figured this thing out. Get the ball inside to your bruisers, and good things will come. Continue to pound the ball inside on Sunday, and we just may have more basketball to play. See you Sunday for a game that will be the biggest in Grizzlies franchise history. I can't wait to watch it all unfold. Go Grizz.



--GM