(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
Series opens Saturday in Los Angeles.
Season series: Los Angeles won 3-1
Clippers starters: Caron Butler SF (10.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg); Blake Griffin PF (18 ppg, 8.3 rpg); DeAndre Jordan C (8.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Chris Paul PG (16.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 9.7 apg); Chauncey Billups SG (28.4 ppg, 2.2 apg).
Grizzlies starters: Tayshaun Prince SF (15.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg); Zach Randolph PF (18 ppg, 8.3 rpg); Marc Gasol C (14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 4 apg); Mike Conley PG (14.6 ppg, 6.1 apg); Tony Allen SG (8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg).
Historical note: It’s been a big season for the Los Angeles Clippers. Capturing the Pacific Division title, the team topped 50 wins for the first time in franchise history. This match-up will be a rematch of last year’s opening-round series for the two teams which saw the Clippers win in seven games.
For Clippers to win: We could probably answer this with two letters and a number (CP3, obviously), but the Clippers will win this series because in addition to having the best point guard in the game, they also have a deep bench of experienced players who know their roles. Yes, Los Angeles has Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan along with their highlight reel plays, but Matt Barnes, Eric Bledsoe and, reserve extraordinaire, Jamal Crawford are also on board as well. Let’s not forget savvy veterans like Grant Hill, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler who provide plenty of leadership and experience on the bench. While the Grizzlies will be tough to neutralize inside, the Clippers’ depth will ultimately wear them down.
For Grizzlies to win: The Grizzlies will need to be at their grittiest in order to pull this one out. It won’t be pretty basketball as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph will have to use their experience and physicality to overwhelm the younger Griffin and Jordan inside. The pace will have to slow significantly to favour the Grizzlies and Tony Allen will be given the responsibility of disrupting whatever the Clippers want to do offensively. The Clippers are a team that can get rattled; Memphis will need to try to take them out of their game by getting under their skin. Working in Memphis’ favor: There isn’t a player in the league better than Allen at disrupting the flow of his opponent’s game.
Key matchup: Chris Paul vs. whoever is stuck trying to stop him. Paul is a wizard with the basketball. He is able to pull rabbits out of hats in the worst of situations and with this Clippers team he has plenty of weapons and he knows how to use them. Whatever the Clippers do or do not do will be because of what Paul orchestrates.
Big question: Will the Clippers be able to handle the physicality of the Grizzlies and keep their composure?
Best bet: Clippers in six.
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