Memphis Grizzlies (4) vs Los Angeles Clippers (5)

 

 

In what was tipped by 100% of voters the Memphis Grizzlies prevailed in a heavily 1 sided series defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 4 games to 1. Memphis has this season become a 2-way juggernaut with great defenders on the perimeter and in the paint and controlled this series from the start. The Clippers faced an uphill battle with 2 key players out with season-ending injuries. LAC won their only game for the series in a shock change of Giannis being moved from the positions he had spent the regular season playing at Point Guard and Center to his natural position at Power Forward.

 

Game 1

Clippers 95 � 109 Memphis

Game 1 saw the Clippers come out fast and aggressively taking the 1^st quarter 21-20 however it was clear that Memphis had a game plan for Giannis and was executing it perfectly with Giannis only scoring 2 points from 1-4 shooting and grabbing only 2 rebounds. The 2^nd quarter was where the game was won with Memphis outscoring the Clippers 33-18. Memphis controlled the boards and kept Giannis away from getting 2^nd chance points to win convincingly. Steven Adams was pivotal finishing with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks.

 

Game 2

Clippers 69 � 91 Memphis

In game 2 the Clippers shifted Giannis from Center to PG hoping to shift momentum and win a game back and it looked a good move with Giannis finishing the 1^st quarter with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists and looked set to break the game wide open before Memphis once again shut the door in the 2^nd quarter and again controlled the glass to victory. Jaylen Brown leads the charge in game 2 finishing with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals.

 

Game 3

Memphis 90 � 108 Clippers

In game 3 we saw some life in the Clippers winning the 1^st game back at home. Memphis was taken by surprise when Giannis was shifted to his natural playing position at Power Forward. Though the game was rather even the Clippers led by Giannis dominating the boards and setting a rebounding playoff record shut the door in the last quarter with a 33-23 finish. Giannis was looking back to being a demigod with 39 points, 28 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks and missing only 4 shots from 23 attempts.

 

Game 4

Memphis 101 � 79 Clippers

One must wonder what Memphis changed behind the scenes to completely change the outcome of this compared to the previous game with no line-up moves. Giannis went from demigod Giannis back to earth and had trouble getting shots to go down and had to face a more offensive-focused JJJ. Memphis took control from the start, shut the door in the 2^nd quarter once again with a 27-17-point advantage, and slammed their foot on the gas to push the series to a 3-1 lead heading back to Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr was stand out with 15 points, 13 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3 blocks.

 

 

Game 5

Clippers 69 � 96 Memphis

Clippers faced a win-or-go-home game in the heart of Memphis and were in for a shock when the Grizzlies jumped them from the start ending the 1^st quarter 25-15 and the game never looked within reach the rest of the way. Memphis won all key stats for the game and sent the Clippers on an early vacation in front of a home crowd. A special shout-out has to go to Jaren Jackson Jr in this game with his 4 blocks, 2 steal game, and nullifying Giannis�s impact but the man of the hour was Grizzlies franchise star Jaylen Brown who finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.

 

Series standouts

Clippers

Giannis Antetokounmpo 27.2 points, 18 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2 blocks

Memphis

Jaylen Brown 25.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1 steal

Jaren Jackson Jr 9.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 3.2 blocks

 

Memphis moves on to the 2^nd round to face the Denver Nuggets while the Los Angeles Clippers for the 3^rd straight year are a first-round exit leaving serious questions for the Clippers this off-season.