That time that players and fans alike salivate for all year is finally here. After 80-plus games, and plenty of high jinks and untold drama, the league is gearing up for the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Given the stakes and intensity involved, it often feels like a whole different season rears up its head come playoff time. A season 2.0, if you will.
To help you navigate through the first-round scenarios, SJN will be breaking down all of the matchups for you―offering lineups, schedules, and predictions.
Western Conference:
Memphis Grizzlies (5) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (4)
Schedule:
Game 1 – Sat April 20, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Mon April 22, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Thu April 25, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Sat April 27, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 4:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 – Tue April 30, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 6 – Fri May 3, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
Game 7 – Sun May 5, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD, TBD (if necessary)
The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers first-round is ample proof why you want to avoid the No. 4 and No. 5 seed brackets. It always involves teams that are almost identical in terms of talent and execution, and it usually boils down to a battle of wills. Both teams have plenty of that as last year’s head-to-head proved to be one of the most entertaining of that postseason.
Everything the Clippers run is through Chris Paul. As one of the best players on the planet, and probably a top-12 point guard in league history and climbing, it’s absolutely the gameplan L.A. should stick to. But people tend to forget that Eric Bledsoe, the team’s backup PG, has done a marvelous job against Memphis. He’s upped his regular season laurels from 8.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 STLPG to 12.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG, 1.7 STLGPG when playing the Memphis squad. Though Mike Conley has become a tough defender, he’s going to want a cyanide pill during this series.
The Grizzlies’ defensive rating is top-notch, ranked at number 2 (97.4) for the league. With top DPOY candidate Marc Gasol serving as the defense’s lighting rod, the Grizzlies can keep anyone from putting up easy buckets. Having Tony Allen, Tayshaun Prince and Mike Conley only creates a further migraine for league offenses.
But the Clippers’ defense is no slouch, ranked at number 9 for the league, and it is extremely capable of keeping Memphis a low-scoring squad. Not that Memphis doesn’t make the job easy by their own hand. In the four matchups this season, the Grizz averaged an NCAA-like 87 points per game. Though they’ve been more efficient without Rudy Gay in their offensive schemes, it will be a miracle if they can muster enough points to beat the Clips consistently.
With a lot of young blood, battle-tested vets, and CP3 as its master surgeon, the Clippers will make sure this series will be a close repeat of last year.
Outcome:
Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 Memphis Grizzlies
