#1 OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER VS. #5 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
It’s a high-octane offense built around Kevin Durant against a rock-solid defense when the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Memphis Grizzlies to see who moves on to the Western Conference finals. The Thunder lost all-star point guard Russell Westbrook to an injury in their first round win over the Rockets so they’ll be looking for other ways to be effective. The Grizzlies powered past the Clippers in six games.
Marc Gasol is the soul behind the Grizz defense and he has played key roles in big playoff wins in the past, including a shocking win over the Spurs in the first round not too long ago. This will be no picnic for the Thunder, but homecourt advantage could give them the little extra needed to get past Memphis.
2012-13 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES SEASON PREVIEW The Memphis Grizzlies were one of the most surprising stories of the 2011-12 NBA Basketball season, finishing with a 41-25 record, good for second in their division and the 4th seed in the Western Conference playoff seeding. After pushing Oklahoma City to a decisive seventh game in the playoffs during the 2010-11 season, the Grizzlies were poised for a strong showing in the playoffs the following year. However, the Grizzlies blew a 21-point lead in Game 1 of their series against the Los Angeles Clippers and couldn't close it out during a Game 7 at home. Like many young NBA teams, the Grizzlies will have to put their playoff growing pains behind them to take the next step in a highly-talented Western Conference.
During the offseason, the Grizzlies made few changes with their roster, with the exception of the release of shooting guard O.J. Mayo. While Mayo was a highly-touted prospect when he was first picked up by Memphis, he never seemed to jive with the Grizzlies' offensive attack and will take his talents to the Dallas Mavericks this season. The team's notable free agent transactions included point guard Jerryd Bayless, who will serve as the team's reserve man at the point. Shooting guard Wayne Ellington will replace the departed Mayo, who was traded from Minnesota for Dante Cunningham. Ellington was mostly a reserve in Minnesota, so he will have extended playing time in his new home. Last but not least, the Grizzlies picked up Tony Wroten, a combo guard who plays great defense and could be a factor in the team's point guard plans in the future.
The Grizzlies boast one of the best starting fives in the NBA, with Marc Gasol manning the center position, Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph as forwards and Tony Allen and Mike Conley handling the guard positions. The biggest question for the Grizzlies heading into the 2012-13 season is their depth. Their bench is a major issue, and they will need solid production from players like Josh Selby, Wayne Ellington and Jerryd Bayless to receive a much-needed boost to rest their starters.
With two straight playoff appearances under their belt, the Grizzlies are trying to take the next step in their journey toward an NBA title and have a team that's every bit as talented as its Western Conference opponents. Only time will tell if the team can get solid production from their bench players who can round out one of the most talented rosters in the league.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES FRANCHISE FACTS:
Founded: 1995
Location: Memphis, Tennessee Stadium: FedEx Forum Conference: Western Conference
Division: Southwest Division
Mascot: Grizz
Dancers: Grizzlies Dance Team
Notable Players: Pau Gasol
Memphis Grizzlies Championship Titles: 0
Memphis Grizzlies Conference Titles: 0
See Also:
Memphis Grizzlies Playoff tickets
Memphis Grizzlies Season Preview History
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES EXPERIENCE:
The Memphis Grizzlies have slowly been built into a contender in the Western Conference throughout the 2000s, but the team has experienced some serious growing pains since entering the league in 1996. The Grizzlies began play in Vancouver and joined the Toronto Raptors as the NBA's venture to expand into the Canadian market. After making forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim their first overall pick during the 1996 draft, the Grizzlies followed the typical format of expansion teams and made little to no impact during their first season. While the squad was starting to build a solid foundation with point guard Mike Bibby during the 1998-99 season, the NBA lockout during the 1999-2000 season saw the team lose a majority of its fans and ownership began searching for a way to move to the United States.
The 2000-2001 season was the last the Grizzlies played in Vancouver before they moved to Memphis, Tennessee. While the team only posted a 23-59 record during their first year in the US, there was reason for excitement, as first round draft pick Pau Gasol won Rookie of the Year honors. After a few substandard finishes in the following years, the Grizzlies finally broke through during the 2003-04 season when they made the playoffs for the first time. Unfortunately, the team ran into the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs and were swept in four games.
The franchise moved to a new arena called the FedEx Forum during the 2004-05 season, and the city of Memphis had renewed optimism about the state of its franchise. The team would make the playoffs, but would yet again fail to record a single win during the postseason. After a significant injury to Pau Gasol during the 2006-07 season, the team floundered and went through a serious roster overhaul in successive years.
Hoping to bring some star power to Memphis, the Grizzlies signed former MVP Allen Iverson before the 2009-2010 season, but he never made a significant impact and was released. However, the team began assembling a strong core of young talent and role players during the season to become an extremely competitive ball club in the Western Conference. Memphis has certainly been kind to the Grizzlies, and they seem poised to finally achieve the success that eluded them since beginning play in Vancouver. With a rabid fanbase and a front office that's committed to winning, the Grizzlies look to be a contender for years to come.
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