OT: I will be cheering for Memphis come playoffs

[magnifier661]

Memphis is a nice team. A team that has sound defense, a monster post game and great fundamentals. I wish someday our team will have this type of team defense.

There are three things I love most about them.

1.). Gasol and Zach are a great front court. Zach may not be that good on the defensive end, but I really noticed he understands it and bodies his man to move towards the help d. Gasol is a fucking beast and has all the tricks (arm locks, hip checks and grabs that refs don't notice). Yes they are all fouls, but he does them in such a way that you can't see them.

2.). I am such a fan of Conley jr. This kid is a great defender. I know Lillard still got his, but you should have seen how close he was to Lillard the entire game.

3.) Tyshan Price still has it. I couldn't believe how quick he is still. Maybe being on a playoff team has rejuvenated his game. He looks hungry and playing close to his old form.

Anyway, it's almost impossible for the blazers to make the playoffs, so I am finding the western conference team I think has the best shot at defeating okc. That team is Memphis. Here's hoping they meet in the playoffs!

 

[PtldPlatypus]

You and NOVoodoo are going to be BFFs now.

 

[magnifier661]

You and NOVoodoo are going to be BFFs now.

Hahaha wasn't trying to make friends. I loved what I saw at the game. These guys are good!

 

[THE HCP]

Won't get far, but I'll root for the Warriors!

 

[Shooter]

I'm impressed by the way Memphis plays defense. That could take them far in the playoffs.

 

[crowTrobot]

Hahaha wasn't trying to make friends.

just get a room already

 

[crowTrobot]

i stand to make the most money off the card market *by far* if the thunder win, so go OKC

 

[HomerLovesKoolAid]

Why do I have a feeling that if Memphis plays that kind of D vs. the L*kers they will all foul out?

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I've picked Indy as a team to root for in the playoffs

 

[THE HCP]

Well that's gonna be boring^

 

[Pinwheel1]

Sure why not. I mean look at the alternatives in the west. No way do a root for a LA team, or OKC.

I usually root for San Antonio mostly because I have never met anyone annoying from SA. Let me re-phrase that, I have never met anyone from SA.

So Memphis it is. I was a huge Lionel Hollins fan growing up.

 

[Eastoff]

I'm with KS (in opinion) and rooting for Houston.

 

[mook]

Good call on Memphis. Now that Gay is gone that team is just a bare-knuckle brawling type of defense-first inside scoring second fun team to watch. I really enjoy watching Z-bo evolve into a more complete player too. His defense now is a lot better than it was (still below average I guess, but that's a lot of progress) and his passing is much improved. Such a great fit next to Gasol.

I'm a fan of LeBron, so I'll catch all the Heat games. But in the West I really like this team. Hope they make it past the first round.

 

[mook]

I hadn't realized they won 12 of their last 13 games, with 1 loss on the road at Miami. They beat a lot of patsies, but still....

 

[NOVoodoo]

Appreciate the love for the Grizz... I think fans of teams like Portland, Sacramento, and New Orleans should be rooting for teams like Memphis in the playoffs, and I think our fans would probably tend to root for them if they were in the playoffs. We're all small market teams with no visible superstars. It's always good seeing a fellow like that succeed. I think we're gonna get on a lot of fans' bad side with the physical play once it's playoff time though.

Where's the media love though? We've won 14 out of 15, with the one loss being a late game loss at Miami.

Tonight we just beat the Clippers by 11 to distance ourselves as the #3 seed, but ESPN had Carmelo Anthony's Knicks as the main story of the night.

Realistically, the Grizzlies are a Z-Bo ankle injury away from being flip-flopped with Miami's streak, all thanks to losing Rudy Gay.

 

[jlprk]

I was surprised by Gasol's shooting when left unguarded. He replaces Gay quite well.

 

[NOVoodoo]

I was surprised by Gasol's shooting when left unguarded. He replaces Gay quite well.

Man, his biggest problem is that he's too unselfish. We wish he'd shoot more! He was something like #7 in the NBA in FT-shooting until he hit his recent snag, and he's still top 15 after that.

I won't call those shots he hits jumpers, because it's a straight up set-shot, but he doesn't miss a few feet in from the three line with that set-shot.

I think he passes up too many of them though. He knocked those down consistently all night in the Clips win tonight, but he also passed up a few wide-open looks that could have cost us in a close game. He's a playmaking big, but he's almost a "playmaker" to a fault. That's the only criticism I have of Marc... he could be a much more "dominant" player than he shows statistically.

 

[KingSpeed]

I will be cheering for the Blazers in the playoffs. We are only two losses behind Lakers and Jazz. Lakers and Jazz have to come to the Rose Garden still. 8 of our last 12 games are at home. Including game against Houston whom we own a 2-1 edge against. We can still make the playoffs and upset Spurs in first round.

 

[NOVoodoo]

I will be cheering for the Blazers in the playoffs. We are only two losses behind Lakers and Jazz. Lakers and Jazz (twice) have to come to the Rose Garden still. 8 of our last 12 games are at home. Including game against Houstob whom we own a 2-1 edge against. We can still make the playoffs and upset Spurs in first round.

You know, I'm really diggin the Grizz thread right now, but that's the first post that's made sense... too early to waive that white flag...

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I will be cheering for the Blazers in the playoffs. We are only two losses behind Lakers and Jazz. Lakers and Jazz have to come to the Rose Garden still. 8 of our last 12 games are at home. Including game against Houston whom we own a 2-1 edge against. We can still make the playoffs and upset Spurs in first round.

16 of our final 19 games are against teams above .500.

Fortunately, we actually seems to play well against the good teams, so that might actually be a positive stat.

 

[magnifier661]

I will be cheering for the Blazers in the playoffs. We are only two losses behind Lakers and Jazz. Lakers and Jazz have to come to the Rose Garden still. 8 of our last 12 games are at home. Including game against Houston whom we own a 2-1 edge against. We can still make the playoffs and upset Spurs in first round.

So will I if we make it, but you've been waving the white flag way too many time this season. Don't act like we somehow are gonna jump in the playoffs.

 

[jlprk]

Game of the season.

Just because he has his favorite phrases, doesn't mean he's really waving a white flag.

Season over.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I like what Memphis has become, too - since the Rudy Gay trade. They were good defensively before the trade, now they are easily the best defensive team in the league. I think they are much better built for post season success now than before the trade. In addition to a huge upgrade defensively, they also have much better ball movement. Gay is a one dimensional chucker who only looks for his own shot.

The ball movement against the Blazers was a thing of beauty. It helps when you have a big man who can pass, but with both Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo gone, Memphis plays a much more team oriented offense now. The ball movement the other night reminded me of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the early 90s. Brad Daugherty was a great passing big man. In 92-93, he averaged 20.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg and 4.4 apg - one of only 7 players to average 20/10/4 over the last 20 years (the others were Barkley, Malone, Larry Johnson, David Robinsion, Chris Webber and Kevin Garnett). That Cleveland team won 57 games one year and 54 the next and led the league in assists by a wide margin in 92-93. They were also 5th in the league in defense, but they couldn't get by the Bulls in the playoffs - no one could back then.

The current Memphis team is better defensively and doesn't pass quite as well, but like those Cavs teams, they are up against a dynasty in the making led by the best player in the game during the prime of his career. Even if the Grizz get out of the West, I don't see them, or anyone else, taking the title from the Heat.

BNM