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MEMPHIS, TN – MAY 13: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives between Mike Conley #11 and Rudy Gay #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on May 13, 2012 in Memphis, Tennessee.
The first shot of the game was an indication of the night. As Rudy Gay dropped a long three over LeBron for the first basket of the Grizzlies.
The Miami Heat are pretty scary just on the strength of James, Wade and Bosh. The one thing new thing about the Miami Heat sending collective shivers through the spines of the entire league has been their three point shooting, what with the addition of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. But the Memphis Grizzlies gave them a taste of their own medicine.
“I didn’t know he could shoot the ball like that,” the Heat’s Chris Bosh said. “We know now. I don’t think Ellington will be able to sneak in the back door anymore.” Little late for that now. Wayne Ellington hit seven three pointers for the Memphis Grizzlies to finish with 25 points.
“They are close to last in 3-pointers made and 3-pointers attempted per game,” James said. “We paid for it today. They shot the ball extremely well.” James and Bosh aren’t making excuses. They are right. This game was an anomaly. The most threes hit by the Grizzlies team in the last 345 games. They shot 14 of 24 from the three point line. I told you so yesterday. The Grizzlies will upset the Heat today. The frontcourt was not the only reason the Grizzlies bested the Heat. Miami is still thin at the point guard spot. Mike Conley severely outplayed Mario Chalmers, he had 18 points to five of Super Mario. The Miami Heat only had two players who scored in double figures, James with 20 and Bosh with 22.
“There were critical places in where the game turned like sloppy turnovers, missed shots or big baskets that couldn’t get us over that hump,” Spoelstra said. “They played very well. They played physical, and they did what they needed to do to bring it home.”
The closest the Heat got in the fourth quarter was 82-75. Then Memphis went on a 22-2 run to put the game away emphatically. Dwyane Wade was less than 100% as he was battling a cold. That didn’t stop him from attempting 15 shots even though he only made 3. His lacklusture defense was one of the reasons Ellington was able to light it up from outside. My play of the game came off a dunk by Rudy Gay, as he drove behind his back right past LeBron James and jammed it home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpTcwdujX18
In case you’re wondering what’s up with the unsual headbands, the players were wearing it in honour of Veteran’s Day. Here are the full match highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ615lHdS4I
The Grizzlies won 104-86.
Guess the Lakers players!
