Power forward Zach Randolph started slowly against the Clippers, but he’s red hot now.  In his last three games, Randolph is averaging 37.3 minutes, 25.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Randolph has now played in 5 games (all starts) against the Clippers and he is averaging 33.6 minutes, 20.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  The Grizzlies hope that Randolph keeps up the good work so that they can knock out the Clippers later tonight.

The Grizzlies played well on defense (except against Chris Paul who scored 35 points) last night and it helped them get a HUGE road win!  Zach Randolph (25 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals), Marc Gasol (21 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocked shots) and Mike Conley (20 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists and 1 blocked shot) led the way for the Grizzlies last night.  Tayshaun Prince pitched in with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.  The Grizzlies are now up 3-2 on the Clippers in this series.

The Grizzlies shot 50.6% from the floor and they out-rebounded the Clippers 45-28 yesterday, but it wasn’t until the 4th quarter when they outscored them 33-16 that they put them away.  Zach Randolph (24 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot) and Marc Gasol (24 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocked shots) led the way for the Grizzlies in this game.  Tayshaun Prince (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) and Mike Conley (15 points, 4 rebounds and 13 assists) also had solid games for the Grizzlies yesterday.  Tony Allen (10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot) and Quincy Pondexter (10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal in 29 minutes) also pitched in for the Grizzlies in this game.  The Grizzlies are now tied up at two games apiece with the Clippers in this series.

The Grizzlies held the Clippers to 38.8% shooting from the floor and they out-rebounded them 45-33 to pull away for a nice home win last night.  Zach Randolph led the way for the Grizzlies last night with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.  Marc Gasol also had a rock solid game with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot last night.  Tony Allen (13 points, 9 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals) and Quincy Pondexter (13 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal) also pitched in for the Grizzlies last night.  The Grizzlies are still down 2-1 in this series.

The Grizzlies need center Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to step up soon, or they are going to see the 2012-13 season end with a thud.  Gasol has started both games for the Grizzlies in this series and he is averaging 42.5 minutes, 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game.  Randolph has also started both games in this series and he is averaging 28.0 minutes, 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  The Grizzlies need Gasol and Randolph to toughen up both offensively and defensively around the basket, or this series is going to be over soon.

28-year old center Marc Gasol has been named the NBA’s 2012-13 Defensive Player of the Year.  He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 35.0 minutes, 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 blocked shots per game.  Gasol had 20 games in which he had 10 or more rebounds in 2012-13.  He also had 20 games with 3 or more blocked shots and 11 games with 3 or more steals in 2012-13.  Gasol was a force in the middle of the paint for the Grizzlies this year and he deserved this award.  He seems to keep getting better every year for the Grizzlies.  Gasol has now played in 377 games (370 starts) in his first five years with the Grizzlies and he is averaging 33.8 minutes, 13.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.

The Grizzlies wanted to slow the pace of the game down last night and they did that.  But, Chris Paul drove to the basket and hit a game winning layup with 0.1 second left in the game.  Mike Conley traded punches with Chris Paul last night as he led the way for the Grizzlies with 28 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 steals per game.  Marc Gasol (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots) and Tony Allen (16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot) also had rock solid games for the Grizzlies last night.  Zach Randolph finished up with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals as he was in foul trouble last night and he wasn’t on the floor when Chris Paul made his game winning shot.  The Grizzlies are now down 2-0 as the series shifts to Memphis.

The Grizzlies were hanging in there until the 4th quarter when they were outscored 37-22 and it did them in.  Jerryd Bayless led the way for the Grizzlies with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 steal in 30 minutes on the floor.  Marc Gasol (16 points, 2 rebounds and 7 assists),  Zach Randolph (13 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist) and Mike Conley (12 points, 1 rebound, 5 assists and 2 steals) also pitched in for the Grizzlies in this game.  The Grizzlies need to start playing better defense if they want to beat the Clippers.  The Clippers shot 55.4% from the floor last night and they out-rebounded the Grizzlies 47-23!  The Grizzlies are now down 1-0 in this series.

This is going to be a knockdown, drag out fight in this series as both teams finished with the same record in 2012-13.  The Grizzlies and Clippers are both veteran teams with good starting lineups and solid benches.  I give the Grizzlies a punchers chance in this series because of their defense.  Here is a look at the matchups in this series:

POINT GUARD:  25-year old Mike Conley has been a rock solid player for the Grizzlies this year.  He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 34.5 minutes, 14.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game.  Conley has now played in 20 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 39.2 minutes, 14.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steal per game.

27-year old Chris Paul is the guy that makes the Clippers’ offense go and he has been money so far in his career in the playoffs.  Paul played in 70 games (all starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 33.4 minutes, 18.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 10.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game.  Paul has played in 34 games (all starts) so far in the playoffs in his NBA career and he is averaging 40.0 minutes, 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game.

EDGE:  CLIPPERS

SHOOTING GUARD:  31-year old Tony Allen is on the court because of his defense.  He played in 79 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 26.7 minutes, 8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  Allen has played in 76 games (23 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 14.8 minutes, 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.

36-year old Chauncey Billups is running out of steam for the Clippers.  He played in 22 games (all starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 19.0 minutes, 8.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  Billups has played in 140 games (137 starts) in his career in the playoffs so far and he is averaging 37.2 minutes, 17.8 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

EDGE:  EVEN

SMALL FORWARD:  33-year old Tayshaun Prince knows all of the tricks, but at this point in his career, he’s a much better defensive than offensive player.  Prince played in 82 games (81 starts) for the Pistons and Grizzlies this year and he averaged 32.1 minutes, 10.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.  He has now played in 118 games (106 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 37.4 minutes, 12.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

33-year old small forward Caron Butler is a lot like Prince at this point in his career.  Butler played in 78 games (all starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 24.1 minutes, 10.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  He has now played in 41 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 36.3 minutes, 14.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game.

EDGE:  EVEN

POWER FORWARD:  31-year old Zach Randolph is the best offensive player the Grizzlies have now.  He played in 76 games (75 starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 34.3 minutes, 15.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  Randolph has now played in 28 games (24 starts) in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 34.6 minutes, 17.2 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

24-year old Blake Griffin is a human highlight film due to his thunderous dunks.  But, the Clippers are going to need him to play a little better than he did during the regular season in this series.  He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 32.5 minutes, 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  He has played in 11 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 35.7 minutes, 19.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

EDGE: VERY SLIGHT FOR THE CLIPPERS

CENTER:  28-year old Marc Gasol has developed into one of the better all-ar0und centers in the NBA for the Grizzlies this year.  He played in 80 games (all starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 35.0 minutes, 14.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.7 blocked shots per game.  Gasol has now played in 20 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 39.0 minutes, 15.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2.1 blocked shots per game.

25-year old DeAndre Jordan can dunk and block shots, but that is about the full extent of his game.  He played in 82 games (all starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 24.5 minutes, 8.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game.  Jordan has now played in 11 games (all starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 22.6 minutes, 4.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.6 blocked shots per game.

EDGE:  GRIZZLIES

BENCH:  The Grizzlies are a lot more youthful on the bench than the Clippers, but they also have a lot less experience in the playoffs.  24-year old PG/SG Jerryd Bayless will probably have a big role in this series alternating at the guard spots.  He played in 80 games (4 starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 22.1 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.  He has played in 8 games (2 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 22.1 minutes, 10.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.  23-year old power forward Ed Davis could also have a big role in this series.  He played in 81 games (28 starts) for the Raptors and Grizzlies this year and he averaged 20.1 minutes, 7.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  This will be his first taste of the playoffs.  Also making his first foray into the playoffs will be 24-year old small forward Austin Daye.  Daye has played in 55 games (0 starts) for the Grizzlies and Pistons in which he is averaging 12.3 minutes, 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  25-year old forward Darrell Arthur is a very active player off the bench for the Grizzlies.  He played in 59 games (3 starts) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 16.4 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Arthur has now played in 13 games (0 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 15.5 minutes, 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  25-year old shooting guard Quincy Pondexter could do some damage in this series.  He played in 59 games (1 start) for the Grizzlies this year and he averaged 21.1 minutes, 6.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  He has played in 10 games (0 starts) in the playoffs in his career and he is averaging 12.3 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  32-year old guard Keyon Dooling joined the Grizzlies late in the season and he played in 7 games (0 starts) in which he is averaging 11.7 minutes, 4.4 points, 0.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  Dooling has played in 49 games (0 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 14.1 minutes, 5.3 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.0 assist per game.

The Clippers are loaded with experience and solid players on the bench.  33-year old shooting guard Jamal Crawford was one of the best sixth men in the NBA in 2012-13.  He played in 76 games (0 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 29.3 minutes, 16.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Crawford has played in 23 games (0 starts) so far in the playoffs in his NBA career and he is averaging 30.8 minutes, 15.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.  33-year old small forward Matt Barnes also had a rock solid year for the Clippers.  He played in 80 games (4 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 25.7 minutes, 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Barnes has now played in 46 games (17 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 21.1 minutes, 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.  23-year old point guard Eric Bledsoe would be starting for a lot of teams in the NBA.  He played in 76 games (12 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 20.4 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game.  Bledsoe has played in 11 games (0 starts) in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.2 minutes, 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game.  31-year old shooting guard Willie Green will likely see his P.T. dip a little bit in this series.  He played in 72 games (60 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 16.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Green has played in 28 games (12 starts) in the playoffs so far in his NBA career and he is averaging 17.9 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  33-year old PF/SF Lamar Odom could give the bench a nice boost if he is motivated and focused.  He played in 82 games (2 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 19.7 minutes, 4.0 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.  Odom has now played in 102 games (52 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 34.2 minutes, 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 blocked shot per game.  28-year old Ryan Hollins and 30-year old Ronny Turiaf could give the Clippers some help inside at center when DeAndre Jordan needs a break.  Hollins played in 60 games (0 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 11.1 minutes, 3.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.  He has played in 26 games (0 starts) in the playoffs so far in his career and he is averaging 9.8 minutes, 1.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.  Turiaf played in 65 games (0 starts) for the Clippers this year and he averaged 10.8 minutes, 1.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.  He has played in 42 games (11 starts) in the playoffs in his career so far and he is averaging 10.9 minutes, 2.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game.

EDGE:  CLIPPERS

COACHING:  59-year old Lionel Hollins is getting better by the year for the Grizzlies as he led them to a 56-26 (68.3%) record in 2012-13.  He is also 10-10 (50%) in the playoffs so far in his NBA career.

46-year old Vinny Del Negro is a good in season head coach, but he never seems to get his team to step up in the playoffs.  The Clippers were 56-26 (68.3%) under Del Negro this year.  But, he is only 8-15 (34.8%) in the playoffs so far in his career.

EDGE:  GRIZZLIES

PREDICTION:  CLIPPERS IN SEVEN GAMES

The Grizzlies have signed 25-year old power forward Donte Greene and 23-year old power forward Willie Reed for the remainder of the 2012-13 season.  They will both be eligible to play in the playoffs.  Greene played in 53 games (7 starts) for the Kings last year and he averaged 14.7 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Greene has now played in 253 games (82 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.8 minutes, 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game.  Reed hasn’t played in the NBA yet.  He played in 48 games (30 starts) for the Springfield Armor of the D-League this year and he averaged 29.3 minutes, 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game.