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NBA Playoffs – The 4 Teams in the Conference Finals
Not the most expected of four-team combinations reached the conference finals in the 2013 NBA playoffs. The Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers in the East; the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies in the West.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph & Marc Gasol Grind the Life out of Kevin Durant
If last year after losing in the NBA finals Kevin Durant looked sad, he looked exhausted and empty after losing in 5 games to the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s hard to say when looked more pitiful. Zach Randolph pulled a number on him and his entire front line by destroying them in the paint, while Tayshaun Prince, Marc Gasol and Tony Allen did on the defensive end.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Making Kevin Durant Look Terrible When it Matters
It came down to defense, and there doesn’t seem to be any team that does it better at the moment than the Memphis Grizzlies, with Marc Gasol closing any lanes on their way to the rim, while Tony Allen simply did a perfect job on Kevin Durant during the fourth quarter and overtime, putting the Griz only one win away from reaching the conference final for the first time in franchise history.
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Kevin Durant Needs to be Better, But How Much More Can He Give
When you look at the transition offense the Oklahoma City Thunder had during the regular season, the best in the NBA, and what they’re trying to pull off now, you suddenly realize why Russell Westbrook is so important, despite his obvious shortcomings. Kevin Durant is trying to do everything for his team, but it doesn’t seem to be enough, and it’s not certain he has anything else to give.
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Memphis Grizzlies – On Marc Gasol Being Clutch, MVP’ish and DPOY all at Once
The Memphis Grizzlies don’t have a scorer as good as Kevin Durant is, but Marc Gasol is good enough to lead the way and take the lead in the Western Conference Semifinals, getting it done on both ends of the floor while getting just enough offensive help from Mike Conley and Tony Allen to remain unbeaten at home in the 2013 playoffs.
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Kevin Durant Doesn’t Make Thunder Better Than Grizzlies
Those who thought that on the merit of having Kevin Durant alone the Oklahoma City Thunder might be favorites in their series against the Memphis Grizzlies were proven wrong in the first game, and were probably fully convinced after game 2, in which the visitors stole home court with a convincing 99-93 win, dominating the fourth quarter through the fantastic Mike Conley and Marc Gasol.
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NBA Playoffs – Grizzlies vs Thunder Game 2 Predictions
The Oklahoma City Thunder don’t have their starting point guard or any kind of offensive system, but they do have Kevin Durant playing his best basketball. The Memphis Grizzlies are quite methodical on both ends of the floor, but lack that superstar who can take the game on his shoulders in the final minutes. Will it cost them a second consecutive time?
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Kevin Durant Needs Kevin Martin to Stun the Memphis Grizzlies
Without Russell Westbrook, it seemed like the Oklahoma City Thunder were doomed. But Kevin Durant just happens to be one of the most unstoppable players in the NBA, even when he’s on his own. Kevin Martin remembered he used to be a big time scorer, and over the last two games has carried the Thunder along with Durant, helping set up the ground for the fourth quarter turnaround and snatching game 1 away from the Memphis Grizzlies.
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NBA Playoffs, Conference Semifinals – Grizzlies vs Thunder Series Preview
One team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are arriving in the conference semifinal as the top seed in the Western Conference, but reeling for their first round series and missing their second best player, while the Memphis Grizzlies, winning four consecutive games to climb out of a 0-2 hole, might actually be considered the favorites.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Zach Randolph Finishes What he Started
The series changed the moment Zach Randolph started being fed in the paint to do his thing, and the Memphis Grizzlies dominated ever since, winning four consecutive games to take their first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers in four straight games. Marc Gasol was excellent and Mike Conley shined in the point guard duel, but Randolph’s dominance down low seemed to be the difference maker in a no-hope situation.