AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Buzzer Reaction
 Memphis Grizzlies |
 Los Angeles Clippers |
MVP: We’re going to give this one to Clippers SG J.J. Redick. In a season where the threes have dried up, Redick hit a go-ahead 25-footer to take away the Grizzlies’ last lead of the game with under a minute left. Then, on the very next possession, Redick was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three FTs to give the Clippers a 90-86 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish – though they came awfully close.
That was … a grinder: This game marked the lowest scoring of the season for the Clippers. They had to sweat it out with Grizzlies PF Zach Randolph (game-high 26 points on 12-of-19 FGs) arguably outplaying Clippers PF Blake Griffin (team-highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds). Neither team had a double-digit lead, and the game wasn’t over until Clippers PG Chris Paul was able to secure the rebound after Grizzlies C Marc Gasol missed with a chance to tie the game at 93 with 3.5 seconds remaining.
X factor: Clippers SG Jamal Crawford (13 points) had multiple moments where he showed his value. He lead a 2nd unit that outscored the Memphis bench 24-20. He knocked down a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the 3rd quarter. And he made a team-high 8-of-9 FTs on a night where the Clippers made 33-of-37 (89.2 percent). That’s the best FT shooting game the Clippers have had with at least 35 attempts since they made 38-of-41 (92.7 percent) in a 114-104 win vs the Jazz on February 22, 2008. The Clippers are 5-0 this season when Crawford scores in double figures.
— Law Murray
Tweet(s) Of The Game
Doc staggers his stars, fouls down 3. Maybe he is reading the internet?
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 10, 2015
Doc says he’s going to keep fouling up 3. “I’ve been burned more by 3’s than I have by that situation.”
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 10, 2015
Matt Barnes said he hasn’t spoken to Doc Rivers since he was traded from Clippers
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) November 9, 2015
End of Clippers/Grizzlies game reactions https://t.co/wFW5daWgDW
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) November 10, 2015
#ClipperNation showing love to former Clipper, @Matt_Barnes22. 👏🏽 https://t.co/Mpx2ffhxy7
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) November 10, 2015
Check Your Messages
Three Point Blues
So, when exactly do the Clippers plan on popping the cap off the third highest
3-point shooting offense? It seems that for the last six games, they’ve been
mostly struggling to twist the lid off that particular jar of pickles, with little luck.
Maybe they need a big, strong man to hand it to?
That can’t be it, though. After all, JJ Redick is a career 40% shooter from beyond
that arc, while Jamal Crawford and Chris Paul are at least hitting the league average.
While Lance Stephenson has been a substandard producer from that particular
portion of floor (barely kissing 30% – woof), he and Austin Rivers are getting good looks. And what’s the deal with Paul Pierce (cue the band, Jonathan Wolff)?
Through the first half, the shooting woes of the Clippers held up; Pierce missed from each
corner, JJ never even got an open look, and Crawford shoot an incredibly Crawford shot
at the end of the clock with Marc Gasol standing on top of him. At the end of of the half, the game
was still impossibly tight, with Murphy’s Law more likely to be cited at the end than Lawler’s.
While the Grit’n’Grind defense of the Grizzlies can be partially credited with keeping them in
the game, the Clippers’ inability to hit the long ball certainly seemed to be holding the home team
back from the sort of runaway first half starts they’ve become accustomed to in the
CP3 era.
Here’s the thing: you can’t be too worried about these guys. It’s a long season,
and regression to the mean is still a thing. Ship Gang is still represented by
some of the biggest shot-makers currently running the hardwood. But it’s been painful to
watch so far; let’s just hope the pressure tab gives before the struggle gets too embarrassing.
– Aaron Williams
Brain Freeze Anyone
The Grizzlies have an interesting team this season. On paper they’re still the pesky defensive team we’re used to. For the Clippers, the scouting report on them is pretty straightforward: Neutralize the two familiar bigs (Gasol/Randolph) in the paint to deflect pressure on Mike Conley to be the focal scoring component of what is – through seven games at least – the NBA’s worst offense in terms of putting points up. Memphis has no one remotely worthy of labeling an outside threat, so why not sag off and force the issue?
Playoff intensity is as good as it gets. But every game or two in a slugfest series will contain a dry, slow-it-down grinder where late game decision-making trumps over aesthetically pleasing fast breaks. There are always lessons to be learned, even from disgustingly sloppy, ugly games like this one. After both teams traded defensive blunders, the Grizzlies spotted the Clippers an extra brain freeze on defense, enough to let JJ Redick get loose for a three that flipped the game in the waning moments. Sometimes you win ugly – other times you get lucky the opponent has just enough confounding blunders that allow you the space to escape.
– Kaveh Jam
