The “growl towels” are neatly laid out across each seat at an already sold-out FedExForum. Creative homemade signs have been made. Tony Allen no doubt has his ‘gas up.’
Tonight, at 6:30 p.m., it’s on: Game 3, Grizzlies-Spurs.
There will be adjustments and counter-adjustments, but the biggest change from Game 2 to 3 will be venue.
The atmosphere tonight will be compared to that of the first Grizzlies playoff game, back in the Pyramid, when towels were also waved and Hubie Brown received his Coach of the Year award.
But that was about celebrating the moment and celebrating Hubie. Tonight will be about supporting the home team and trying to rattle the road team. Tonight, minds will be on winning — and not just this game. The atmosphere will have a harder edge.
Home court advantage tends to mean something in the NBA. Just look at the regular-season records of these two teams.
At home, the Spurs were 36-5. On the road, they were 26-15.
On the road, the Grizzlies were 16-25. Back in their building, they were 30-11.
What could home cooking mean for the Grizzlies?
