- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Mike Conley will have his hands full with Chris Paul and the Clippers.
After playing the Game of the Year against the third-seeded Spurs Friday night, the Grizzlies return home for another huge one tonight against second-seeded Clippers.
As always — or, at least when I’m able — here are three thoughts:
1. Pack Your Hatred: When the Los Angeles Clippers last walked off the FedExForum floor, it was Game 7 of last spring’s first-round playoff series, and they’d just handed the Grizzlies the most bitter defeat in franchise history. The teams faced off again on opening night in Los Angeles, with the Clippers winning 101-92.
The showboating dunkbot Blake Griffin. The foot-stomping sideline defender Vinny Del Negro. The sketchy slumlord owner. The beach-chasing celebrity bench. The villainous genius of Chris “Point God” Paul. This, now, more than any other opponent, is the team Grizzlies fans love to loathe. As public address announcer Rick Trotter tweeted over the weekend in good-natured anticipation: “Pack your hatred.”
2. No Rudy Gay: The Clippers are one of two teams — along with the San Antonio Spurs — currently in the top five in both team offense and defense, but they’ve come down to earth just a little, going 3-3 since their season-best 17-game win streak.
