The biggest concern tonight as the Grizzlies return home for an elimination Game 5 might be the general mood — on the court and in the stands. I’m concerned that complaints about scapegoating and various attempts to assign specific blame for team failings might suggest cracks in the team focus and chemistry. I also worry if the fans will really bring the heat tonight. Have a great couple of seasons erased the fickleness bred from the many bad seasons that have preceded it? Is the fan base that has sold out eight straight playoff games for real now or just along for the ride when times are good? Tonight will provide some answers on both of these subjects.
As for on-court specifics, here are five series factors I’ve been thinking about:
1. Two Stars Are Better Than None: The biggest difference between the Clippers and the Grizzlies? The Grizzlies worry about which player is going to take the big shot. The fans argue about it. It’s a hotly contested issue. The Clippers? They don’t really care who takes the big shot. They worry about getting the best shot. In Game 4, Chris Paul took over in the extra period with his own scoring, but that’s not always the case. He’s arguably the best crunch-time operator in basketball and every possession will start in his hands, but they don’t always end there. It might be a Nick Young open in the corner. It might be Blake Griffin or even Reggie Evans under the basket. Paul will get the ball to whoever has the best shot. It’s the way basketball is supposed to be played but rarely is when things get tight.
And yet, the Clippers execute this way with the luxury of one true superstar and another potentially emerging one.
