After taking an early 2-0 lead in the series, the Los Angeles Clippers have watched their opponents the Memphis Grizzlies fight their way back and now a crucial Game 5 Tuesday night is a must win for both if either want to take control.
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Via ESPN:
"Tomorrow's the biggest game of the season for us. We've got to win this game," All-Star point guard Chris Paul said Monday at the team's Playa Vista practice facility.
"We hoped to go undefeated throughout this whole thing, but this definitely makes us stronger. Now it's a three-game series. So we've got to come out with more energy, obviously, and with the same intensity in Game 5 as we did in Game 1 and 2. We've got to fight and scratch and play the way we know we can."
That will require a dramatic reversal by the Clippers, who were outplayed at both ends of the court by Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Co. during Games 3 and 4. The 21-point rout on Saturday that evened the series at two games apiece represented the most lopsided postseason victory in the history of the Grizzlies franchise.
But the Clippers don't feel the Grizzlies have gotten under their skin and into their heads. All they have to do is remind themselves of last season, when they beat the Grizzlies in the opening round with a Game 7 triumph at Memphis.
"That hasn't been the issue. The issue's been the execution," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They've executed better than us the last couple of games at both ends, as we did the first couple of games. That's why it's all tied up. It really comes down to rebounding the basketball, second-chance points, not turning it over, and making plays in the fourth quarter."
"It starts with us on the defensive end -- having a physical presence there, making sure where our coverage is, and just locking in and having the intensity level go up as the game goes on," Del Negro added.
