Tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET the No. 5 seed Memphis Grizzlies will host the No. 4 seed Portland Trailblazers for Game 1 of a Western Conference playoffs matchup on TNT. Live stream the game free by clicking this link. Grizzlies fans can tune in to the radio broadcast on 92.9 FM ESPN, while Blazers fans may do likewise on Fox Sports 620.
The Blazers pulled off a shocker in Round 1 of last year's playoffs, but they were not up against a defensive grindhouse like the Memphis Grizzlies. For much of the year the Grizz were the No. 2 seed, but dropped from that slot during a late-season slide. That hasn't dampened the confidence of All-Star center Marc Gasol, however.
"I'm happy how the team is and even though we've had a lot of ups and downs and adversity and things that didn't go our way, it's time to put all the negative stuff aside," Gasol said. "Try to be positive and get ready for a really tough playoff series."
Head coach Dave Joerger addressed concerns that the Grizzlies may have throttled off the gas pedal down the stretch, and intend to turn up the intensity under the postseason spotlight.
"The thing about flipping switches is some people can do it, some people cannot," Joerger said. "But generally when you try to do it and do not have a consistency behind you, then it doesn't last very long. It can be short-lived."
Their defense must figure out how to deal with Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who has the size to match up with Memphis' bigs, but can also draw them away from the hoop with his jump shooting. There will also be a fierce point guard battle between Memphis' Mike Conley, and Portland's Damian Lillard.
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