With a win on Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies earned their first trip to the Western Conference finals in franchise history. Memphis clinched their third successful playoff series with a 4-1 game advantage over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"This is the first time, so it definitely means a lot. I'm happy, but we've still got work to do," Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph told ESPN. "I want to win a ring."
The Grizzlies were successful in an 88-84 win on Wednesday night and the entire series against Oklahoma City similar to how they've played all season, with hard-nosed defense. Memphis, who ranked No. 1 in the NBA defensively this past season, was able to pressure Thunder star Kevin Durant, one of the top scorers in the NBA.
Memphis has also benefited from strong play from a core group. The team that garnered doubt after trading leading scorer Rudy Gay to Toronto earlier this season has seen productivity from multiple players.
On Wednesday, the Grizzlies benefited from double-double performances from Zach Randolph (28 points and 14 rebounds) and Mike Conley (13 points and 11 assists), while Tony Allen and Marc Gasol also scored in double figures.
While the Grizzlies have seen multiple individual success scoring, it is their defense that is their true calling card. While Marc Gasol was named the 2013 NBA defensive player of the year, his teammates Tony Allen (first-team guard) and Mike Conley (second-team guard) were both also voted to the NBA first and second all-defensive teams.
"We're trying to do something really special. We want to go as far as we can go," coach Lionel Hollins said. "To get there, we had to get through Oklahoma City. And now, we have to get through either Golden State or San Antonio to get further."
The Grizzlies will await the winner of the series between the Warriors and Spurs for their upcoming Western Conference finals matchup. San Antonio currently holds a 3-2 advantage over Golden State.
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