Tennessee...your Memphis Grizzlies are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history. I'm not ready to call them a team of destiny just yet, but it does appear that Memphis has caught the eye of the basketball Gods.
Just look at their playoff path....a road to redemption if you will.
There were two game 7's, two opponents, and two gut wrenching losses that haunted the Grizzlies franchise. Two years ago, the upstart Grizzlies won their first ever playoff series by knocking off number one seed San Antonio....setting up a second round match up with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies went on to lose game seven, and Cinderella went home without her prince.
Expectations were high for Memphis the following season. After all, leading scorer Rudy Gay was returning to the same lineup that came so close the previous year. Memphis had a great regular season, earning their first top four conference finish...and home court advantage against the upstart Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies went on to lose game 7...at home....ouch.
So where does fate land Memphis in the first round of this year's playoffs? Los Angeles. The Grizzlies went on to beat the Clippers, while becoming the first team in NBA history to lose the first two games of a playoff series...then win the next four by double digits.
Next stop on the road to redemption...Oklahoma City. The Grizzlies took care of the Thunder in five nail biter games.
Check...and...check.
Now that the road to redemption is complete...the team, the franchise, the city, and the state can enjoy the Western Conference Finals for what it is....a brand new experience.
And why can't the Grizzlies win eight more games? Somebody has to. follow @plcolter
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