The Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies will tip off tonight already having spoken of how well each team knows each other.
One of the question’s for tonight’s Game 2 at Staples Center (Prime Ticket, TNT) is whether we’ll see more of the below-the-bucket battle between Blake Griffin and Zach Randolph.
Both power forwards played only 25 minutes because they were limited by foul trouble. Randolph scored 13 points and had four rebounds and Griffin was held to 10 points and five rebounds before fouling out.
“They got some foul trouble as well, so that’s just part of the process,” Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said of the physical battle. “It’s hard to ref. You’ve just got to make sure it’s clean, above-board and if guys are competing at a high level, that’s what the playoffs are about.
“Blake is incredibly athletic and Zach is good with hand-to-hand combat underneath the basket. I thought Blake in Game 1 did well, but it’s a challenge every night. You’re talking about top players in the league playing at a high level.”
The starting lineups for both teams are the same from Game 1. And both teams are hoping for more production from a starter this time around; Center DeAndre Jordan had only three points for the Clippers and forward Tayshaun Prince had only two for Memphis.