NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Clippers vs. Grizzlies Highlights Day 2 of Postseason

The Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzlies series represents the best chance for competitive and highlight-laced basketball.

The other games on the playoff schedule will be entertaining, but this series has a chance to be very memorable, if not for the hard-fought action, then for the spectacular plays that could potentially come from the series' stars.

These two teams are young and dynamic. They have an opportunity to be in the thick of things in the Western Conference for the next five years.

Their cores are young and talented enough to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder—the other team in the conference that figures to succeed for a while.

The Grizzlies have built on their success from last season. They finished fourth in the Southwest Division in 2011, but they upset the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. 

The momentum has carried over to and through this past regular season.

They won 46 games and barely made the playoffs last season. This year, in the truncated 66 game season, the Grizzlies won 41 games and finished second in the division.

That is an improvement of winning percentage from .561 to .621.

The Clippers' resurgence has been keyed by Blake Griffin's continued development, and the acquisition of Chris Paul.

The Clippers were 40-26 and they finished just one game behind the LA Lakers in the Pacific Division.

The average age on both rosters is under 28. That would lead you to believe they are both on the upswing. 

Then of course, there is the commercial value.

Griffin and Rudy Gay not only put up strong numbers (Griffin 20.7 PPG, 11 RPG; Gay 19 PPG, 6.4 RPG), but they can make a screen-saver out of opponents on a whim.

Because of Blake's prowess as a dunker, he has earned the tag of NBA's No .1 soul snatcher. In turn, teams have taken to fouling him hard to discourage humiliation.

Could these tactics lead to some chippy moments during the series?

I would say that is a safe bet. The Clippers and Blake are tired of this tactic, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of nasty exchanges in situations like these.

This series is going to come down to toughness, who will back down on the inside and who can execute late in the game.

We will get our first glimpse at what I believe will be a seven-game series tonight. I can't wait to see how it unfolds.

It's the truth, drink it straight

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