Clippers vs. Grizzlies Highlights: Comeback Proves Clippers Are Threat in West

The Los Angeles Clippers were giving their doubters plenty of ammo through three quarters on Sunday night, as it appeared claims that they were all flash and no substance had some legs.

However, a massive comeback in the fourth quarter illustrates why the Clippers won't be an easy out.

Down by 21 entering the final 12 minutes, it seemed like the Clippers would be best off resting their starters for Game 2. Instead, they started to out-hustle the Memphis Grizzlies, and it didn't take long for their hard work to pay off.

Most impressive was the team's play on the defensive end. The Clippers allowed just two points over the final 5:26, including a scoreless streak of nearly five minutes for Memphis that allowed the comeback attempt to gain traction.

It's never been an issue of talent for the Clippers on defense—they have more than enough athleticism to get stops—but rather effort. They showed how good they can be on that end of the floor when all five guys are giving 100 percent on every possession.

On the other end, it was the Chris Paul show. He assisted on four of the five buckets during the late run and nailed two key free throws to give Los Angeles the lead with 23 seconds to go. The Grizzlies simply didn't have an answer for the dynamic point guard.

The entire comeback was a prime example of what makes the playoffs so unpredictable. Memphis took its foot off the gas for a minute, and suddenly the entire game had changed. It doesn't take much for an explosive team like the Clippers to turn the tables.

Looking at the big picture, the victory should serve as a wake-up call to the Clippers. They won't be able to dig out of a huge hole every night, but now they understand they have what it takes to win a vital road game. If they bring their A-game, they are extremely dangerous.

With Paul running the show, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan making plays in the paint and several depth players emerging at the right time, it's impossible to count the Clippers out. The Grizzlies found that out the hard way.

When you consider two of the Western Conference's top contenders are aging teams in the San Antonio Spurs and rival Los Angeles Lakers, the Clippers' youth and athletic ability make them a tricky opponent.

While they'll have to play better than Game 1 in order to make some noise, a performance like that makes it difficult to count them out.