NBA Playoffs 2012: Why Memphis Grizzlies Will Fall to the Los Angeles Clippers

The Memphis Grizzlies looked like they were coasting to an easy win on Sunday, but ended up blowing a 27 point lead to the Los Angeles Clippers. If the Grizzlies fans were stunned by this loss, they will continued to be stunned because the Grizzlies are a choke job waiting to happen.

The next few slides will outline some key factors into why the Grizzlies won’t get out the first round of the playoffs.

The 27-Point Comeback

The Memphis Grizzlies gave up a 27-point lead in Game 1, marking one of the greatest comebacks in playoff history. There are so many problems that will continue to haunt the Grizzlies in this first-round matchup.

A comeback like this is always going to be in the minds of both teams throughout the series.

For the Clippers, it means that a lead by Memphis is never too big to overcome. The Clippers were down by 21 in the fourth on the road and still came back to win. This does nothing but give the Clippers momentum going into Game 2 on the road again.

Now its goes all down hill for the Grizzlies as they enter Game 2. Giving up a lead like that at home is always a heartbreak. Their confidence is shot right now after doing no wrong for three quarters, then having no answer in the fourth. This is going to have them thinking twice for the rest of the season. This loss is going to be in the head of many at the FedEx Forum.

Zach Randolph Is a Nonfactor

Zach Randolph was supposed to be the X-factor in this series, but in the first game, he was a nowhere to be found. The only time that Randolph made an impact on the game was when he did push-ups after going down hard in the first half.

With the Clippers having two explosive big men on the block with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, its important that Randolph becomes more of a factor on the block alongside Marc Gasol. This is a key matchup that the Grizzlies have to win.

This is Randolph's first real test since he returned after missing 38 games with an MCL tear. The rust was evident because he only had six points and eight rebounds.

Nick Young Steps Up

The last person that you thought you would see in a playoff game is Nick Young.

Yes, the same Nick Young who was part of some of the worst plays in NBA history with the Washington Wizards.

Nick Young showed everybody why he is in the NBA and stepped up big time in the first game of the playoffs for the Clippers. Young led the comeback off the bench with Caron Butler going out with a broken hand in the third quarter. Young was hot behind the arc, which led to 19 of his points and a team high for the Clippers.

With Caron Butler out for the rest of the playoffs, Young's role is going to increase. If the Grizzlies continue to let Nick Young come off the bench and be a factor like this it's going to be a long series.

Home-Court Advantage

This is the first time that the Clippers have been in the postseason since 2006, so it's a pretty big deal in Los Angeles.

With the Grizzlies dropping Game 1, the Clippers now have home-court advantage. This is very pivotal in the playoffs when the games get close.

With the third, fourth and sixth (if needed) game in L.A., expect the Staples Center to be jammed-packed with energy. The Grizzlies have already experienced the Staples Center atmosphere this season and didn't fair too well, losing both games.

One alley-oop from Chris Paul to Blake Griffin can cause an explosion in the Staples Center.

Chris Paul for MVP

Chris Paul has been everything that the Clippers envisioned him to be when they traded for him earlier this season.

In his debut playoff game with Clippers, he continued to prove why he is one of the top guards in the league. Down by 21 in the fourth quarter Paul begged his coach to put him back into the game and everything else became history.

Paul was the floor general on the court for the Clippers with 11 assists and 14 points, a tough matchup for the younger Mike Conley. With playoffs experience, Paul knows everything it takes to advance to the next round and finally has key pieces to do it with.

The Clippers are going to go as far as CP3 can take them, and after Sunday's game, it looks like the sky is the limit in this series.