The Grizzles

The Grizzles beat the Spurs in Game 1 here a couple of nights ago.  Wait what?? Yeah the GRIZZLES won a playoff game.  After losing 12 consecutive playoff games and being sweep 3 times in a row, this could be the year that the Grizzles finally make a run in the playoffs.  The San Antonio Spurs, being the number 1 seed in the West, seemed to be good enough to sweep the Memphis Grizzles, the number 8 seed, again for the second time.  Not this time.  The Grizzled needed a late 3 point basket by Shane Battier to win the game and win their first playoff game in franchise history.  This may only be one win out of a seven game series, but this win is bigger for the actual city of Memphis than anything else.  The Grizzles, being over-shadowed by the Memphis Tigers, finally have a legit chance of winning a playoff series and making a name for themselves.  They have a very good chance of beating the number one seeded Spurs after already winning one game in San Antonio.  Most people thought there was no chance the Grizzles would even make the playoffs after their star Rudy Gay went down with a knee injury and was out for the season.  But, look at them know as they are in a the playoffs and a one game lead on the Spurs.  It will be exciting to see if they can continue this good span of basketball and win their first playoff series in franchise history.

OHH The Chicago Bulls!!

As the Chicago Bulls are about to play their 3rd game vs. the Indiana Pacers here in the first round of the playoffs, Derrick Rose has emerged as one of the greatest point guards in the league.  He is the front runner  for the greatest award in the NBA, the Most Valuable Player.  About halfway through the season, people began to see and believe that Rose could win the award and his numbers were showing it.  As he averaged about 26 points per game, the Bulls were emerging as a contender for the top seed in the East.  Rose has played spectacular in the first two games vs. the Pacers and has arguably been the reason why they have won the games the way they did.  His quickness and leadership on the court has developed quicker than any other point guard in the NBA as this is his 3rd year in the league.  After seeing his ability to break down defenses as they come at him with double teams, reporters are placing him in the same picture as Michael Jordan when he led the Bulls to a Championship not too long ago.  This is a huge statement to make because not even Kobe Bryant or LeBron James has been compared to Jordan in the playoffs.  The way he has been the no doubt go-to scorer for his team makes him like Jordan was back in the day.  Most people think Rose, 22, will eventually screw up somewhere and not be able to lead his team the way he needs to, but with averaging 36 points and 7 assists in the first two games vs. the Pacers, it doesn't look like he is slowing down to me.  The Bulls as a team, show more heart and passion than any other team that I know of.  They don't blow out teams as the Lakers and Celtics do, but they find a way to win and Rose is a big part of that.