Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
After having a bit of a down season statistically for the Memphis Grizzlies this season, power forward Zach Randolph has turned it on in the playoffs and has begun to dominate the Los Angeles Clippers in their first round series.
Randolph averaged just 15.4 points this year, a noticeable drop off from the 20+ points per game he averaged in four of the last seven seasons. But after the Grizzlies lost the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, Randolph has responded with two monster efforts and scored 27 in game three and then following up that performance with 24 points in game four in Memphis to bring the series back even at two games a piece.
Although Randolph is at a clear athletic disadvantage in this series against the Clippers duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Randolph has used his craftiness and touch around the basket to score at will and frustrate Los Angeles’ big men. In the two games in Memphis, Randolph is shooting 20-35 from the field (57.1%) and has helped thee Grizzlies establish more of a pace that fits their style of play.
Randolph will need to carry over his excellent play at home to Staples Center for game six. Memphis doesn’t have many players that can score a ton of points after then traded Rudy Gay‘s offense for the defensive abilities of Tayshaun Prince, so the Grizzlies will need all the scoring they can squeeze out of their star.
If the Grizzlies are going to win on the road, it will be largely in part to Randolph carrying them offensively. Memphis hangs it hat on their ability to shut down opposing offenses better than any other team in the NBA, but they will need someone to do the heavy lifting on their end of the court. Zach Randolph needs to be just that player.
