“Win or lose, this is one of the greatest games in NBA history.” That’s the text message I sent to a few of my friends at 12:25 a.m., just before the end of the second overtime of last night’s 133-123, triple overtime Thunder win over the Grizzlies in Game 4. Since “one of the greatest games in NBA history” is a pretty bold claim, allow me to defend it.
First, the game was in the playoffs, so the stakes are automatically higher. Second, it was a pivotal game in the series. The Grizzlies were desparate for a win to go up 3-1 while the Thunder knew it was crucial to tie the series at 2-2. Third, two miracle three-pointers extended the game into the first and second overtimes. Down by three with the clock running down in regulation, point guard Mike Conley hit a three with three seconds left. The Grindhouse exploded. In the first overtime, the Grizzlies were down three again when rookie point guard Greivis Vasquez leaned into OKC’s Russell Westbrook, trying to draw a foul. No foul was called, but Vasquez hoisted the off-balance shot anyway. It went in. The Grindhouse exploded. Fourth, last night’s game was only the sixth NBA playoff game to reach a third overtime, and this one happened in the most dramatic fashion.
I’m not going to provide an analysis of the game here, though. We lost the game for a myriad of reasons (turnovers, poor shot selection, poor inside defense, failing to draw a 6th foul on Westbrook, etc.) I want to focus on what it felt like to be inside the arena for such an incredible game.
The noise of the crowd, something announcers had touched on throughout the playoffs, is incredible in person. I knew it was going to be loud and raucous, but I wasn’t prepared for the extreme decibel levels I heard last night. I had never heard the Grindhouse louder than when we yelled for OKC’s Kendrick Perkins to miss his second of two free throws (which he did). Then Conley’s three at the end of regulation was the loudest I had ever heard. Then Vasquez’s miracle at the end of OT 1 was the loudest I had ever heard. Television doesn’t do the Memphis crowd justice. You have to be there.
As incredible as the game was, I thought it was over at the end of the second overtime. My view of Oklahoma City’s basket was slightly obscured by the backboard and I initially thought, therefore, that Westbrook’s leaning runner as time expired in double OT was good. I recoiled in horror and didn’t realize it had missed until Westbrook sank to the floor.
As the Thunder finally pulled away in the third overtime, I realized how emotionally spent I was. Since the 1:00 mark of regulation, I had experienced almost every emotion possible, from surprise to shock to anger to joy to disbelief to hatred to despondency to fear to hope to heartbreak to excitement to, finally, sadness. I doubt I will ever see another basketball game as good as last night’s. Even though we lost, I will be able to say “I was there.”
As the series moves back to Oklahoma, we Grizzlies fans have to remind ourselves that, as crushing as last night’s defeat was, the series is not over. In fact, it’s only tied. The next few games are going to be tough, no doubt. But if we believe, anything is possible. I’m still confident about the series. You should be too.
All heart, grit, grind,
Owen
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