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Grizzlies Top 5 Moments of the Decade

By Bailey Caldwell

Tony Allen Mike Conley Marc Gasol Zach Randolph Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Tony Allen Mike Conley Marc Gasol Zach Randolph Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images /

The 2011 Playoffs

This is a huge moment for so many reasons. This series put the Grizzlies on the map. With a 46-36 record, the Grizzlies came into the playoffs as the eighth seed. Their opponent was the 61-21 San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs were a dynasty, with multiple championships in recent history. Almost everyone expected them to handle the Grizzlies rather easily, but the Grizzlies had other plans.

After winning the first playoff game in franchise history in game one, the Spurs tied the series after Manu Ginobili returned for game two. The Grizzlies won the next two games at home. Game four went to overtime after Gary Neal tied it at the buzzer, and the Spurs won. Zach Randolph scored 31 in game six in Memphis to give the Grizzlies the upset and their first playoff series victory. It was the second time an eight seed had beaten a one seed.

The Grizzlies’ playoff run ended in the next round after taking the Kevin Durant-led Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games, but their new era was just beginning. This was simply their coming out party. The 2011 Playoffs put the league on notice, and the Grizzlies were never seen as underdogs in any of their following playoff match-ups.

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