2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 3: Cavaliers As Avengers, Parker’s Revival And ‘TAKE THAT FOR DATA’

“THEY NOT GON’ ROOK US”

The Memphis Grizzlies are down 2-0 in a series against a team that has swept them the last two times they’ve met in the playoffs. Aside from the first quarter of Game 1 and the third quarter of Game 2, in which they were only a +14, they’ve been outscored by a whopping 163-106 margin.

The Grizz are getting punked by a vastly superior team, even if they were able to slice that 26-point deficit down to four in the fourth quarter.

However, when your back’s against the wall and your team gets out-shot at the free throw line by Kawhi Leonard by himself, sometimes the officiating comes into question.

This time, Filburt from Rocko’s Modern Life was NOT having it:

“THEY NOT GON’ ROOK US.”

“TAKE THAT FOR DATA.”

The Grizzlies needed a fire lit under their asses, and head coach David Fizdale provided it. Say what you want about the officiating in Game 2, but the most important part of that whole tirade was uniting his team under an Us Against The World banner with, “My guys dug in that game and earned the right to be in that game and they did not even give us a chance.”

Fizdale has quickly established himself as one of the league’s up-and-coming coaches, which should be no surprise to those familiar with his work as a Miami Heat assistant. And yet, even as a rookie head coach, he’s showing wisdom beyond his years with that kind of veteran move.

Next: NBA Awards Season - Top 5 Coach Of The Year Candidates

It probably won’t turn this series around, and the Grizzlies’ long-term future is very much in doubt. What can we say? The Spurs are just too damn good. But the hefty fine that’s coming might be a little easier to stomach since Fizdale got more than his money’s worth.