Sunday, May 8, 2011

Grizzlies v Thunder 05-07-11 ... Playoffs Round 2 Game 3

Charles and I decided to get tickets for the Memphis Grizzlies Round Two Game Three - the first home game of the series - against the Oklahoma City Thunder.



It was a 4:00 game, so we decided to head up early and have lunch. Since it was a white out game, Charles and I put on our white, and before we left, we got Toula in the Grizzlies spirit too...After lunch, we stopped by the Oak Court Mall, and since we were close to Gigi's cupcakes...

Charles stopped and bought one for me...

The Mother's Day one was so pretty and, of course, delicious!

We then were on our way to the FedEx Forum. We got there about an hour and a half prior to game time, and the crowds were already electric outside the Forum...

Charles and I found our seats, complete with white t-shirts and Grizz towels...
and put our t-shirts on...

and made sure that our Grizz towels waved properly!

Our seats were great! In our usual section but on the top row of the lower level...

Charles, unknown to me, had brought his headband to the game!


We were so excited to see the Grizzlies in the playoffs...

We first, though, had to watch the Thunder warm-up...

and although I was hoping that they would lose, I was excited to see Kevin Durant...

It didn't take too long for the Grizzlies to take the floor for warm-ups...

We all got to our feet when they came out!!

Even the warm-ups were exciting...

During the warm-ups...

we took a pre-game picture...and settled in...


to watch how the Grizzlies were shooting...

There were a lot of signs at the game...

The warm-ups were finally over...

and we joined the Mid-South Navy Band in singing the National Anthem...

The Grizzlies were announced...

and we all got on our feet and got loud for the Grizzlies!

The mascot got us all to wave our Grizzlies towel...and then it was time... for tip off...


Once the game started, the crowd got really excited. However, it took a while for the first basket.


Even though the Grizzlies were playing good defense, the Thunder were hitting and went up.

Marc Gasol made some good shots...

other players did too, but the Grizzlies started off a little slow...

Some bench players came in and gave the Grizzlies a spark!

Haddadi got some good minutes giving us rebounds and free throws...

and the first quarter ended with a spectacular shot right at the buzzer which gave the Grizzlies the advantage and earned a "great play" re-play!

We had some fun people sitting around us, so we were all high-fiving and jumping and yelling!

Before the second quarter, we were entertained by some amazing tumbling...

The second quarter was underway with Battier and Randolph in the line-up... Z-Bo...and Darrell Arthur...



and the rest of the team continued to play hard.


During a time out, there was a contest to make a free throw and win free tots from Sonic. The announcer had 2 contestants but pulled a third contestant from the audience. That third contestant turned out to be Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway!

The teenage boy sitting beside me was just amazed! Of course, he made the shot...


The Grizzlies came back onto the floor...

and continued having to try to beat not only the Thunder... but also the refs. They made numerous really horrible calls throughout the game.


Despite the bad calls, Shane Battier...


Mike Conley...

and the rest of the Grizzlies continued to play determined! The Grizzlies went into half-time with some points to make up.


The Mid-South Navy Band provided the half-time entertainment...

It was quickly time for warm-ups again...

and we got a really good view of the Grizzlies warm-up...

The warm-ups didn't last too long...

and then it was time for the second half!

The Grizzlies came out playing strong...

and despite the refs continuing to make bad calls, we actually were able to get to the line...

a couple of times...

Z-Bo and Gasol continued to make free-throws, but they along with the rest of the team missed several more free-throws than they had in previous games.


The crowd was in the game the entire time, but the longer the second quarter went, the louder and more into the game the crowd got!

The Grizz made some good shots down the stretch and played good defense and at the end of regulation, the game was tied...

The Grizzlies took the tip-off...

and continued to make shots and play good defense! I think everyone in the Forum could have made the Tony Allen Cheer Cam...

because we were all really into the game - yelling, cheering and waving our towels!


As the seconds ticked off the clock, the louder we got...

The Grizzlies were sent to the line...

and Z-Bo continued to come through...

Even though the Thunder tried to mount a come back, the Grizzlies held them...

and the Grizzlies WON!!!

The final score: 101 - 93!

The Forum... just erupted!!


We were so excited!!


Everyone was so glad that the Grizzlies came back to win! No one wanted to leave...

so we all stayed through the post game interviews...

to continue to celebrate!

That celebration carried through the concourse and out the doors of the Forum!


We had the best time! I am so glad that Charles and I were able to witness such an exciting Grizzlies win!!