NBA Playoffs 2013: Chris Paul’s buzzer beater gives Clippers 2-0 lead, Bulls even up series with Nets

Basically, he’s not unlike Rudy Gay ... who Memphis traded in January.

Dealing Z-Bo -- for talent, for cap space that can then be used on talent, for a pick who can hopefully develop quickly enough to keep Memphis relevant -- may become really attractive to a front office that has shown no hesitance in reforming the team how it sees fit. If the Grizzlies can’t turn around this series, that result could become more of a foregone conclusion as we approach trade season.

That’s the simple version of what happened on that last-second play. Here’s the video:

Now, here’s the more in-depth version.

Of course, watching to find out how he’d do it was fun, but he took over the game in the fourth quarter for the Clippers, first leading them to a lead as large as 12 points with under 10 minutes to go, then breaking two ties in the final 90 seconds of the game to give the Clippers a 2-0 lead as the series turns to Memphis.

Paul scored the Clippers’ final eight points over the game’s final four minutes, and each trip down the floor, his command and sure-handed presence seemed calming to the home team. He took over when the Clippers needed him to. Paul was 4-of-5 from the field on Los Angeles’ final seven possessions. His one miss was a desperate heave after a jump ball as the shot clock expired with 22 seconds to play.

Monday, the NBA announced that its assorted media did not feel Jamal Crawford was the best bench player in the country, and it wasn’t particularly close. J.R. Smith won by a relatively large margin. You could even give Jamal the apparent hanging chad accidental vote for Jordan Crawford, and he’s still quite a bit behind.

Those who voted are entitled to that opinion, and in fact, I’d agree with them -- I’m somewhat partial to the no-no-no-yes low-efficiency escapades of Mr. Smith. But one thing they can’t argue as that the Clippers bench crew, front to back, is the best in the league. It’s a fact that was on display Monday night as the Clips made moves to go up 2-0 against a Grizzlies squad that was hesitant to bring in non-starters, seemingly only doing so out of absolute necessity.

Memphis didn’t let the Clippers pull away like they did in Game 1 (the Clippers outscored Memphis 37-22 in the fourth Saturday to win, 112-91), but the Grizzlies ultimately couldn’t find the points to overcome their consistently marginal deficits. The Grizzlies took a 61-59 lead with about 6 1/2 minutes to play in the third quarter, but that would be their only lead of the second half.

Los Angeles called a 20-second timeout to set up the play at mid-court for the Clippers. Paul held the ball at the top of the key and took it to his right, letting go with just over a second to go. The ball banked in off the backboard, lit red, to give the Clippers the win.

Here’s video.

Look at you, referee guy, trying to get all fancy and walk backwards. Well maybe you should leave crazy stunts like walking backwards to the professional athletes next time.

Kenny Smith has a nasty handle. Don’t question why he’s just standing up and dribbling during TNT’s halftime show -- just sit back and admire the skills.

Previewing Game 2, SB Nation’s Drew Garrison found three keys to the game if Memphis wanted to even the series Monday night.

The most befuddling aspect of Memphis’ Game 1 performance was its job on the boards. The Clippers won the rebounding battle 47-23, and Memphis had a total of four offensive boards in the entire game. That’s no way to win a playoff game. The Clippers were still better on the boards in the first half Monday, but not by as wide a margin; Los Angeles was up 18-13 on the glass. Memphis still struggled under its own basket, though, with only one offensive board in the first half.

The Chicago Bulls were only up one at the half, but some strong bench play, stout defense, and a revived Joakim Noah allowed them to win 90-82 and even the series up 1-1 with Brooklyn.

The Bulls won in Bulls-esque fashion, namely, through defense. After Deron Williams ran roughshod in Game 1 with 22 points, he was able to find his teammates - 10 assists, eight in the first half, mainly to Brook Lopez - but he wasn’t able to do much in terms of scoring. He finished 1-for-9, clanging all five threes he took, struggling as the Bulls threw a variety of their guards - mainly a wily Kirk Hinrich - at him. Lopez had 14 points in the first half, but only managed seven in the second as Joakim Noah and Nazr Mohammed - yes, Nazr Mohammed - were effective. The duo played him tight in the paint and were more wary of his ability to step-out and hit 20-footers. Gerald Wallace, who had 14 points in Game 1, managed just two points on seven attempts Monday night.

We’re at halftime of Game 2 between the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls, and suffice it to say, its a closer affair than the first matchup. Saturday night, the Bulls turned the ball over seven times in the first half, leading to 14 Brooklyn points. Tonight, they have turned it over seven times again, but they have forced eight turnovers themselves, and Chicago leads 47-46 at the half. The lead comes mainly due to 20 points off the bench, with Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli coming in and hitting some key shots. It’s bench production that wasn’t there in Game 1.

We knew Noah would play 20-25 minutes Monday night - Wait, what? Tom Thibodeau knows what minutes limits are? - but after a sluggish 13-minute effort Saturday, it was tough to tell what type of Joakim we’d be getting.

Still, it’s a seven-game series, and there’s work to be done for Memphis. How can they turn it around? Let’s take a look at what the Grizzlies need to do to even up the series Monday night in Los Angeles.

Randolph needs to be willing to challenge the ball-handler here. The Grizzlies need to trust the help defender at the rim and can’t give up warm-up field goals. It’s a small adjustment for Randolph to move up a few feet to get into the “pocket” created for Bledsoe, but the Clippers can hit perimeter shots and will take advantage of a defense that dares them to do so.

Here’s the schedule for Monday including all of the TV information:

• Flannery: The pass Melo had to make