Mike Conley providing genuine spark for Memphis
Mike Conley is a very good player, but also an injured one, hobbled by a sprained right foot. So it was a pleasant surprise to see him score 16 points in just 24 minutes of action during Memphis' Game 1 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Normally, a point guard of Conley's stature would be getting roasted for finishing a playoff game with only one assist, but these were special circumstances. As Bleacher Report's Alec Nathan wrote:
"It would have been understandable for Conley to come out reluctant to change speeds on his gimpy foot and settle for jump shots, but settling wasn't in his game plan. Instead, Conley attacked, attacked and attacked some more against the defensively deficient Damian Lillard."
This was the exact thing Memphis needed to see. If Conley gets healthier as the playoffs roll on, the rest of the Western Conference should definitely watch out.
(h/t: Bleacher Report)
