'Who the f**k told you you was Arvydas Sabonis?' - Tony Allen on when Lionel Hollins tore into the Grizzlies' starting five one by one

The rivalry between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012 and 2013 was contentious, and it came to a hilt in the NBA Playoffs, where they met in the first round for consecutive seasons. In 2012, the Chris Paul-led Clippers won a hard-fought, seven-game showdown, and the Grizzlies were looking for payback the following season.

However, things looked bleak for Memphis as they fell behind in the series, 2-0. The Game 2 loss was soul-crushing as CP3 banked in a floater right before the buzzer to give L.A. a 93-91 victory. Heading back home, the Grizz needed a spark, and according to defensive ace Tony Allen, their head coach, Lionel Hollins, gave it to them with a dressing-down so fierce it left TA raring to go through a brick wall.

Tony knew it was coming

Heading to their practice, the 6'4" guard from Oklahoma State knew they were in for a rough practice when Hollins abruptly halted their film-viewing session and ordered everyone to go to the hard court. As soon they were all on the floor, Lionel immediately targeted Allen, who was tasked with defending "CP" on the final play of Game 2 but failed to keep the "Point God" from getting to his spot and scoring the game-winning bucket.

"Before we even grab a basketball—the first thing he say was, 'Where Tony Allen?'" the six-time All-Defensive Team member shared. "He looked dead at me. He said, 'Man, fu** the game-winner that Chris Paul hit on you. They not even sticking you. Do something.' I'm like, 'Damn.' So I'm like, 'You just going to single me out?'"

But before Allen could finish his thoughts, Hollins had already moved on to his next target: All-Star power forward Zach Randolph.

"Then he look dead at Z-Bo. He like, 'Z-Bo, get a fu****g rebound that matter. Quit telling Mike to move out to get rebounds!'" Tony recalled.

At this point, "The Grindfather" knew their head coach was gunning for all their heads.

"He looked dead at Marc and said, 'Marc, who the fu** told you you was Arvydas Sabonis? Get your ass in the paint and make some points,'" Allen remarked.

Finally, Lionel came for the Grizzlies' point guard, Mike Conley. And apparently, the coach saved his best zinger for last.

"He looked dead at Mike Conley and told Mike Conley, 'Hey, Mike Conley, you know what happens to pu****s?' They get fu***d!’” he exclaimed.

Hollins put the battery in their backs

As harsh as Lionel's words were, that was what the Grizzlies needed to hear at that point. Down 2-0 to a Clippers squad loaded with talent, Memphis knew they had their work cut out for them, and they responded by winning the next four games by double-digits to reach the Western Conference Semis.

Allen credited their coach for being frank enough to give them the necessary kick in the butt they needed to step up their game.

"That's that tough love I've been looking for. That's the fu****g tough love I've been looking for. Because now, I could go 100%. I go 100% for you, coach. I can run through a wall. I could dive, man. I could jump through this fu****g man check-in table. 'What you want me to do, coach?' I'm ready to do that for you because you kept it real," Tony said.

The Grizzlies ousted the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semis, 4-1, but their Cinderella-like run through the postseason ended in the Western Conference Finals at the hands of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard, and the San Antonio Spurs.