Grizzlies shake off slow start, injuries to reach playoffs only to lose 1st round in 7 games

Memphis Grizzlies head coach David Joerger shouts in the third quarter of Game 7 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 3, 2014. Oklahoma City won 120-109. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, left, forward Mike Miller, center, and center Marc Gasol, right, watch from the bench late in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 3, 2014. Oklahoma City won 120-109. Gasol led Memphis with 24 points. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

The Memphis Grizzlies put together one of the best finishing runs in the NBA to reach the postseason for a fourth straight season, and Dave Joerger had the best season of all the league's first-year coaches.

Now they must wait and see if they will be together for another playoff run.

The Grizzlies overcame a slow start and key injuries by grabbing the Western Conference's seventh seed. They finally ran out of comebacks in their first-round series to Oklahoma City with Mike Conley hobbled and Zach Randolph suspended for a 120-109 loss in Game 7 on Saturday night.

It wasn't the finish the Grizzlies wanted after advancing to their first Western Conference finals last year.

Now Randolph has a player option for next season, and the Grizzlies hope he returns.