Spurs vs. Grizzlies Previews

[duncan228]

Memphis (4-11) at San Antonio (8-6) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2008112824&prov=ap)
Game info: 8:30 pm EST Fri Nov 28, 2008
TV: Away: SportSouth Home: FSN-Southwest
By Justin Einhorn

Manu Ginobili’s return may have been a spark for the San Antonio Spurs, but it’s a much lesser known bench player who seems to be providing a bigger one.

Rookie George Hill looks to continue his surge on Friday, as do the Spurs when they host the stumbling Memphis Grizzlies.

Hill was selected 26th overall by San Antonio in this year’s draft, but was virtually unknown to most NBA fans because he played collegiately at IUPUI of the Summit League. His playing time was limited until Tony Parker’s injury, along with the absence of Ginobili, prompted coach Gregg Popovich to insert Hill into the starting lineup earlier this month.

In his sixth and most recent game as a starter, Hill scored 20 points against Denver on Nov. 19, and he hasn’t slowed down since returning to the bench for the last three games. He’s averaged 20.7 points in that span—the Spurs (8-6) have won each game—and the 6-foot-2 Hill had his first double-double Wednesday with 19 points and 11 rebounds in a 98-88 victory over Chicago.

“Anytime you get into a rhythm and start to get comfortable, that’s a huge step,” Hill said. “I think that I can only get better in this program.”

Hill is averaging 11.7 points to rank eighth in the NBA among rookies.

“George has had a good season for a rookie that is learning his position, and coming in and having the pressure on learning that position, I think that he’s done fantastic,” Popovich said.

Ginobili also has played well in two games since rejoining the Spurs after offseason ankle surgery.

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year had 12 points and four rebounds in 12 minutes Monday in a 94-81 win at Memphis, then had 15 points, four assists and three boards in 18 minutes Wednesday. Ginobili has shot 8-of-12 from the field.

“He’s an amazing player,” Hill said. “I asked him if he played soccer or learned his moves from a DVD or something and he said it was just natural. I’ve been spending time trying to get steps like him, so I guess I’m going to have to take ballroom dancing or something, because I need those steps in my game.”

While San Antonio has won six of seven after a 2-5 start, Memphis (4-11) has gone in the other direction.

The Grizzlies have lost eight of nine and have been particularly bad on defense lately, allowing their last three opponents to shoot a combined 52 percent.

“We are losing games and it is getting tougher every night, but we have to pick it up somehow,” said rookie center Marc Gasol, who has scored in double figures in eight straight games.

The other first-year player showing a lot of promise for Memphis is O.J. Mayo, who tops all rookies with 20.7 points per game. He’s averaged 23.7 in the last three games but has shot 2-of-11 from 3-point range.

“We have enough talent to compete in this league night-in-and-night-out,” Mayo said. “You need to continue to play hard and compete hard. You never know what can happen.”

Rudy Gay led the Grizzlies with 27 points in a 117-100 loss at Utah on Wednesday, two nights after being held to 13 against San Antonio.

The Spurs have won 11 of 13 versus the Grizzlies and seven straight meetings in San Antonio.

Notes:

Grizzlies:

The Grizzlies have lost four in a row and are 1-7 on the road. ... The Grizzlies have lost eight straight to Utah and nine of their past 11. ... Memphis' last win in Utah came on January 24, 2007. ... G O.J. Mayo, who leads all rookies in scoring with 18.9 points per game, scored 20 points or more for the 10th time. G-F Rudy Gay accomplished the same feat on Wednesday. ... Both Gay and Mayo have scored in double figures in all 15 of Memphis' games.

Spurs:

G Manu Ginobili scored 15 points in just over 17 minutes in his second game back after having offseason ankle surgery. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is pleased with his progress. "So far, so good," Ginobili said. "I didn't think I'd be doing so well so early." ... The Spurs could get G Tony Parker back soon as well. Parker, who has missed the last nine games with a high ankle sprain, looked pretty comfortable during pregame warmups as he ran timed sprints while dribbling the ball the length of the court. ... The Spurs, which started the season 0-3, have put together their second three-game winning streak.

Team Stat Leaders

Points

O.J. Mayo Mem 20.7
Tony Parker SA 27.4

Rebounds

Marc Gasol Mem 7.3
Tim Duncan SA 9.9

Assists

Mike Conley Mem 3.9
Tony Parker SA 5.8

Injuries

Memphis

No injuries reported.

San Antonio

T. Parker Ankle

Standings

Team Standings W L Pct. GB L 10 Strk

Memphis 5th Southwest 4 10 .286 5 2-8 Lost 3

San Antonio 3rd Southwest 7 6 .538 2 7-3 Won 2

[Spur-Addict]

I'm interested in seeing if Thomas can follow up with another decent performance.

[Texas_Ranger]

Go Spurs Go!!...Lets extend our winning streak!
Let Hill shine again!

[duncan228]

Friday: Spurs (8-6) vs. Grizzlies (4-11) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Friday_Spurs_8-6_vs_Grizzlies_4-11.html)
Express-News

Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - GRIZZLIES

PG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 11 Mike Conley (6-1, 2nd yr)
Mason made his first five 3-point attempts in Monday’s win over Grizzlies.

SG - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 32 O.J. Mayo (6-4, 1st yr)
Mayo leads all rookies in scoring, averaging 20.7 PPG.

SF - 12 Bruce Bowen (6-7, 13th yr) - 22 Rudy Gay (6-8, 3rd yr)
Gay has made only 17 of 65 3-point attempts.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 00 Darrell Arthur (6-9, 1st yr)
In Wednesday’s win over the Bulls, Duncan scored 18 of his 21 points in the first half.

C - 7 Fabricio Oberto (6-10, 4th yr) - 33 Marc Gasol (7-1, 1st yr)
Gasol ranks seventh among rookie scorers, averaging 12.0 points per game.

SPURS RESERVES

18 Blake Ahearn, G, 6-2, 2nd yr
15 Matt Bonner, F, 6-10, 5th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
35 Anthony Tolliver, C, 6-8, 1st yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr

GRIZZLIES RESERVES

7 Greg Buckner, G, 6-4, 10th yr
3 Javaris Crittenton, G, 6-5, 2nd yr
55 Marko Jaric, G, 6-7, 7th yr
1 Kyle Lowry, G, 6-0, 3rd yr
31 Darko Milicic F/C, 7-0, 6th yr
13 Quinton Ross, G/F, 6-6, 5th yr
21 Hakim Warrick, F, 6-9, 4th yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Grizzlies: Marc Iavaroni

INJURIES

Spurs: Tony Parker (left ankle sprain) is out.

Grizzlies: None.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Parker, Ahearn, Ian Mahinmi.

Grizzlies: Hamed Haddadi, Antoine Walker.

NOTABLE
Spurs have won six of their last seven games, including a 94-81 victory over Grizzlies on Monday, in Memphis. ..... Grizzlies have lost four straight. ..... Tonight’s game is first of a tough back-to-back set for Spurs, with road games against Rockets on back end.

- Mike Monroe

[Frenchise player]

I wonder if Pop is starting Mason-Finley in order for Hill and Manu to have playing time together. It could set up a starting backourt of Parker-Mason and then Hill-Manu

[milkyway21]

The other first-year player showing a lot of promise for Memphis is O.J. Mayo, who tops all rookies with 20.7 points per game. He’s averaged 23.7 in the last three games but has shot 2-of-11 from 3-point range.



G George Hill vs G O.J Mayo :hungry

[duncan228]

Gasol name becoming synonymous with grit, tough play in Memphis (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/28/gasol-redefined/)
By Scott Cacciola

Michael Oher sat courtside at FedExForum when the Grizzlies were host to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 3, and he watched one player with particular interest. This was Marc Gasol's third NBA game, and the rookie center had impressed with his tenacity on defense and his polish on offense. But nobody expected him to erupt for 27 points and 16 rebounds against the Warriors.

The performance evoked bad memories for Oher, a senior left tackle at Ole Miss. He thought back to matching up against Gasol in a high school state tournament basketball game five years ago. Oher had been given specific instructions by his coaches at Briarcrest Christian: Be physical and push Gasol around. It was pointless. Gasol shot over and around Oher, and Lausanne Collegiate School led by 19 at the half.

"Marc killed us," said , Oher's father and a Briarcrest assistant at the time.

But as dominant as Gasol was in his former life at Lausanne, those who knew him then appreciate the difference between what he was and what he has become. He is no longer the rolly-poly 7-footer who, rather than venture inside the paint, chose to hoist 22-footers. No longer the jumbo-size novelty act who was imported from Spain by mere circumstance. And above all, no longer known simply as Pau's little brother.

If Memphis is the sort of blue-collar, hard-scrabble city where grit matters more than polish, then there is something appealing about the strange story of Marc Gasol, who is as much revered here as his brother is now reviled. One month into the NBA season, he has emerged as one of the top rookies in the league, averaging 12 points on 58-percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who play at San Antonio tonight.

"He's a lottery pick," said Tuohy, the Grizzlies' television analyst, "and the Grizzlies didn't have to use a lottery pick to get him."

Gasol, 23, took the long road back to Memphis, spending five years in Spain before Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace brokered the deal in February that secured his rights from the Lakers in exchange for his brother, whose relationship with the city had frayed. Marc Gasol signed in July.

"I just wanted to play," he said. "And I knew I could help this team."

He landed at Lausanne in 2001 because his family had moved to Germantown to provide a support system for Pau, a rookie with the Grizzlies. But from the time he arrived, he spoke openly with Jason Peters, then the coach at Lausanne, about his own goal of reaching the NBA. Peters could tell that Gasol was gifted, a 7-footer with guard skills he had developed as a youngster in Spain.

Those who saw him at Lausanne might have been struck by his willingness -- no, his eagerness -- to drift outside and launch 3-pointers. There were games when he almost seemed allergic to the lane. Was he soft? Avoiding contact? Not at all, according to Peters. This was all by design, a grand scheme.

"He was so dominant inside just because he was so big," Peters said. "So we thought it would be great for the development of his game to pop out to the perimeter and look for opportunities to shoot. Because he was such an adept shooter."

As a junior, he averaged 24.5 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.6 blocks. These were monster numbers, to be sure, but he left some opponents less than mesmerized by his abilities. He bore more than a slight resemblance to a parade float, checking in at somewhere around 320 pounds, way more beef than brawn.

"He was much chubbier than he is now," said Brian Trautschold, a senior at Tennessee who matched up against Gasol as a 6-foot power forward at St. Benedict. "He was a great shooter, that's the main thing I remember about him. He would just stand at the top of the key and shoot 3s. But he would jog down the court real slow. And to be totally honest, I never would have pegged him as a starting center for an NBA team."

His assessment that Gasol looked as if his "feet were stuck in cement" was echoed by former St. Benedict teammate John Nollner, who said Gasol got "maybe 12 inches off the floor" whenever he jumped. But his size created issues for defenders.

"We had a guy named Jake Bennett who guarded him quite a bit," Nollner said. "He was 6-5, and he did a decent job. But Gasol must have outweighed him by about 120 pounds. It was like there were two of him out there."

Some of what he did out there might have been unorthodox, but it was effective. As a senior, he averaged 26.2 points, 13.1 rebounds and 5.9 blocks.

"There were a lot of skeptics who said he wasn't athletic enough, said he wouldn't fit into an up-and-down game," Peters said. "But he knew his better days were ahead of him. I never really gathered that he got frustrated with that."

Around the gym, his teammates and coaches had taken to calling him the "Big Burrito." Gasol had a sense of humor about it. He once came over to the bench during the middle of a game and, draping an arm around his coach, said, "Hey, Little Nacho ..."

He was the type of kid who would show up for practice wearing knee-high socks and his shorts inside-out. The type of kid who, when asked by a reporter if he had a girlfriend, would respond: "Girlfriends." He was big and funny and charming and charismatic.

The Big Burrito's big dilemma was whether to play college basketball or return to Spain, where he could develop as a pro. After meeting with John Calipari, he considered playing at the University of Memphis. But he had gained some insight from watching his brother go through the process and felt that Europe, where he could focus his energy on getting into shape and honing an NBA-ready game, was his best option. Gasol said Calipari was tough to turn down.

"But I just had a feeling I had to go back," Gasol said. "I wasn't in shape. And I knew that in Spain, I would feel better and I would play longer."

Peters recalled the day he and his wife drove Gasol to the airport for his flight home to Spain. Gasol had spent a lot of time at their house, and there was a low ceiling fan in the living room. They always worried he would hit his head, and it became a sort of running joke: "Watch out, Marc!" So that last afternoon, as Peters and his wife waited in the car, Gasol went back inside to use the bathroom. He emerged a few minutes later, his face bloodied.

"We thought we were going to pass out," Peters said. "It turned out that he'd squeezed ketchup all over his forehead."

His development was unique in the sense that he was not some child prodigy, Wallace said. Even at Lausanne, he was never considered a can't-miss prospect -- even among the college coaches who watched him. So there was an element of the unknown when he left for Spain. What would become of him? Most scouts considered him overweight and were convinced he played out of position for a man-child his size. The Big Burrito was packed with too much cheese.

But something clicked in Spain. He trimmed down, dropping 50 pounds. He got tougher and stronger playing against older and wiser opponents. That goal he had talked about with Peters? That mission to join his older brother in the NBA? The idea gripped him like barbed wire. He was motivated.

Playing for five seasons in the Spanish ACB League, first with FC Barcelona and then with CB Girona, the perimeter-oriented wanderer now planted himself in the paint. Each year, his body morphed and his stats ballooned. As a 18-year-old rookie in 2003, he averaged 1.2 points and 1.5 rebounds. Last season, he was named the ACB's Most Valuable Player after averaging 16.2 points on 65.3-percent shooting, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks.

The Lakers held his NBA rights after drafting him in 2007 with the 48th pick overall, but Wallace continued to monitor his progress: He was beginning to formulate a deal in his head. So while the University of Memphis headed to San Antonio for the Final Four last April, Wallace flew to Girona to watch Gasol play in person. He met with Gasol and his family, then traveled to Italy to watch him play twice more.

"It solidified everything I'd seen on tape, that he could play in our league," Wallace said. "And not just have a jersey and a roster spot. He could play."

If one moment confirmed that the Grizzlies had made a wise investment, it was Gasol's rugged play during Spain's gold-medal game against the United States during the Olympics in August. Gasol was on the court during the late stages of Spain's close loss.

"It showed you the sort of trust the coach had in him," Wallace said, "to be playing with the game on the line."

With the Grizzlies, Marc has been everything fans came to believe Pau was not: tough and fearless, undaunted by contact.

Big brother may have ended his 61/2 -year Grizzlies career as the franchise leader in virtually every major category. But in just a handful of games, little brother has redefined what it means to be a Gasol in Memphis.

[duncan228]

GRIZZLIES vs. SAN ANTONIO (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/28/no-headline---2008-11-27-224856402319/)

AT&T Center, 7:30 p.m.

TV, radio: SportSouth (Ch. 52 digital cable or 60 on Comcast, Ch. 650 DirecTV, Ch. 452 Dish Network), WRBO-FM (103.5)

Records: Grizzlies, 4-11; San Antonio, 8-6.

Lineups

Grizzlies: Mike Conley, 6-1; O.J. Mayo, 6-4; Rudy Gay, 6-8; Darrell Arthur, 6-9; Marc Gasol, 7-1.

Spurs: Roger Mason Jr., 6-5; Michael Finley, 6-7; Bruce Bowen, 6-7; Tim Duncan, 6-11; Fabricio Oberto, 6-10.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Credit defense for the Spurs' recent success. Over the first five games of the season, the Spurs' opponents were shooting 48 percent from the field and averaging 105 points, 24.2 assists and only 8.2 turnovers. During that time the Spurs averaged 3 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. In the nine games since, San Antonio's opponents are shooting 42 percent from the field while averaging 84.3 points and 16.9 assists. Spurs opponents are also turning the ball over 14.3 times. Additionally, San Antonio's steals have more than doubled to 6.5 and its blocks have jumped to 4.1 per game.

THE SKINNY

Memphis has dropped four straight games while San Antonio is on a three-game winning streak. The Spurs had a rocky start to the season, losing four out of their first five, including their first three. The story has been much different over San Antonio's last nine games. The Spurs have posted a 7-2 record during that span. Memphis is 12-40 all-time against San Antonio, and that includes a 5-20 road mark.

THE QUOTE

"It's not about X's and O's. We have to play harder." -- Griz reserve forward Hakim Warrick, on the team's losing streak.

[z0sa]

I'm honestly gonna feel sorry when our Spurs are beating Marc gasol's ass tonight. The guy seems like the real deal even though hes still a bit overweight.

[m33p0]

i'm interested to see how manu will perform tonight.

15 mins 15 points? 18 mins for 18pts? or 20mins for 20pts? and an assortment of assists, rebounds and steals.

[m33p0]

I wonder if Pop is starting Mason-Finley in order for Hill and Manu to have playing time together. It could set up a starting backourt of Parker-Mason and then Hill-Manu
Mason-Finley makes for a stagnant offense while Hill-Manu is the exact extreme opposite. :lol

[benefactor]

Hopefully Timmy is upset about the way he played in the last game against Gasol/Darko and really brings it to them. If we are beating them comfortably I see Manu getting even less minutes to be ready for Houston tomorrow.

[duncan228]

Spurs host Grizzlies at AT&T Center (http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/news/news.aspx?id=4194222)

(Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs shoot for their fourth consecutive victory Friday when they welcome the scuffling Memphis Grizzlies to the AT&T Center.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds on Wednesday, as the Spurs defeated the Chicago Bulls, 98-88, in San Antonio.

Rookie George Hill finished with 19 points and 11 boards off the bench for the Spurs, who continue to play without All-Star point guard Tony Parker (ankle) but have won three in a row and six of seven.

Manu Ginobili, in his second game of the season after recovering from offseason left ankle surgery, came off the bench to contribute 15 points.

Parker, who has missed nine games, should be back in less than two weeks.

The Grizzlies lost their fourth straight game Wednesday when Utah's Paul Millsap scored 24 points and hauled in a game-high 16 rebounds, and each Jazz starter reached double figures, as Utah notched a 117-100 victory over Memphis in Salt Lake City.

Rudy Gay had a game-high 27 points and seven rebounds for the Grizzlies, who fell to a miserable 1-7 on the road this season and have lost eight of its last nine overall. Rookie O.J. Mayo added 22 points and Marc Gasol gave 12 points and eight boards in defeat.

San Antonio trounced the Grizz, 94-81, on November 24 in Memphis and has won two straight and four of the last five meetings in the series. The Spurs have also beaten Memphis seven straight times in San Antonio.

[mrspurs]

Thanks 228 for doing all that searching for Me. Now if you could only bring me my coffee. hahahahaha.....

[mrspurs]

I'm honestly gonna feel sorry when our Spurs are beating Marc gasol's ass tonight. The guy seems like the real deal even though hes still a bit overweight.

Them Gasols do know how to play ball. But we should be able to beat the grizzs.

[duncan228]

Grizzlies look for win in San Antonio tonight (http://www.grizzliesonline.com/index.php?/tumbleson/comments/preview_081128_spurs/)
by Matt Tumbleson

The Grizzlies are in the Lone Star State tonight for a rematch of Monday’s duel on Beale Street with the Spurs.

With the Spurs rounding into health they are starting to take on the look of a team that has been able to compete for the NBA title year-after-year in the Tim Duncan era. Tonight’s contest for the Grizzlies represents the last in a brutal stretch of games against Dallas, Utah and San Antonio before going home to take on the struggling Oklahoma City Thunder tomorrow night.

Here are the five things to watch for in tonight’s game:

A full 48: On Monday night the Grizzlies played 44 solid minutes against the Spurs. Unfortunately, those extra four minutes that bridged the third and fourth quarters made all the difference, as the Spurs built an insurmountable lead despite a late run led by O.J. Mayo. The Spurs are going to make it tough on the Grizzlies no matter what on their home floor, so it is essential that Memphis plays hard from the opening tip to the final buzzer tonight. Runs similar to the 19-4 one on Monday can be expected if they don’t.

Let the right people beat you: There are two ways of defensive thinking in the NBA when going into a matchup against a superstar, Hall-of-Fame caliber player (i.e. Tim Duncan). You can either let the superstar go off and concentrate on everybody else, or you can try to limit the All-Star player’s production and try to make the other guys beat you. The Grizzlies took option B on Wednesday night, and it didn’t exactly work out for the home squad. Roger Mason and George Hill scored a combined 38 points and keyed a San Antonio run that put the game away. In round two against the Spurs this week, they might as well try the other way of thinking in an effort to mix things up tonight.

Matchup of the night: After dusting off the cobwebs to the tune of 12 points in 12 minutes on 3-of-4 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line, Manu Ginobili will return to the AT&T Center tonight to assume his role as Sixth Man Extraordinaire for the Spurs. Ginobili is allowed to retain his Sixth Man status thanks to the emergence of Roger Mason in his absence over the past month. The Grizzlies Quinton Ross will have the job of matching up against the electric Ginobili in the second shift. Ginobili is one of the most electrifying players in the NBA, but if Ross can manage to provide some kind of production of the Grizzlies bench to nullify Ginobili’s numbers Memphis could be in good shape tonight.

Stat of the night: If O.J. Mayo can keep up his current rate of 20.6 points per game he will be only the 17th rookie since the 1983-84 season to score at least 20 points per contest. Of those 16 rookies who have come before him 10 of them have gone on to win the Rookie of the Year award.

What a difference three seasons makes… or does it?: The last time the Grizzlies picked up a win in the Alamo City was on 2/26/05, in an 84-82 squeaker. The Spurs were led by Tim Duncan that night, with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili providing support, and Gregg Popovich giving orders on the sideline. Sounds pretty much exactly the same to what San Antonio has going on for itself right now, doesn’t it?... Conversely, not a single member from that Grizzlies team remains on the current roster, and the leading scorer that night was Lorenzen Wright, who led the charge for the Grizzlies with 19 points. The Grizzlies have shuffled the deck a little since that night haven’t they?