Spurs At Grizzlies Previews

[duncan228]

Friday: Spurs (20-11) at Grizzlies (10-22) (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/Friday_Spurs_20-11_at_Grizzlies_10-22.html)
Express-News

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

STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - GRIZZLIES

PG - 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 8th yr) - 1 Kyle Lowry (6-0, 3rd yr)
Parker making All-Star case: 22.4 points, 7.8 assists in last 10 games.

SG - 8 Roger Mason Jr. (6-5, 5th yr) - 32 O.J. Mayo (6-4, 1st yr)
Mayo, NBA rookie scoring leader, averaging 29 points vs. Spurs.

SF - 4 Michael Finley (6-7, 14th yr) - 13 Quinton Ross (6-6, 5th yr)
At 27, Ross the elder statesman among Memphis starters.

PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 12th yr) - 22 Rudy Gay (6-8, 3rd yr)
Duncan had 29 points in double OT victory over Grizzlies last week.

C - 15 Matt Bonner (6-10, 5th yr) - 33 Marc Gasol (7-1, 1st yr)
Spurs might have to go small here, which could hurt Bonner's minutes.

SPURS RESERVES

12 Bruce Bowen, F, 6-7, 13th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 7th yr
3 George Hill, G, 6-2, 1st yr
40 Kurt Thomas, C/F, 6-9, 14th yr
35 Anthony Tolliver, C, 6-8, 1st yr
5 Ime Udoka, G/F, 6-5, 5th yr
11 Jacque Vaughn, G, 6-1, 12th yr

GRIZZLIES RESERVES

00 Darrell Arthur, F, 6-9, 1st yr
7 Greg Buckner, G, 6-4, 10th yr
11 Mike Conley, G, 6-1, 2nd yr
55 Marko Jaric, G, 6-7, 7th yr
15 Hamed Haddadi, F/C, 7-2, 1st yr
23 Steve Francis, G, 6-3, 11th yr
21 Hakim Warrick, F, 6-9, 4th yr

COACHES

Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Grizzlies: Marc Iavaroni

INJURIES

Spurs: Mahinmi (sprained right ankle) is out. Oberto (sore left foot) is questionable.

Grizzlies: Darko Milicic (fractured right hand) and Darius Miles (league suspension) are out.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS

Spurs: Ian Mahinmi, Malik Hairston, Oberto.

Grizzlies: Milicic, Miles.

NOTABLE

Already 3-0 against the Grizzlies, Spurs looking to polish off a season sweep. Memphis has been narrowing the gap in each meeting, most recently falling in double OT last week at the AT&T Center. ... Spurs are 42-12 all-time against the Grizzlies.

- Jeff McDonald

[duncan228]

San Antonio (20-11) at Memphis (10-22) Preview (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2009010229&prov=ap)
Game info: 8:00 pm EST Fri Jan 2, 2009
TV: FSTN
By Jeff Mezydlo

Facing the Memphis Grizzlies could help the San Antonio Spurs begin another winning streak.

The streaky Spurs look to bounce back from their most recent loss while trying to sweep the season series from the Grizzlies on Friday night at the FedEx Forum.

San Antonio (20-11) suffered a rare home loss, falling 100-98 to Milwaukee on Tuesday. That snapped a five-game winning streak for the Spurs, who also have winning stretches of four and six in a row since Nov. 21.

Now, the Spurs look to regroup against Memphis (10-22), which has lost three in a row overall and four straight to San Antonio, including all three meetings this season. The Spurs won 106-103 in double overtime over the Grizzlies last Saturday.

“Memphis is a young, athletic, deep team,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose team looks to sweep the season series with the Grizzlies for the eighth time and third since the team relocated from Vancouver in 2001. “They play everybody tough.”

Tim Duncan, shooting 50.9 percent this season, scored 22 points but was 7-for-20 from the field and missed a layup with 3.8 seconds to go versus Milwaukee for San Antonio’s third loss in 14 games.

“We lost the game before that,” Spurs guard Roger Mason said. “We lost the game the first two quarters when they outhustled us.”

Michael Finley had 20 points and Tony Parker added 19 with 10 assists for San Antonio, which allowed the Bucks to shoot 51.3 percent while giving up 100 points in regulation for just the fifth time this season.

“It was a lot of missed assignments,” Popovich said of the Spurs, who are second in the Western Conference allowing 93.8 points per contest. “They played sharper and were more aggressive than we were.”

Popovich hopes to see a better effort as the Spurs look to improve their 20-7 road mark against the Grizzlies. San Antonio is averaging 103.0 points overall against Memphis this season.

Parker is averaging 23.5 points and 6.0 assists in two games versus the Grizzlies in 2008-09, and had 32 in the most recent meeting. Duncan had 29 on 11-for-19 shooting in the same game.

Memphis’ standout rookie O.J. Mayo scored 29 points in that contest and is averaging the same while shooting 35-for-63 in the three games versus the Spurs this season.

Mayo, though, looks to bounce back from his most recent outing where he scored 12 points on 4-for-20 shooting in a 101-89 home loss to Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Grizzlies led by eight heading into the fourth quarter, but hit three of 18 shots and were outscored 31-11. Mayo missed his last 13 shots for Memphis, which shot 38.7 percent for the game.

“I just think that maybe you could say there’s less oxygen going to the brain, I don’t know,” Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said of his team’s continued late-game troubles. “We certainly don’t play the same way. I think we start to press, start to hold and we start to dribble around. We start to feel footsteps. Until we get that out of our heads, that’s not going to change.”

Memphis has lost seven of eight overall since winning four in a row.

Notes

Spurs:

San Antonio suffered a scare in the third quarter when G Tony Parker went down after a collision with G Manu Ginobili - possibly Ginobili's elbow to Parker's chest - late in the third quarter. He was on the floor for a few minutes before heading to the bench. He was able to return to the game. ... The Spurs are 0-2 against Milwaukee this season, as the Bucks beat the Spurs earlier in the season on November 12, when San Antonio was without Parker and Ginobili. ... The Spurs entered the game tied with Phoenix for best 3-point shooting in the league at 40 percent. They hit 62.5 percent (10-of-16) against

Grizzlies:

The Grizzlies, playing for the fourth time in five nights Tuesday, were coming off back-to-back overtime losses at San Antonio and Minnesota. It was the first time Memphis has played consecutive overtime games since December 26-28, 2005 (and just the eighth time in franchise history). ... The Grizzlies have not beaten the Suns since December 17, 2005, and have not won in Phoenix, where the team is 4-22 all-time, since November 16, 2005. ... Memphis has won six games in December, the club's winningest month under second-year coach Marc Iavaroni. ... Memphis is 0-12 this season when failing to reach 20 points in the first quarter (10-9 when scoring 20 or more). ... Memphis entered Tuesday's game at FedEx Forum averaging 96.3 points per game at home this season as opposed to 93.3 points on the road. The Grizzlies are shooting 47 percent at home and 44 percent on the road. ... G Kyle Lorry's career-high 12 assists on Monday against Minnesota were the most recorded by a Grizzlies' player since April, 18, 2007, at Minnesota (Chucky Atkins, 16).

Team Stat Leaders

Points

Tony Parker SA 22.0
O.J. Mayo Mem 19.9

Rebounds

Tim Duncan SA 10.3
Marc Gasol Mem 6.9

Assists

Tony Parker SA 6.7
Kyle Lowry Mem 4.2

Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10

San Antonio 20-11 2nd Southwest / 3rd West 96.9 93.8 Road 8-5 Lost 1 7-3

Memphis 10-22 5th Southwest / 10th West 94.7 100.2 Home 8-9 Lost 3 3-7

[duncan228]

Spurs Team Report (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=ApzBIeHMMhXRC63AqpVfC.KM0bYF?slug=teamre ports-2009-nba-sas&prov=sportsxchange&type=team_report)

Getting Inside

The Spurs were ready for a break. After a stretch of five games in seven games, with the last being a double-overtime affair, getting a pair of days off must have felt like a week.

The mini-vacation, which ended Tuesday night against Milwaukee, was especially needed by guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Both returned from injuries earlier in the month and have logged heavy minutes lately.

“Two days is a very long break, especially with the type of schedule we have been holding lately,” Tim Duncan said during the respite. “It will be great for us to get off our legs, especially Tony and Manu, who have played so many minutes lately.

“We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of minutes so a break will be great. We will use these days as best we can, and hopefully, we’ll get back on the court and play better basketball.”

In addition to the hectic schedule, San Antonio has also three double-overtime games this season. The Spurs do seem to enjoy going long, winning all three.

Bucks 100, Spurs 98: San Antonio had its five-game winning streak snapped with a hard-to-believe loss Tuesday night to Milwaukee at home. The Spurs fell to 20-11, despite five Spurs scoring at least 13 points.

The game was close throughout, as the lead changed hands 22 times and it was tied on eight occasions. San Antonio last led 88-87 midway through the fourth quarter before the Bucks went on a 12-5 run to open up a 99-93 edge in the final minute.

Tim Duncan paced the Spurs with 22 points, but only grabbed six rebounds. Michael Finley added 20 points and Tony Parker scored 19. Three Bucks scored at least 20, led by Michael Redd with 25.

Notes, Quotes

• Bruce Bowen is the No. 1 Dallas Cowboys fan in the San Antonio locker room. Watching his favorite team get embarrassed by Philadelphia and miss out on the NFL playoffs offered up a lesson in chemistry.

“It’s very disappointing, but character wins out over talent any day, at least in my book,” Bowen said. “You can see how infectious certain characters can be down the end of the road.”

Character up and down the roster has always been one of the strengths for the Spurs.

• The breakneck schedule of late has meant less teaching time for Gregg Popovich. The Spurs conducted their first practice Monday since Dec. 16. That was the last time San Antonio had more than one day off between games.

“It’s always great to have a practice,” Popovich said. “In the NBA, they’re few and far between. To be able to teach a little bit is great. At least it makes you feel as if you’re doing what you’re supposed to do.”

Quote To Note: “Milwaukee is one of the teams in the league that has given us the most trouble, historically. They have had their way with us many times, so I think they’ll be coming in quite confidently.”—Gregg Popovich, before the Bucks beat his team Tuesday in San Antonio.

Roster Report

Rotation:

Starters—Point guard Tony Parker, Shooting guard Roger Mason, Small forward Michael Finley, Power forward Tim Duncan, Center Matt Bonner.

Bench—Forward Kurt Thomas, Guard Manu Ginobili, Forward Ime Udoka, Forward Bruce Bowen, Center Anthony Tolliver, Guard Jacque Vaughn, Guard George Hill.

Player Notes:

• G Tony Parker has been on a tear during the five-game winning streak going into Tuesday. The Frenchman averaged 27.4 points on 53.9 percent shooting and 7.4 assists during the run.

• C Fabricio Oberto has been sidelined since Dec. 17 with a sore right foot. He may be on the verge of returning after taking part in scripted drills at practice Monday.

• C Ian Mahinmi has been out with a sprained ankle since being recalled from the D-league on Dec. 2. He also participated in scripted drills Monday with Oberto.

Medical Watch:

• C Fabricio Oberto (foot injury) is expected to be out until late December.

• C Ian Mahinmi (sprained ankle) is inactive.

[Rogue]

Demolish them
conquistedo em

[Indazone]

Hope Francis gets some burn just to see what he's still got.

[lefty]

That's gonna be a tough one.

Expect Bruce to log more minutes because he's gonna be on an Orange Juice and Mayonnaise diet.

[Bob Lanier]

No Darko no cry.

[duncan228]

Griz need remedy for late-game blues (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jan/02/griz-need-remedy-for-late-game-blues/)
Iavaroni wants to see better concentration
By Ronald Tillery

The Grizzlies returned to work Thursday for an hourlong practice geared towards last-minute decision making.

Coach Marc Iavaroni used the workout to simulate end-of-game occasions, reinforcing clutch play.

The scrimmage centered on situational basketball with several timeouts peppered in, having to score with one second or 24 on the shot clock, having a foul to give and what to do when the opposition misses its final shot with time left on the clock.

"We had different situations creep up that we put them in," Iavaroni said. "The message was concentration. If you can't concentrate then you're going to be a drag on your team."

Iavaroni & Co. will try to snap a three-game losing streak tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. The Griz have dropped six of their last seven contests with the past three being decided in double overtime, overtime and the final few minutes of the fourth quarter.

"Frankly, we were good enough to beat Phoenix the other night," Iavaroni said. "We were good enough to beat San Antonio and Minnesota."

In their 101-89 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday, Memphis missed 15-of-18 shots and was outscored 31-11 in the fourth quarter. On Monday, the Griz missed 10-of-12 shots in an overtime loss at Minnesota. The Griz were held to 1-for-8 shooting in the second overtime of their defeat last Saturday against the Spurs.

Memphis was outscored 57-24 and shot 15.7 percent (6-for-38) in the final stanza of the past three games. That the Griz were in control until the waning minutes of regulation is what each of those contests have in common.

"We realize that," Griz forward Rudy Gay said. "That's why we spent (Thursday) getting back to the basics."

Iavaroni softened but remained consistent with his earlier assertion that the Griz weren't playing smart late in games.

"The schedule jumps every team in the league," Iavaroni said, referring the Grizzlies' recent stretch of four games in five nights. "Everyone understands that it's more than just physical four games in five nights, it's mental. And having the ability to concentrate for the final moments of the final quarter is most important. That's where we have to go to another level. That's the final piece we have to achieve."

Disjointed performances in clutch situations have been mostly characterized by one-on-one play from key scorers. Add curious substitutions to the mix and the Griz saving their worst for last has been a total team effort.

That's the bad news.

The good news is that the Griz arrived with a sense of renewal for their first practice in 2009.

"We just wanted to come back more focused than we were before we started the four games in five nights," point guard Mike Conley said. "When things aren't going our way, we've got to stay together as a unit. That's the only way we're going to make it through."

[duncan228]

Previewing Grizzlies-Spurs (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/jan/02/no-headline---2009-01-01-223806063455/)

Records: Grizzlies, 10-22; San Antonio 20-11.

Lineups

Grizzlies: Kyle Lowry, 6-1, O.J. Mayo, 6-4, Quinton Ross, 6-6, Rudy Gay, 6-8, Marc Gasol, 7-1.

Spurs: Tony Parker, 6-2, Roger Mason Jr., 6-5, Michael Finley, 6-7, Tim Duncan, 6-11 Matt Bonner, 6-10.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Memphis has allowed opponents to score 100 points in seven consecutive games, the longest stretch of the season. The Griz are 3-17 in games opponents have reached the century mark. Point guard Lowry leads the team with 4.2 assists per game. Gay is shooting 34 percent in the past four games while Ross is shooting 64 percent in his last three outings. Hakim Warrick has scored in double digits in each of his last five games. He's averaging 16 points on 50 percent shooting and 5.8 rebounds during that stretch. Parker and Finley have the hot hands for the Spurs. Parker averaged 26 points and 7.8 assists in the past six games, while Finley has shot 58 percent overall and 62 percent from 3-point range in his last five outings. San Antonio is giving up only nine offensive rebounds per game and averaging just 12 turnovers per contest, both of which are best in the NBA.

THE SKINNY

Memphis owns a 12-42 all-time record against San Antonio, with the Spurs winning 13 of the last 15 contests. The Griz have lost all three meetings this season. The Griz took the Spurs to double overtime on Dec. 27 before falling, 106-103, in San Antonio. Griz rookie Mayo had 29 points in that game and he is averaging 29 points against the Spurs this season.

THE QUOTE

"It's always good to play the Spurs because you find out where you are as a team." -- Griz coach Marc Iavaroni on the fourth and final meeting with the Spurs.

[timtonymanu]

man im getting tired of challenging this team so much. They also make the Spurs work hard.

[Ditty]

i know they should just gives us the W we got a game against 76ers on saturday o well i can wait till la in 2 weeks :)

[Spork KIller]

Likely defeat for the overrated spurms

[cp3forever]

go grizzlies mayo for 32pts 9 reb and 7 assist:hat

[shelshor]

Referee Assignments
Fri. Jan. 2
San Antonio @ Memphis: D. :bangBavetta, V. :(Palmer, S. Wright

[duncan228]

San Antonio Spurs (20-11) at Memphis Grizzlies (10-22) (http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nba/scores/live/preview.aspx?id=10815)

(Sports Network) - The Memphis Grizzlies resume a four-game homestand Friday aiming to avoid a sweep in their season series against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs have already beaten Memphis three times this season, including a 94-81 win at FedEx Forum on November 24.

The Grizz dropped the opener of their latest residency on Tuesday when Leandro Barbosa recorded 11 of his game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Suns finished with the contest on a 25-5 run to get the better of Memphis, 101-89.

Hakim Warrick came off the bench to lead Memphis with 25 points, while Marc Gasol chipped in 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who were coming off back-to-back overtime defeats and have lost three straight overall.

Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, but shot a combined 10-for-35 in the loss.

Memphis, which is 8-9 as the host this season, will also face Dallas and Minnesota on its homestand.

The Spurs, meanwhile, lost for the first time in six games Tuesday when Milwaukee's Michael Redd scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds -- including a huge rebound on the final play of the game that sealed the victory -- as the Bucks upended San Antonio, 100-98, in the Alamo City.

Tim Duncan dropped 22 points and Michael Finley 20 in defeat for the Spurs. Tony Parker tallied 19 points and 10 helpers. Roger Mason had 15 points and Manu Ginobili 13 with five assists.

San Antonio, which is 8-5 as the visitor this year, has won four straight overall and 13 of its last 15 meetings against the Grizz.

[Spork KIller]

Referee Assignments
Fri. Jan. 2
San Antonio @ Memphis: D. :bangBavetta, V. :(Palmer, S. Wright

How pathetic are these spurm fans??

The excuses already started....

[gingerwave]

Let's go Spurs. Time to get rollin. :flag:

[duncan228]

Memphis vs. San Antonio 1-2-09 (http://www.3shadesofblue.com/20090102209/memphis-grizzlies/december-2008/memphis-vs-san-antonio-1-2-09.html)
by Chip Crain

Memphis is as glad to see the start of the new year as most investors are. Not so much excitement for what is about to happen as much as relief that the last year is over. Memphis limped out of 2008 with a 3 game losing streak, Darko on the shelves for at least another 3 weeks with a broken knuckle and Darrell Arthur shaking the cobwebs loose from a grade 2 concussion he suffered against Phoenix. The holiday break was needed as Memphis had played 4 games in 5 days and needed some time to rest and recuperate. The Grizzlies are young and can bounce back quickly but they are as succeptible to fatique as anyone else.

San Antonio has taken over 1st place in the Southwest Division but not without some issues about their age affecting their play taking center stage. The Spurs were 2-1 during the last week of the year but a 3 pt bomb pulled out the Christmas Day game at Phoenix, a double OT game against the Grizzlies accounted for the 2nd win and they lost at home to Milwaukee to end the year. The Spurs were as anxious to get some rest as any team in the league after those three hard fought games. San Antonio is old but they are also reloading with youth. George Mason and George Hill join Tony Parker as the young backcourt of the future for the Spurs. It's the aging front line that raises the big questions. Duncan, Bowen, Bonner, Udoke and Finley are all over 30 and closer to the end than the beginning of their careers.

Point Guards: Kyle Lowry vs Tony Parker
This should be a different game than the last time these two teams met as Lowry has replaced Conley as the prime time closer as well as the starter. Parker shredded Conley in OT on the way to a 32 pt game. Parker is too fast one on one for Lowry but at least Kyle will make him work for his shot. Kyle has really started to adjust to the starting role and is putting up the best numbers of his career lately including a career high 12 assists against Minnesota. In the last 5 games Lowry is averaging nearly 11 ppg, 7.2 apg and 47% from the field. Not all star numbers but a distinct improvement over Conley's play at the point.
Advantage: San Antonio

Shooting Guards: O.J. Mayo vs Michael Finley
Michael Finley was the iron man of the NBA when he was in his prime. O.J. Mayo may just be the next one as he is averaging over 37 minutes a night as a rookie. The only other rookie averaging over 30 mpg is former Tiger Derrick Rose. So far Mayo has handled the workload pretty well as he has reached double figures in every game but two, although he just experienced his first mini-slump of the season. Mayo is first among rookies in scoring and among the leaders in rebounds, steals and assists. Finley can still play excellent defense and will punish anyone who fails to guard him on the perimeter. Another pupil vs master match up for Mayo but this time the master is quite old. Mayo is simply playing at a level rarely seen by a rookie. His real test will come when Manu Ginobili comes off the bench. Mayo has aveaged 29 ppg against the Spurs this year so Finley should be motivated to play some serious defense in this game.
Advantage: Memphis

Small Forwards: Rudy Gay vs Bruce Bowen
Rudy better double tape his ankles in this game. Bowen was considered the best defender in the league a few years ago but now he gets by on questionable tactics that often leave his opponents on the floor with twisted ankles. Bowen is still dangerous from the corners but otherwise has no offensive game. The problem is that if anyone doubles down on Duncan Bowen will hit that shot. Rudy has struggled with his shot but is starting to get more aggressive finishing at the rim which helps create space. It won't be easy for Rudy to score in this game but he will be able to make his presence felt in other ways. If Rudy is getting assists, rebounds and a steal or two plus double figures in points he will go a long way to helping the Grizzlies get the upset.
Advantage: Memphis

Power Forwards: Darrell Arthur vs Matt Bonner
Matt Bonner became the starter in December and the fire-haired bomber has taken quite a liking to his new role, hitting 47% of his 3-point attempts this season. Bonner looks more like a grocery store sacker than an NBA player but what he is asked to do he does very well. Bonner is a pain to play against as he hits long range shots, bangs underneath and is basically a pest to match up against. Arthur has struggled with officials as much as opponents lately as he learns what he is allowed to do and what he isn't. Arthur received a 2nd degree concussion against Phoenix but is expected to be ready to go tonight.
Advantage: San Antonio

Centers: Marc Gasol vs Tim Duncan
Gasol is not the greatest perimeter defender but he will bang down low with the best of them. Duncan has never liked being bumped and usually turns to his 10-12 ft bank shots when faced with a physical inside player. He can hit that shot too but it is better to have him taking those shots than shooting closer to the rim. Duncan's speed will be a problem for Gasol but so will Gasol's range. Duncan isn't comfortable guarding away from the basket and if Marc can draw him outside the paint then the inside suddenly opens up for other players and that means more easy looks and more trips to the line. Gasol fouled out Duncan in the last game so he can cause the big guy troubles but Duncan is one of the best in the game.
Advantage: San Antonio

Benches: Memphis vs San Antonio
The Grizzlies second unit of Conley/Warrick/Ross/Buckner will need to step it up to keep the dynamic group of Roger Mason, Jr., Manu Ginobili, George Hill and Ime Udoka from holding (or even increasing) a lead when Parker/Duncan/Bowen/Finley take a breather. Gregg Popovich has a history of getting the absolute most out of his players and the bench is no different. Warrick's string of good games will need to continue for the Grizzlies to have a chance at pulling off a rare win against the Spurs. The Grizzlies will be looking deep into the bench for aid and it is possible that a new face will be on the bench tonight as Steve Francis is expected to be in uniform. It is doubtful he will play but it will be interesting to finally see him in a Grizzlies uniform. Hamed Haddadi made a nice impression in very limited minutes against the Suns and may see more action against the Spurs. Welcome to the NBA Mr. Haddadi. First you get Shaq and now Tim Duncan.
Advantage: San Antonio

[Bender]

did I miss the spurs-bucks Game Thoughts thread?

[duncan228]

did I miss the spurs-bucks Game Thoughts thread?

Haven't seen it yet. They usually come out sometime before tip-off of the next game, so maybe timvp will get it out today. Or, maybe he's been busy. He rarely misses one, I think it will show up sooner or later.

[duncan228]

Jeff McDonald: Getting ready for the Grizzlies (http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/01/jeff-mcdonald-g-16.html)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A couple of random thoughts, while secretly hoping Kentucky superfan Ashley Judd is in town for this afternoon's Liberty Bowl ...

* Fabricio Oberto, who has missed eight of the past nine games with a strained foot, went through shootaround this morning at the FedEx Forum. He could play tonight, but it will be interesting to see for how long. The Grizzlies have been going small lately -- starting Rudy Gay at power forward? -- so it could be a short night for many of the Spurs' big men not named Tim Duncan.

* The FedEx Forum is also the gym where Manu Ginobili made his long-awaited return from offseason ankle surgery, back on Nov. 24. In 19 games including that one, Ginobili is averaging 14.3 points. Talked to Manu a little bit at shootaround today. He said he doesn't quite feel like himself just yet -- particularly, he's not getting to the rim the way he is accustomed to -- but believes all that will work out as the season goes along.

* Here are Tony Parker's stats in nine games since his awful 3-of-17 performance at Orlando: 26 points, 7.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.33 steals, all while shooting 53.5 percent from the field. Just sayin' is all.

* Key tonight for the Spurs, obviously, will be getting a handle on O.J. Mayo, Memphis' rookie scoring machine. Mayo is averaging 19.9 points per game, tops among NBA freshmen. In three games against the Spurs, he's averaging better than 29 points. "He's better than I thought," Parker said. "He takes better shots than I thought he would."