Commercial Appeal: San Antonio Spurs turn back Memphis Grizzlies, 104-97

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San Antonio Spurs turn back Memphis Grizzlies, 104-97
By Ronald Tillery
Posted January 29, 2010 at 10:18 p.m. , updated January 29, 2010 at 10:49 p.m.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jan/29/san-antonio-spurs-turn-back-memphis-grizzlies-104-/

Spurs 104, Grizzlies 97

SAN ANTONIO — It is certainly safe to assume that the Grizzlies no longer fly under the radar among the NBA elite, which is to say they aren’t taken lightly.

Nothing could have been more evident Friday night as the San Antonio Spurs, even as they played without starting point guard Tony Parker, set a serious tone early and methodically beat the Grizzlies, 104-97, in the AT&T Center.

In having a three-game losing streak snapped, the Grizzlies played from behind for most of the contest.

“They came out with a mindset that they would get on us and they did,” Griz coach Lionel Hollins said, later adding: “We didn’t come out ready to play.”

The Griz lost for the 10th straight time at San Antonio with turnovers and defensive lapses, spoiling another double-double from Zach Randolph (19 points, 13 rebounds) and O.J. Mayo’s game-high 28 points.

Tim Duncan finished with 19 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who also benefited from George Hill’s 18 points and five assists.

Memphis turned the ball over 14 times and paid for every mistake as San Antonio scored 24 points off turnovers.

“We just had bad decisions on fast breaks,” Hollins said. “And then we couldn’t get the stops we needed.”

An indication that the Griz would experience an off night had as much to do with Marc Gasol’s early foul trouble as the Spurs’ intensity. Gasol picked up two fouls in the game’s first four minutes.

Hollins turned to rookie center Hasheem Thabeet. But the Griz soon fell behind by double digits.

Back to back 3-pointers — the second from Manu Ginobili — put San Antonio ahead 34-23 in the second period. The Griz trailed 40-32 and then allowed the Spurs only one field goal for nearly four minutes.

Memphis’ improved defense cut San Antonio’s lead to 53-50 by halftime.

Mayo had 15 points and Randolph 11 at the intermission. The Spurs, however, enjoyed better offensive balance.

San Antonio also wasn’t limited by Parker’s absence. His replacement, Hill, led the Spurs with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the first half.

Memphis beat San Antonio on Jan. 16 in FedExForum behind strong defense. The Spurs shot just 41.4 percent in that game.

But San Antonio didn’t have trouble executing its offense against Memphis this time around.

The Spurs quickly ran out to a 10-point advantage after scoring the first seven points of the first half.

Mike Conley, the NBA’s leading 3-point shooter this month, didn’t attempt a shot from beyond the arc, snapping a string of eight games in which he’d made at least one long-range shot.

The Spurs did more than just neutralize Conley. Forward Rudy Gay wasn’t at his best, given he didn’t have a free-throw attempt or rebound through three quarters.

The Griz trailed 77-70 at the start of the fourth period. Mayo tried to keep the Grizzlies close, but the Spurs played with a double-digit advantage until the final few minutes.

A victory at San Antonio for the first time since Feb. 26, 2005 would have tied Memphis for second place in the Southwest Division.

[Dex]

Spurs' Gregg Popovich rethinks Pau Gasol deal
Spurs coach concedes deal worked for Griz
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/jan/29/popovich-re-thinks-pau-deal/

SAN ANTONIO -- San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich still believes the Grizzlies changed the landscape of the Western Conference for the foreseeable future.

Once a major critic of the February 2008 decision to trade Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers, Popovich now concedes Memphis also made out good in the deal.

"They gave up a great player but it helped them extend the franchise's success into the future," Popovich said. "It's shown that they've done a good job. Whatever they were thinking a couple of iterations ahead at the time has paid off for them."

Popovich's immediate reaction to the Gasol deal wasn't as kind.

Popovich, who also serves as the Spurs' president of basketball operations, called the trade that sent Gasol to the Lakers for draft picks and salary-cap flexibility an incomprehensible deal.

The Griz received Kwame Brown, rookie Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Marc Gasol and first-round picks in 2008 and 2010.

"What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension," Popovich said at the time. "There should be a trade committee that can scratch all trades that make no sense. I just wish I had been on a trade committee that oversees NBA trades. I would have voted no to the L.A. trade."

What Popovich -- or no one -- could forecast is that Marc Gasol would evolve into a top NBA center, and the Griz could eventually use money under the salary-cap to acquire Zach Randolph in a trade.

Randolph is the only Western Conference player averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He was named a Western Conference All-Star for the first time in his nine-year career Thursday when the coaches voted him in as a reserve.

The Gasol trade was frowned upon nationally and locally in part because the Grizzlies' benefits would be seen over time.

"When you make decisions you try to make them good," Popovich said. "Obviously, the decision they (the Grizzlies) made then has served them well in the future, which is now."

Tip-ins: Popovich wouldn't reveal how he voted for the Western Conference all-star reserves. But he said Randolph was a deserving selection based on the Grizzlies' success. Said Popovich: "He's the biggest change in that franchise. He and Lionel (Hollins). They've changed them into a team that can win every single night no matter who they play." ... Marc Gasol celebrated his 25th birthday Friday. ... Randolph on what he plans to do with his roughly $330,000 bonus for making the All-Star team: "It's going in the bank. I wish it was more."

[boutons_deux]

$330K for popularity-contest/vote-stuffing AS?

What do players get as NBA Champions?