Spurs vs Grizzlies Game Two Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Wednesday, 7:30 CST, nationally on NBA TV and locally on FSSW.

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Pop promises no major changes in Game 2 (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/18/pop-promises-no-major-changes-in-game-2/)
Tim Griffin

..."We’re going to tweak a little bit here and there, but not very much at all, very honestly,” Popovich said. “I thought we played well. They played well. It was a good aggressive game.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/18/pop-promises-no-major-changes-in-game-2/

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Practice Video 4-18-11

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177347

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A look at the effectiveness of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/)
by Andrew A. McNeill
48 Minutes of Hell

Apparently, it’s becoming a tradition of mine. Looking at one of the major contributors after a Game 1 loss and seeing what can be done differently in Game 2. I did it last year after Dirk Nowitzki torched the Spurs in Game 1 of the Spurs-Mavs first round series with 36 points (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/defending-dirk-in-game-2) on 12-14 from the floor.

In the San Antonio’s Game 1 loss to Memphis on Sunday (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/game-1-memphis-grizzlies-101-san-antonio-spurs-98), Grizzlies big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol combined for 49 points and 23 rebounds. That’s a lot. The two didn’t do as much damage on the offensive boards on Sunday (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/sunday) as they did during the regular season, but defending them was still a problem.

I don’t know what adjustments, if any, Gregg Popovich will make. So instead what we’ll do today is look at what Memphis likes to do to get shots with these two big men, and how the Spurs defended it.

Keep reading... (http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-grizzlies-gasol-randolph)

http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-grizzlies-gasol-randolph

[duncan228]

Just quotes, hit the links for the rest.


Can Memphis point guard continue to log big minutes? (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/can-memphis-point-guard-continue-to-log-big-minutes/)
Tom Orsborn

..."My best players are going to be on the court as long as I can have them on the court,” Hollins said after Monday’s practice. “They’ll get rest, but if you look around in the playoffs, everybody is playing their best players. And if you have your best players on the bench while the other team (is playing their best players), there is going to be trouble.

“It’s just the way it is in the playoffs. You just go and deal with it.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/can-memphis-point-guard-continue-to-log-big-minutes/

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Memphis coach casts critical eye at film of Game 1 (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/hollins/)
Tom Orsborn

..."We made a lot of mistakes,” Hollins said. “We didn’t have the greatest discipline on defense. The times that they scored coming down the stretch was because we gambled and we over-helped, and we gave up the key threes when we didn’t need to be in a position to give up threes.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/hollins/

[duncan228]

Manu Ginobili unlikely for Game 2, which sucks for Spurs (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/19/manu-ginobili-unlikely-for-game-2-which-sucks-for-spurs/)
Kurt Helin

...Which means the Spurs need to find a way to relieve the pressure on Parker — Memphis is not going to let him beat them. George Hill will have to be better (Tim Duncan had a good game and that was not enough). Hill, Richard Jefferson and Gary Neal need to have good games.

If the Grizzlies stick with being who they are, not try to do too much, they have a shot at this series.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/19/manu-ginobili-unlikely-for-game-2-which-sucks-for-spurs/

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Or maybe Manu Ginobili is a go for Game 2, so good for the Spurs (http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/19/manu-ginobili-unlikely-for-game-2-which-sucks-for-spurs/)
Kurt Helin

...UPDATE 3:48 pm: Apparently somebody brought some water from Lourdes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lourdes) to San Antonio, because there has been a miraculous healing.

Reports as of this morning said Ginobili was still doubtful, but now the very good beat writer Jeff McDonald of the Express-News (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/) says on twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/JMcDonald_SAEN) that Ginobili is 99.9 percent likely to play. They need him, and if he is anywhere near ready to go you can bet he will go.

At this point, we may wait to hear a game time announcement to be sure.

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/19/manu-ginobili-unlikely-for-game-2-which-sucks-for-spurs/

[Obstructed_View]

Game is Wednesday, 7:30 CST on NBA TV.

Fuckgoddamnshithellpissasscrap. The only Spurs playoff games I've missed since 1990 are the NBATV games in the last few years, and that includes when Paragon cable in San Antonio put them on pay per view.

Gotta find a neighbor with Dish Network I guess.

Fuck the NBA. Fuck Verizon.

[z0sa]

NBAtv? i'm assuming it's also being broadcast locally?

[duncan228]

NBAtv? i'm assuming it's also being broadcast locally?

Yup, on FSSW. Edited in. :)

[polandprzem]

You know what pisses me off?

When TP asked about Barkley comments well predictions that Memphis gonna win the series he said that Sir Charles should know better.

WTF?
You losing the series and you being cocky?



I remember the times when in the playoffs there were no shit talking. There was not much talking to give an extra motivation to the opponents.

[elbamba]

You know what pisses me off?

When TP asked about Barkley comments well predictions that Memphis gonna win the series he said that Sir Charles should know better.

WTF?
You losing the series and you being cocky?



I remember the times when in the playoffs there were no shit talking. There was not much talking to give an extra motivation to the opponents.

Your memory is short then. I remember Tim Duncan making the "we'll see who is standing at the end of the series" when Stackhouse dunked on Finley and stood over him afterwards in the 2006 playoffs.

Stop with the Parker hate, the Spurs will not win crap without a better performance from TP. This is not 2003 where we have someone who can fill in for him.

[Obstructed_View]

Yup, on FSSW. Edited in. :)

< In Dallas market. Fuck NBA some more.

[duncan228]

Based on what I've seen/heard over the past few days, I will be very surprised if Manu doesn't play. We'll see.

[z0sa]

Yup, on FSSW. Edited in. :)

:toast

[honestfool84]

You know what pisses me off?

When TP asked about Barkley comments well predictions that Memphis gonna win the series he said that Sir Charles should know better.

WTF?
You losing the series and you being cocky?



I remember the times when in the playoffs there were no shit talking. There was not much talking to give an extra motivation to the opponents.

exactly. that is exactly what i thought when i heard him say those things...

his demeanor, he said it with such a joking face, it was like... "oh, come on, you're going to take the Grizzlies seriously?"

it bothered me.

[honestfool84]

< In Dallas market. Fuck NBA some more.

don't worry. i will send you PMs on the hour, ever hour, with updates. :) :tu

[z0sa]

Yeah, TP doesn't have room to say shit after that clunker of a game.

[DesignatedT]

Tony just speaking the truth.

[Fermixalot]

Yeah, lets bash TP for having confidence? I'd say the team having the belief that Memphis isn't going to win the series is a good thing. Though having that belief backed up with a few wins wouldn't hurt...

[polandprzem]

Is it a confidence?
Or more like - who the fuck is memphis?

We give them no respect NONE!

[rmt]

Don't like this over confidence of TP or the minor changes of Pop. I hope his attitude is not - we got the shots we wanted - they just didn't go down. Playoffs are all about adjustments. If he doesn't see that they need to do something about Randolph/Gasol (like playing Splitter), there'll be going to MEM down 0-2. Randolph can play like that all game long - it's easy, high percentage baskets for him.

Hoping that Gasol doesn't play that way again or that Tony Allen doesn't get into foul trouble are wishful thinking. Hollins, OTOH, is playing his best players while Pop's second best defensive big is rotting on the bench.

[024]

if the grizzlies big continue to dominate, i think pop will be forced to play splitter some minutes. although i don't think splitter can have much impact, the spurs will have nothing to lose if gasol and randolph are on pace to go 19/25 again.

[duncan228]

National preview also out under this headline.

Spurs not sweating down 0-1 to Grizzlies (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-grizzlies-spurs)


Memphis at San Antonio (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011042024)
Tipoff: 8:30 pm EDT Wed Apr 20, 2011
TV: NBATV, FSSW
Paul J. Weber

No one is being called a dog this time.

Nor are the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, who couldn’t stop the Memphis Grizzlies from winning their first playoff game in franchise history, shaking things up for Game 2 on Wednesday. The possible return of All-Star Manu Ginobili would be about the only significant difference.

“We did the things we wanted to do and still lost,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

This time last year, Pop didn’t let his guys off so easy.

Back then, the Spurs were an underachieving, banged-up No. 7 seed who lost their playoff opener on the road by six to Dallas. Popovich didn’t spare his players afterward, ripping them as “dogs” and saying more people needed to “step up and play worth a damn.”

The Spurs got the message and ousted the Mavericks in six games. Yet when these 61-win Spurs lost Game 1 on Sunday to Memphis—a No. 8 seed of playoff novices, from coach Lionel Hollins on down—Popovich never appeared flustered.

Not when he thought the Spurs did almost everything right.

They had beaten the Grizzlies on the boards. They committed the fewest turnovers in five meetings with Memphis. Points off turnovers, points in the paint, fast-break points, second-chance points? All season-bests against the Grizzlies.

“If you had told me before the game that we would do all those things, I’d say it was a win,” Popovich said.

Instead, the Spurs lost 101-98 as the 33-year-old Ginobili watched from the bench, still resting a sprained right elbow after unsuccessfully lobbying Popovich to let him play. Whether Ginobili, who injured the elbow in the regular-season finale last week, returns for Game 2 likely won’t be known until just before tipoff.

The Grizzlies aren’t taking any chances. Hollins said he’s presuming the Argentine will be in the lineup and give San Antonio its second-leading scorer back.

“He lets Tony Parker be in the corner on the wing, and he handles the ball on the pick and roll, and now he throws it back out and there’s Tony Parker— who’s a jet—attacking the basket,” Hollins said. “They just miss one of their primary playmakers.”

Memphis is in uncharted territory. The Grizzlies were swept from their only three other playoff series—the last one in 2006—and have gone from a team eager to snap a winless streak to one that could become only the fourth No. 8 seed in NBA history to survive the first round.

The Spurs? This situation is much more familiar.

Not only have they lost their last six playoff Game 1s, but in each of their championship runs since 2003, they lost the opener of their first-round series. Most of the 2007 championship team is gone, but the Big 3 and Popovich remain, as well as forward Matt Bonner.

“Every year is different, but every year we won the championship we started with a loss,” Parker said. “It’s not the first time we lost Game 1, but hopefully it continues to our advantage.”

Parker led the Spurs with 20 points in Game 1, and got to the free throw line 16 times but he was just 4 of 16 from the field. George Hill, who started for Ginobili in the backcourt, wasn’t any better in shooting just 2 of 7.

“I was pretty mad with myself,” Parker said.

The Spurs are counting on their guards after the Grizzlies utterly dominated the frontcourt. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol combined for nearly half of Memphis’ points in Game 1 and shot a combined 19 of 25 from the floor.

Randolph said he’s expecting more double teams and more of the same looks.

And, this time, to see Ginobili barreling down the lane his way.

“He’s the Spurs’ best player,” Randolph said. “He’s left-handed like me. We’re both crafty players.”

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Team Stat Leaders

Points
Zach Randolph Mem 20.1
Tony Parker SA 17.5

Rebounds
Zach Randolph Mem 12.2
Tim Duncan SA 8.9

Assists
Mike Conley Mem 6.5
Tony Parker SA 6.6

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Series at a Glance
Grizzlies lead series 1-0

Game 1: at SAS
MEM 101, SAS 98 - Final
Recap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011041724) | Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011041724)

Game 2: at SAS
Wed, Apr 20 - 8:30 pm EDT
TV: NBATV, FSSW

Game 3: at MEM
Sat, Apr 23 - 7:30 pm EDT
TV: ESPN

Game 4: at MEM
Mon, Apr 25 - TBA

Game 5: at SAS
Wed, Apr 27 - TBA

Game 6: at MEM
Fri, Apr 29 - TBA

Game 7: at SAS
Sun, May 01 - TBA

Series Breakdown (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/playoffs/2011/memsas)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011042024

[duncan228]

Hit the link for more of Randolph's quotes.


Z-Bo sees himself in Blair (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/z-bo-sees-himself-in-blair/)
Tim Griffin

..."Blair is a young monster. I love his game,” Randolph said. “I have to tell the young fellow just keep working. Don’t listen to what anybody says. There’s going to be a lot of criticism. Just keep working and keep your head down low and know that you can play in this league and get better.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/19/z-bo-sees-himself-in-blair/

[Spursmania]

TP has no room to be cocky until all is said and done on the court. He should know better.

[DesignatedT]

No practice video today im assuming?

[duncan228]

No practice video today im assuming?

Video so far today.

Spurs Looking to Rebound

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2011/04/19/20110419_spurs_sound.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

Grizzlies Prepare for Game 2

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2011/04/19/20110419_mem_gm2_preview.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

[DesignatedT]

Thanks 228

[Mugen]

TP has no room to be cocky until all is said and done on the court. He should know better.

Tony being Tony. No problem with what he said as long as he backs it up tomorrow. He usually does.

[duncan228]

Just a couple of the questions, hit the link for the whole interview.


Q&A: Conley on the Grizzlies' lineup, series with the Spurs (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/grizzlies/2011-04-19-mike-conley-interview_N.htm)
By J. Michael Falgoust
USA TODAY

The Memphis Grizzlies head into Game 2 vs. the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday ahead 1-0 and with a chance to put the team with the best record in the Western Conference on the ropes.

Led by Zach Randolph's 25 points and 14 rebounds, Memphis won its first playoff game in the franchise's 16-year history in Game 1. The Grizzlies have overcome a season-ending injury to small forward Rudy Gay, inconsistent bench play, the relegation of shooting guard O.J. Mayo from the starting lineup and his botched trade to the Indiana Pacers.

Point guard Mike Conley, one of three Grizzlies to sign long-term extensions this season, talked with USA TODAY's J. Michael Falgoust this week:

...How different is it playing the Spurs without Manu Ginobili?

With Ginobili they are a different team and able to attack in different ways and do things that a lot of players in the NBA can't do. When they don't have him you'll see a more aggressive Tony Parker, a more aggressive Tim Duncan, George Hill, Gary Neal, all these guys. You still have your hands full. It's still a great team, with or without Ginobili.


...Is there one thing the Grizzlies must do — above all others — to knock off the Spurs, what is that?

Continue to move the ball side to side. That's the biggest key because if we just settle for first options the Spurs will kill us. They're a very good defensive team. As long as we are able to move the ball, give them different looks, misdirection looks, it's hard to defend any team in the NBA that swings the ball and throws it in the post pretty quick and let the big guy go to work.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/grizzlies/2011-04-19-mike-conley-interview_N.htm

[DPG21920]

Game is Wednesday, 7:30 CST, nationally on NBA TV and locally on FSSW.

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http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/18/pop-promises-no-major-changes-in-game-2/

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Practice Video 4-18-11

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177347

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http://www.48minutesofhell.com/san-antonio-spurs-grizzlies-gasol-randolph

I said the same thing after game 1. What major adjustments can they make? It's not like MEM did anything tricky. They run the same stuff over and over and they do it with discipline. Only a few times (early in the game) did they break away from their offense (Randolph 3PT attempt and Sam Young quick shot).

[Spurs Brazil]

It looks like the Spurs didn't practice today

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignment
Wed. Apr. 20
Memphis @ San Antonio: Scott Foster; Ron Garretson; Leon Wood; Alternate: Gary Zielinski

[EVAY]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignment
Wed. Apr. 20
Memphis @ San Antonio: Scott Foster; Ron Garretson; Leon Wood; Alternate: Gary Zielinski

Glad it is not Javie. Javie is always looking to help the road team. Unless it is the spurs.

[Spursmania]

I'm nervous about this game. The grizzlies are hungry and have the monkey off their back. I wish we could depend more on our role players like Hill, Bonner and Blair to really contribute.

[Fireball]

What would you have liked to be Tonys answer?

"Oh, definitely Charles is right. Memphis is indeed going to win the series. Definitely".

Yeah right.

[FromWayDowntown]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignment
Wed. Apr. 20
Memphis @ San Antonio: Scott Foster; Ron Garretson; Leon Wood; Alternate: Gary Zielinski

For whatever it's worth, some data:

PLAYOFF GAMES (since 1990), Spurs with:

Scott Foster
6-4 overall; 2-2 at home; 4-3 in First Round games

Ron Garretson
19-11 overall; 13-6 at home; 1-3 in First Round games

Leon Wood
2-0 overall; 1-0 at home; 2-0 in First Round games

[Fireball]

For whatever it's worth, some data

I didn't even know such statistics do exist ... and it tells us: nothing :lol

Just win the game !!!

[FromWayDowntown]

Glad it is not Javie. Javie is always looking to help the road team. Unless it is the spurs.

By the way, this is historically incorrect. Since 1990, of the officials who've done more than 5 Spurs road playoff games, the Spurs have done better on the road with only 1 official -- Scott Foster (4-2) -- than they have with Steve Javie (10-6)

[Fireball]

Steve Javie is a good referee ... I think he is a little more relaxed nowadays ... did he not have an illness or something?

[FromWayDowntown]

Steve Javie is a good referee ... I think he is a little more relaxed nowadays ... did he not have an illness or something?

Javie is, to me, the best official in the game. The perception that he favors road teams is, I think, false; I think he's just not particularly swayed by home crowds the way that many others can. He's definitely mellowed out over time; 15 years ago, he was antagonistic enough to make David Robinson curse in a post-game press conference (which is saying something).

[shelshor]

Steve Javie is a good referee ... I think he is a little more relaxed nowadays ... did he not have an illness or something?

IIRC-Javie missed most of 2009-10 with a knee injury & surgery

[tdunk21]

damn NBA tv.......gotta watch this game online

[duncan228]

Grizzlies want to get greedy for Game 2 (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/grizzlies-want-to-get-greedy-for-game-2/)
Mike Monroe

...Hollins has some playoff-savvy veterans to reinforce his message. Leading scorer Zach Randolph, with eight playoff games as a member of the Trail Blazers, also understands postseason dynamics.

“I tell (the young players) we can’t be satisfied with just getting a split,” he said. “We’ve got to try to be greedy and come back and win the second game and understand we’re here to win a series and not just win one game.

“I know it will be a tough game. It will be a dogfight and a physical battle. We’ve got to get ready and mentally ready, too.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/grizzlies-want-to-get-greedy-for-game-2/

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Game 2: Spurs’ keys to victory vs. Grizzlies (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/game-2-spurs-keys-to-victory-vs-grizzlies/)
Jeff McDonald

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/game-2-spurs-keys-to-victory-vs-grizzlies/

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Stakes higher, so Blair sacrifices favorite foods (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/stakes-higher-so-blair-sacrifices-favorite-foods/)
Mike Monroe

...So far, he said, he has lost between 15 and 20 pounds in a little more than two weeks. Maintaining dietary discipline is easy, he said, because the stakes are so high.

“Pop told me they were going to need me,” Blair said. “I’ve got to be ready at all times.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/stakes-higher-so-blair-sacrifices-favorite-foods/

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Mayo likes him some Manu (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/mayo-likes-him-some-manu/)
Tim Griffin

..."He’s a great player, an All-Star. A terrific playmaker,” Mayo said. “I couldn’t wait to meet or play against him because he’s so versatile.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/mayo-likes-him-some-manu/

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Spurs don’t see Manu taking superhero role (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/spurs-dont-see-manu-taking-superhero-role/)
Jeff McDonald

..."It’s not like he gets back and it’s, ‘We got Manu, we’ll be fine,’” forward Richard Jefferson said. “We’ve got to approach it with the intensity we approached the last game.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/20/spurs-dont-see-manu-taking-superhero-role/

[ajballer4]

Didnt realize they had alternates for Refs

[duncan228]

Views from the other side.


Grizzlies brace for return of Spurs' Manu Ginobili for Game 2 (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/griz-brace-for-return-of-ginobili/)
San Antonio hopes he's ready to play
By Ron Higgins
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Grizzlies assistant coach Damon Stoudamire spent the last 31 games of his 13-year NBA career as a member of the San Antonio Spurs at the end of the 2007-08 season.

His final pro stop was just long enough for him to get a clear understanding of the talent possessed by teammate Manu Ginobili.

"One night against Cleveland and LeBron James, he had 46 points (on 15-of-20 field goals, including 8-of-11 threes) and it was the easiest 46 points I'd ever seen," Stoudamire said. "Manu just has so many different ways to get it done."

Keep reading... (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/griz-brace-for-return-of-ginobili/)

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/griz-brace-for-return-of-ginobili/

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Emergence of young floor general Mike Conley big part of Grizzlies' success (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/exclamation-point/)
By Ronald Tillery
Memphis Commercial Appeal

He is no longer a conundrum.

Those days are history.

Mike Conley is confident, and the Grizzlies' calm, collected and uncontested answer at point guard.

The 23-year-old floor general also will wake up this morning having to play a big role in an important subplot to the Grizzlies' first-round playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs.

Amid wide-spread commentary geared toward Manu Ginobili's expected return from an elbow injury is a point guard duel that likely will play a large role in deciding the series.

Keep reading... (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/exclamation-point/)

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/exclamation-point/

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GEOFF CALKINS: Mayo shows moxie in most difficult season (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/mayo-shows-moxie-in-most-difficult-season/)
By Geoff Calkins
Memphis Commercial Appeal

O.J. Mayo is not going to apologize, OK? He's not going to apologize for that 3-pointer he hit at the end of the first quarter the other day.

Yes, it's possible that the clock operator was a tad slow Sunday, that he didn't get the clock started soon enough, and that if he hadn't dithered for a full second Mayo's shot would have been too late.

But if anyone in the game deserved a break, it's Mayo. He probably deserves a dozen more tonight.

"It's unbelievable what he's been through," said Mike Conley.

Keep reading... (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/mayo-shows-moxie-in-most-difficult-season/)

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/20/mayo-shows-moxie-in-most-difficult-season/

[Obstructed_View]

Didnt realize they had alternates for Refs

Only for the playoffs, if memory serves.

[FromWayDowntown]

Only for the playoffs, if memory serves.

Correct. Until yesterday, they didn't make the alternate's identity known (except to those in the arena who happened to notice the 4th official on the floor, pre-game, and knew who that 4th official was).

With Gary Zielinski in the offing if one of the other 3 goes down, I'm generally hoping for good health tonight for Scott Foster, Ron Garretson, and Leon Wood.

[z0sa]

For whatever it's worth, some data:

PLAYOFF GAMES (since 1990), Spurs with:

Scott Foster
6-4 overall; 2-2 at home; 4-3 in First Round games

Ron Garretson
19-11 overall; 13-6 at home; 1-3 in First Round games

Leon Wood
2-0 overall; 1-0 at home; 2-0 in First Round games

:toast Thanks. I always look forward to your referee analysis and records. I can't seem to find them anywhere else.