duncan228
04-24-2011, 01:45 AM
Duncan decline might signal a change for the Spurs (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-04/west-lookahead/story/memphis-grizzlies-hold-on-to-beat-the-san-antonio-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead)
Steve Greenberg
Sporting News
Look, it’s all relative.
The Grizzlies could win their first-round series against top-seeded San Antonio, and it wouldn’t even begin to undo the spindliest string that helps wind the Spurs’ gigantic ball of accomplishments. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich—they are greats of the game.
We all know that.
But now Zach Randolph, Memphis’ beast of a power forward, has a shot that rivals the most famous postseason basket in the career of Tim Duncan — whom many believe is the best power forward in the game’s history.
It may be the shot that sinks San Antonio once and for all.
You remember that 3-pointer Duncan hit to force double-overtime in Game 1 vs. Phoenix in the first round of the 2008 playoffs? It was his first 3 all season. The Spurs went on to win that bloody affair and that extraordinarily hard-fought series.
By the way, some might say the Suns haven’t been quite the same since.
In the final minute Saturday night, with the Grizzlies leading 88-86, the ball found Randolph standing alone on the right wing. Duncan didn’t leave the lane to defend Randolph, so the 6-9, 265-pounder did what any closer would do — he jacked it, even though he’d made only eight 3-pointers all season.
Bang.
“I didn’t assume that was in his arsenal that late in the game,” said Duncan.
All assumptions are out the window in this series. The Grizzlies began it with zero postseason victories in their history. Now they have two, with an opportunity to go up 3-1 on Monday night.
Oh, how that would rouse the NBA rabble.
Keep reading... (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-04/west-lookahead/story/memphis-grizzlies-hold-on-to-beat-the-san-antonio-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead)
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-04/west-lookahead/story/memphis-grizzlies-hold-on-to-beat-the-san-antonio-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead
Steve Greenberg
Sporting News
Look, it’s all relative.
The Grizzlies could win their first-round series against top-seeded San Antonio, and it wouldn’t even begin to undo the spindliest string that helps wind the Spurs’ gigantic ball of accomplishments. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich—they are greats of the game.
We all know that.
But now Zach Randolph, Memphis’ beast of a power forward, has a shot that rivals the most famous postseason basket in the career of Tim Duncan — whom many believe is the best power forward in the game’s history.
It may be the shot that sinks San Antonio once and for all.
You remember that 3-pointer Duncan hit to force double-overtime in Game 1 vs. Phoenix in the first round of the 2008 playoffs? It was his first 3 all season. The Spurs went on to win that bloody affair and that extraordinarily hard-fought series.
By the way, some might say the Suns haven’t been quite the same since.
In the final minute Saturday night, with the Grizzlies leading 88-86, the ball found Randolph standing alone on the right wing. Duncan didn’t leave the lane to defend Randolph, so the 6-9, 265-pounder did what any closer would do — he jacked it, even though he’d made only eight 3-pointers all season.
Bang.
“I didn’t assume that was in his arsenal that late in the game,” said Duncan.
All assumptions are out the window in this series. The Grizzlies began it with zero postseason victories in their history. Now they have two, with an opportunity to go up 3-1 on Monday night.
Oh, how that would rouse the NBA rabble.
Keep reading... (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-04/west-lookahead/story/memphis-grizzlies-hold-on-to-beat-the-san-antonio-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead)
http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/feed/2011-04/west-lookahead/story/memphis-grizzlies-hold-on-to-beat-the-san-antonio-spurs-take-2-1-series-lead