How do you beat Memphis?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

I keep thinking and thinking and thinking.

But really...

How do you beat a team that is bigger, stronger, longer, faster, and more aggressive at every-single-position on the floor?

How do you do it? There is not one position on the floor that exists that the Grizzlies are not physically superior.

How do you overcome that?

[ducks]

attack
get their point guard in foul trouble
then allen

ran back with tp so he is not a one man fast break

[Cant_Be_Faded]

attack
get their point guard in foul trouble
then allen

ran back with tp so he is not a one man fast break

Marc got his first foul in game three with 11:50 to go in the first quarter.

We are incapable of attacking him to take advantage of that because for every position that exists in the game of basketball for the Spurs, the Grizzlies have a corresponding player that is bigger, stronger, faster, longer, more athletic.

[Sean Cagney]

mentally...........

[mingus]

The Spurs have beaten more physically talented in the teams in the past by being smart. It's the equalizer and it's the one thing the Spurs HAVE always been able to count on, but for whatever reason it's not there from the coach down to the players. Tony Parker with all his unforced TOs, RJ having brain farts at critical times (i.e. that one pass that wasn't there where he tried to get it to TD had me pulling my hair out), and Pop with stupid rotations and not calling a TO at the end.

the Spurs look like a stupid basketball team. for the first time in the Duncan Era, they've been outsmarted by an opposing team in the playoffs. what's so fucking embarassing is that the opposing team has ZACH FUCKING RANDOLPH AND TONY ALLEN ON IT.

[ALVAREZ6]

Average performance from Parker and use of Splitter and less use of Blair/Bonner automatically ends this series in the Spurs' favor.

[Nbadan]

get RANDOLPH in early foul trouble..,,spurs guards should be driving at Randolph

[Splits]

Their strength is their frontcourt. The Spurs strength is their backcourt. So far, the Memphis backcourt has bested the Spurs, mainly due to Tony's JV play. But even when TP sucks donkey dicks, our bench perimeter scorers should be able to make up the difference. But they too have sucked. Hence, when you watch this Spurs team it seems like a team we haven't seen all year long. Make some fucking shots and wins are easy. Our guards have collectively sucked, and they need to put up more points.

[rmt]

Average performance from Parker and use of Splitter and less use of Blair/Bonner automatically ends this series in the Spurs' favor.

This.

[rude1_79]

Make shots.

[tlongII]

Spurs = Class


You beat them with class. :tu

[phxspurfan]

Their strength is their frontcourt. The Spurs strength is their backcourt. So far, the Memphis backcourt has bested the Spurs, mainly due to Tony's JV play. But even when TP sucks donkey dicks, our bench perimeter scorers should be able to make up the difference. But they too have sucked. Hence, when you watch this Spurs team it seems like a team we haven't seen all year long. Make some fucking shots and wins are easy. Our guards have collectively sucked, and they need to put up more points.

Could this be because we're playing a team that plays defense?

[ElNono]

Everybody shows up... it's fucking Memphis for crying out loud...

[InRareForm]

Something tells me Spurs win by 15 tommorow.

[ElNono]

The faster and stronger is debatable also, and you missed one extra trait: talent... Conley isn't faster, stronger or more talented than Tony... Allen/Battier/Mayo are not faster or more talented than Manu... Vazquez isn't faster/stronger/more talented than Hill... Gasol might be stronger than Tim, but he ain't much quicker or talented... When we roll the turd towers is when we're tilting the field in their favor, making guys like Arthur look like a pro...

[dallaskd]

show up to the game

[Spurs da champs]

Gasol isn't stronger then Tim or taller he's just fatter. It's just coaching and adjustments & Pop is getting outcoached big time.

[siraulo23]

Play to the level their capable of, in particular parker, simple as that
Play solid, execute and dont make mental errors down the stretch

[DJ Mbenga]

hope their bigs have an off night, get 200 fts like you did in SA so their defense suffers with reserves in. that means 3s are open and the spurs shoot 10 of 20 from 3

[ElNono]

hope their bigs have an off night, get 200 fts like you did in SA so their defense suffers with reserves in. that means 3s are open and the spurs shoot 10 of 20 from 3

I'll take this too... :lol

[mexicanjunior]

Bench Bonner...play Splitter...get Dejuan Blair to make his layups...get George Hill to be more agressive...get Gary Neal to play more in control...get Parker to at least play in 2003 form...

[G-Dawgg]

Play small....outquick them in the full court. Their bigs will not be able to keep up with our smaller lineup, their team will not be able to keep up with a lineup of Tony, Hill, Jefferson, Manu and Duncan. And actually HIT the open threes that are given to us in the half court sets. We failed to do this in game 3...

[mexicanjunior]

Play small....outquick them in the full court. Their bigs will not be able to keep up with our smaller lineup, their team will not be able to keep up with a lineup of Tony, Hill, Jefferson, Manu and Duncan. And actually HIT the open threes that are given to us in the half court sets. We failed to do this in game 3...

Gasol and Randolph would have a field day posting up that lineup...

[xellos88330]

Zach Randolph is the heart and soul of that team. You need to attack him relentlessly. Exploit his defense. Get him into foul trouble. If this happens consistently, the Grizzlies will crack.

If you can't do that. It all depends on Parker being "All-Star" Parker for the rest of the series as long as Popovich is going to go with the same rotations. He needs to get that jumper to start falling. Chip needs to get to work. If Conley continues to go under the screen, Parker needs to make him pay. He also needs to start finishing around the rim and stop giving the ball up so easily. Quite a few of his turnovers were unforced. Also the rest of the Spurs need to be ready to run on the break. TP can't be the 1 man fast break every time.

Also, Pop should play Splitter a few minutes. Shake things up with the rotation and make Memphis adjust. It could possibly take them out of their comfort zone. It couldn't hurt too bad for a 5 minute stretch in the 1st.

[Pauleta14]

play smarter

[G-Dawgg]

Gasol and Randolph would have a field day posting up that lineup...
True, but we'd be able to put up numbers quicker than them and we may be able to tire-out their bigs....

[Isitjustme?]

Put Splitter on Randolph.

[Proxy]

Inject confidence in Parker.

[Fireball]

TP has to be more aggressive, put Splitter in and hit at least 30% on threes ...

[Obstructed_View]

Showing up would be nice.

[TampaDude]

Score more points than the Grizzlies.

[johnnyblues]

Tony effin Parker.

[Jimcs50]

um, how about hit 3 pointers in some semblance of their regular season percentage?

[GrandeDavid]

Average performance from Parker and use of Splitter and less use of Blair/Bonner automatically ends this series in the Spurs' favor.

100% agree with you.

[hater]

wake parker up. otherwise just go home and end your misery

[CubanMustGo]

This is a fucking 8 seed. It's not like plenty of other teams didn't beat them this season. Play with some confidence, get Splitter some PT, hit more than 20% of your 3FGAs, and gotdammit Tony pretend you've been in the league more than a couple of days.

[ElNono]

If you want to get Tony going, run a few isos for him one-on-one against Conley... he should be able to burn him... Make them have to send help, leaving somebody else open. At that point, it comes down to making the right decisions...

[GSH]

You make layups, point-blank shots, and free throws. The Spurs would be up 3-0 right now, if they had done those three things. Seriously, people, the Griz aren't exactly blowing us out of these games.

[Capt Bringdown]

Average performance from Parker and use of Splitter and less use of Blair/Bonner automatically ends this series in the Spurs' favor.

This. Splitter can take minutes from Dice/Blair/Bonner. Folks are concentrating on Blair/Bonner, and for good reason, but Dice is part of the problem too IMO.

[ducks]

This is a fucking 8 seed. It's not like plenty of other teams didn't beat them this season. Play with some confidence, get Splitter some PT, hit more than 20% of your 3FGAs, and gotdammit Tony pretend you've been in the league more than a couple of days.

so why are the lakers 2-2 to a 7 seed without their second best player

[Budkin]

Parker needs to pull his head out and we need to hit our 3s.

[sa_butta]

1

[SenorSpur]

I keep thinking and thinking and thinking.

But really...

How do you beat a team that is bigger, stronger, longer, faster, and more aggressive at every-single-position on the floor?

How do you do it? There is not one position on the floor that exists that the Grizzlies are not physically superior.

How do you overcome that?

Here's how you overcome it. Add a few players of similar ilk over the offseason. Players that would allow you to better match their length, size and physicality.

[SenorSpur]

The Spurs have beaten more physically talented in the teams in the past by being smart. It's the equalizer and it's the one thing the Spurs HAVE always been able to count on, but for whatever reason it's not there from the coach down to the players. Tony Parker with all his unforced TOs, RJ having brain farts at critical times (i.e. that one pass that wasn't there where he tried to get it to TD had me pulling my hair out), and Pop with stupid rotations and not calling a TO at the end.

the Spurs look like a stupid basketball team. for the first time in the Duncan Era, they've been outsmarted by an opposing team in the playoffs. what's so fucking embarassing is that the opposing team has ZACH FUCKING RANDOLPH AND TONY ALLEN ON IT.

And let's not forget the important fact that the reason the Spurs can't squeeze teams in crunch time, as they have before, is partly because they are no longer a superior defensive team. They simply cannot get stops in the manner in which we've all become accustomed. Combine that with stupid turnovers and the offensive struggles, and this is what you get - down 2-1 to a younger, physically stronger, but inexperienced team.

[Obstructed_View]

Honest to God, do any of you guys remember seeing the Spurs have so many layups and chip shots rim out?

[lefty]

- Start Hill instead of Parker and tell him to harass Conley - disrupt his rythm.
- Play Tiago
- Don't play Bonner

[Dex]

Honest to God, do any of you guys remember seeing the Spurs have so many layups and chip shots rim out?

Almost seems like the Spurs have been cursed recently. Shots rim out. Bad bounces go against them. Even routine plays like driving around a screen or throwing a post up pass are turning into turnovers.

What's worse is every time the Spurs miss a bunny or blow an opportunity, it always seems to lead to a 4 or 5-point-swing. Blow a layup on one end, and the other team gets out and scores on the other. This has been happening consistently since after the All-Star Break and has lead to several of these late game breakdowns.

Couple that with Memphis playing like gangbusters, and it's a recipe for disaster. The defining point was Zach Randolph's three on Saturday. I was honestly more shitty about losing to that shot than losing the game altogether. Spurs make a good defensive stand, get possibly one of the worst shots out of Memphis they can hope for, and ZBo still swishes it for three. It just exemplified that the Spurs just can't catch a break.

A small part of it comes down to hoping the laws of averages play their hand before the series is over. The rest of the substantial portion comes down to execution and attention to detail (oh, and making a damn three here or there would make things significantly easier, too). The Spurs can't afford to wait for things to start going their way.

[41times]

You have GOT to win the Turn over battle.
And you have got to shoot a higher percentage of shots.

Because theGrizz will get more rebounds and more 2nd chance points.

Take Care of the Ball and the Ball will take care of you!

[spurtech09]

take care of the ball....alot of ball movement.....get blair more involved ....team basketball....maybe get splitter involved.....tony needs to be more agressive.....rj needs to be more agressive....neal needs to start taking more shots

[spurtech09]

spurs are capable of scoring alot of points....stop holding back at let the pigeons lose......

[Muser]

You hope Randolph doens't hit any more bullshit 3's

[Ari Gold]

you dont

[MannyIsGod]

So far looks like OKC is wondering the answer to this as well although its early. This series should let us know if Memphis was just one of the best 8th seeds ever.

[1Parker1]

So far looks like OKC is wondering the answer to this as well although its early. This series should let us know if Memphis was just one of the best 8th seeds ever.

:lol Yea, they're playing lights out. Although honestly, it would help ease the sting of the Spurs first round loss if Memphis goes on to win this series against OKC as well miraculously.


Oh and Spurs fans in SA who went to the games should be humiliated....just listen to this crowd in OKC. I don't think there was a single game in SA that had a crowd this electrifying.

[MannyIsGod]

Spurs fans are spoiled. Gonna take a long time of not winning to remind people what its like. I don't blame them too much for that. Still though, the games leading up to the playoffs in 99 probably cost me years of hearing. Its amazing how hungry the fans were then.


But yeah, I want Memphis to win so at least we can say that Memphis wasn't a regular 8th seed.

In fact dream situation is Dallas beating LA and then Memphis beating both OKC and LA.

[mingus]

If Conley played great against Parker, can u imagine Fisher? Lmao.

They're just a great team. I can see them taking LA

[Snaq O'Meal]

To beat the Grizzlies:

1. Spread the floor

2. Kill them with 3-point shooting

3. Play small to counter their size

4. Spread the floor

5. Do not adjust, make them adjust

6. Remember the stonecutter's credo: we may fail the first 99 times, but we will succeed on the 100th attempt

7. Spread the floor

Lastly, remember that the coach with 4 rings knows best!