Spurs at Grizzlies Game Six Previews

[duncan228]

Game is Friday, 8:00 CST on ESPN nationally.

Preview is also out under another headline.

Grizzlies can finish off improbable upset at home (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-spurs-grizzlies)


San Antonio at Memphis (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011042929)
Tipoff: 9:00 pm EDT Fri Apr 29, 2011
TV: ESPN
Teresa M. Walker

The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t ready to curl up and quit against the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, especially with Game 6 on their home court.

Grizzlies forward Shane Battier says Memphis is electric, and he sees no problem with his teammates rebounding from Wednesday night’s 110-103 overtime loss in San Antonio. They are trying to become the fourth No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a top seed to win a playoff series, holding a 3-2 lead going into Friday night’s game.

“Ah, pressure, shmessure,” Battier said. “We’re playing with house money. I still contend that. We’ve proven we can come in here, and we’ve played well. So we want to win because we want to win, and we want to play well because we want to play well. Bottom line.”

His teammates say they can’t wait for Game 6 and would’ve tipped at noon Thursday if they could. Neither can their fans. Tickets went on sale Thursday morning, and the franchise notched its fastest sellout ever less than an hour.

Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said they aren’t dwelling over Gary Neal’s dagger of a 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to force overtime or that the Spurs avoided elimination by outscoring them 13-6 in the extra period.

“We’re ready to play,” Conley said. “After we lost (Wednesday) night, we can’t wait to get back in front of the fans and put on a show for them and get a win.”

Memphis fans would welcome a series-clinching victory Friday night. Neal’s shot dredged up painful memories of Mario Chalmers’ three-pointer for Kansas at the end of regulation against the Tigers in the 2008 NCAA national championship game. The Tigers, Memphis’ first basketball love, let a title-clinching lead dwindle away with Chalmers’ three-pointer forcing OT where Kansas finished off the victory and the title.

Making it even worse those Tigers lost in San Antonio.

The Game 5 loss was so bad for Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph that he barely slept. He scored 18 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime but couldn’t help Memphis hold on for the win. Randolph said the Grizzlies know they were supposed to have won that game but also understand Neal hit a tough shot.

Now the Grizzlies face a must-win.

“We don’t want to go back” to San Antonio, Randolph said.

That might sound odd considering only eight NBA teams have ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. Then again Memphis had never even won a playoff game before this year, let alone a series.

If any team is capable of such a rally, it could be the Spurs. They won 61 games in the regular season and have Tim Duncan trying to add a fifth NBA title to his resume—with help from veterans Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Spurs weren’t available Thursday, but Ginobili said wininng in Memphis will be hard. He sees the Grizzlies playing with an edge, made even more dangerous by a packed arena eager to watch the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed go out.

“It’s going to be wild and rough,” Ginobili said. “We’ve got to be smart, just don’t give them the ball and let them run and make silly mistakes. Just use our experience. That age that everybody talk about we have to use it smart.”

The Spurs lived to play another game thanks to Neal’s shot and Ginobili’s own long jumper. But Duncan had only six points in his last game in Memphis. Parker’s shooting touch has come, and mostly gone, in this series. Ginobili keeps battling with a fat brace protecting his sore right elbow.

Ginobili said he didn’t think the Spurs showed the heart of a champion and just got lucky with two key shots.

“We were very close to being on vacation now,” Ginobili said.

That leaves the Spurs trying to keep feeding off the energy from Neal’s shot, which helped them finish off overtime.

“Like a new life,” Parker said. “It gives us a lot of energy. I was so happy.”

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins is brushing this off as just a tough loss. The Grizzlies had their share in the regular season, including one to Sacramento where Tyreke Evans hit a half-court buzzer beater in late December. Memphis wound up clinching its first playoff berth in five years against that same team in April.

“If you play cards, you lose a hand, you don’t stop playing,” Hollins said. “You keep competing, and the next night you go out and compete again.”

*********************

Team Stat Leaders

Points
Tony Parker SA 17.5
Zach Randolph Mem 20.1

Rebounds
Tim Duncan SA 8.9
Zach Randolph Mem 12.2

Assists
Tony Parker SA 6.6
Mike Conley Mem 6.5

*********************

Series at a Glance

Grizzlies lead series 3-2

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
MEM 87, SAS 93 - Final
Recap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011042024) | Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011042024)

Game 3: at MEM
SAS 88, MEM 91 - Final
Recap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011042329) | Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011042329)

Game 4: at MEM
SAS 86, MEM 104 - Final
Recap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011042529) | Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011042529)

Game 5: at SAS
MEM 103, SAS 110 - Final OT
Recap (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2011042724) | Box Score (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2011042724)

Game 6: at MEM
Fri, Apr 29 - 9:00 pm EDT
TV: ESPN

Game 7: at SAS
Sun, May 01 - TBA
TV: ABC

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


Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in San Antonio and AP freelance writer Clay Bailey in Memphis, Tenn., contributed to this report.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/preview?gid=2011042929

[duncan228]

NBA playoff preview: Grizzlies-Spurs, Game 6 (http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-04-28/nba-playoff-preview-grizzlies-spurs-game-6)
Sean Deveney
Sporting News

...ON THE SPOT

The Grizzlies are young, and it is up to coach Lionel Hollins to make them forget the disappointment of Game 5. Hollins said he had told his players to take away the 3-point line, but they didn’t, and their failure to do so is on his shoulders. Speaking about the overtime period, Hollins said, “I think we were down after the loss of the lead, then they tied it up at the end. We had too many guys that were hurt and not mature enough at this stage to let it go.”

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2011-04-28/nba-playoff-preview-grizzlies-spurs-game-6

[duncan228]

NBA.com Video: Spurs vs. Grizlies: Game 6 Lookahead

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/playoffs/2011/04/28/0041000146_mem_sas_gm6_lookahead.nba/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

[1Parker1]

“We’re ready to play,” Conley said. “After we lost (Wednesday) night, we can’t wait to get back in front of the fans and put on a show for them and get a win.”

I have a really bad feeling about this game...I think it may actually be a blowout by the Grizz...kind of like what the Lakers are doing to the Hornets tonight in their closeout game.

[duncan228]

Just a piece of Hollins' quote, hit the link for the whole thing.


Hollins to Grizzlies: ‘Let it go’ (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/28/hollins-to-grizzlies-%e2%80%98let-it-go%e2%80%99/)
Mike Monroe

...“You just have to let it go,” Hollins said. “We’ve had tough losses before. In Phoenix we lost to a three at the buzzer. We lost to Sacramento with a 75-foot shot at the buzzer, after we scored to take the lead.”


..."It’s the nature of the game,” Hollins said. “It hurts and it’s a difficult loss because of the magnitude of where we are. It’s a loss any way you look at it, and we just have to let it go.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/28/hollins-to-grizzlies-%e2%80%98let-it-go%e2%80%99/

*********************

Spurs-Grizzlies Game 6 keys to victory (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/28/spurs-grizzlies-game-6-keys-to-victory/)
Jeff McDonald

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/28/spurs-grizzlies-game-6-keys-to-victory/

[NRHector]

for some reason I still don't feel any urgency from the Spurs like if they don't care if they lose, am I wrong?

[DMC]

I love the "preview" aspect, as if you get to see clips of the game before it's played.

:D

[ajballer4]

Isn't it 8 CST?

[Dingle Barry]

Isn't it 8 CST?
Yes.

[DMC]

for some reason I still don't feel any urgency from the Spurs like if they don't care if they lose, am I wrong?
They care, but there's only so much you can do. Outside of that it's basketball and they have a summer to enjoy.

[Fireball]

I have a really bad feeling about this game...I think it may actually be a blowout by the Grizz...kind of like what the Lakers are doing to the Hornets tonight in their closeout game.

You are right ... last night showed how tough elimination games are even if you are the home team ... neither NO or Portland could pull it off. It might need another miracle for the Spurs to win game 6, but these miracles are hard to come by.

Nonetheless ... GO SPURS GO !!!

[Yorae]

Honestly, I just want one final championship for timmy before he retires, I mean seriously.....Please win, guys....

[spurs50_]

Can anyone guess the combined points Bonner and Jefferson will have? I think, maybe, they will hit double digits together....What a waste

[101A]

Honestly, I just want one final championship for timmy before he retires, I mean seriously.....Please win, guys....

That statement right there tells me how good we as Spurs fans have had it. NO OTHER small market team, in any sport, has enjoyed a run of this length and success.

I am satisfied as a Spur's fan for at least a decade.

[101A]

I have a really bad feeling about this game...I think it may actually be a blowout by the Grizz...kind of like what the Lakers are doing to the Hornets tonight in their closeout game.

No team closes like a P. Jackson team. What makes you think these Memphis Grizzlies, less than two weeks removed from their very first playoff win ever, can?

Tight sphincters are a real possibility.

[Obstructed_View]

Either the Spurs are a championship team, in which case they'll show up for 48 minutes and take care of their business, or they never were and the season ends tonight.

[Cessation]

Either the Spurs are a championship team, in which case they'll show up for 48 minutes and take care of their business, or they never were and the season ends tonight.

I agree, the test has come early, but they have to pass it regardless, if they have any aspirations at that ring.

[FromWayDowntown]

That statement right there tells me how good we as Spurs fans have had it. NO OTHER small market team, in any sport, has enjoyed a run of this length and success.

I am satisfied as a Spur's fan for at least a decade.

Small market or big market, in the NBA there are only 3 teams in the entire history of the league that have won as much as the Spurs have in the last decade and a half.

[shelshor]

http://www.nba.com/news/referee.html
Referee Assignments
Fri. Apr. 29
San Antonio @ Memphis: Dan Crawford; Jason Phillips; Bennett Salvatore--Alternate: Sean Wright

[rasho8]

Spurs need to start Neal over RJ, stay with Splitter and TD as a first unit.

Second Unit Hill, RJ Bonner, Dice and Blair. I like this against Mem second team cause it will give RJ more scoring chances, Bonner can spread the floor, Dice can play high and Dice low.

This is a solid Rebounding unit as well.

This is a terrible idea.

Tim, Tony, Manu, Dyess and Neal start
Tiago, Hill, Bonner and RJ sub.

Everyone else stayed glued to the bench.

[Old School 44]

Another preview piece from ESPN.

Can Spurs stave off elimination again?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2011/news/story?page=5-on-5-110429-Grizzlies-Spurs

[biskvito]

hopefully Spurs got some confidence and maybe Memphis starts missing shots and making turnovers at a higher rate.

[TampaDude]

hopefully Spurs got some confidence and maybe Memphis starts missing shots and making turnovers at a higher rate.

You have to think that the Grizzlies have some doubt creeping in now, even if they won't admit it. Hopefully, the pressure will get to them and we can steal this game. If the Spurs win Game 6, Memphis will be broken mentally, and the Spurs will cruise to victory in Game 7.

[Dingle Barry]

can anyone guess the combined points bonner and jefferson will have? I think, maybe, they will hit double digits together....what a waste
13

[BAO]

We're HUNTING Grizzly tonight!

http://nbaspotlight.com/spurs/Ginobili_Hunting_Grizzly.jpg

[GrandeDavid]

for some reason I still don't feel any urgency from the Spurs like if they don't care if they lose, am I wrong?

If the Spurs lose, I'll look back and maybe wonder if there was some complacency, but my hope right now is that they are just being silent assassins, veterans ready to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. I think that Neal's subdued reaction to that season saving bomb showed the professionalism of this team. Imagine how Joakim Noah would've reacted? His nappy wig would've been flopping around the court, screaming so hard he'd have burned about 500 calories doing so.

Anyway, I'm hoping that the Spurs are just all bidness. This is no time for humility and feeling "lucky" as Manu stated. This is time to win at all costs. Tim must find a way to show up in the second half, particularly the third quarter to steady this team.

[TJastal]

If the Spurs lose, I'll look back and maybe wonder if there was some complacency, but my hope right now is that they are just being silent assassins, veterans ready to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. I think that Neal's subdued reaction to that season saving bomb showed the professionalism of this team. Imagine how Joakim Noah would've reacted? His nappy wig would've been flopping around the court, screaming so hard he'd have burned about 500 calories doing so.

Anyway, I'm hoping that the Spurs are just all bidness. This is no time for humility and feeling "lucky" as Manu stated. This is time to win at all costs. Tim must find a way to show up in the second half, particularly the third quarter to steady this team.

:tu

[Spur-Addict]

Conley wants to, "Put on a show". Yeah, ok bro. I hope Tony feeds off that OT performance and lights you up.

[Horse]

You gotta think sooner or later hopefully tonight the grizz will finally just play a bad game, not get all the rolls and bounces and just be off. Maybe we can make them play bad.

[spurs10]

Go Spurs! Yes the Spurs need to methodically dismantle these guys like they've done so many times in the past. We will need to show great poise in the 2nd half and be prepared for their energy coming out of the half. I think the real sleeping bear has awoken.

[mingus]

Either the Spurs are a championship team, in which case they'll show up for 48 minutes and take care of their business, or they never were and the season ends tonight.

Exactly.

[DesignatedT]

Play Gary Neal and tell him to launch 3s.

[duncan228]

Isn't it 8 CST?


Yes.

:oops Sorry, first post edited. :)

[duncan228]

Spurs’ hope: The return of Parker (http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/04/29/spurs-hope-the-return-of-parker/?ls=iref:nbahpt1)
Fran Blinebury
NBA.com

MEMPHIS – There was much for the Spurs to celebrate in the way Game 5 ended, not the least of which were the five wild points they scored in the last 2.2 seconds of the fourth quarter that forced overtime and led to their victory.

First, Manu Ginobili hit his improbable shot from right in front of the San Antonio bench, when he admittedly could not even see the rim. Then there was rookie Gary Neal’s 25-footer that settled into the net (http://www.nba.com/playoffs/2011/westseries1/?v=/video/channels/playoffs/2011/04/28/0041000145_mem_sas_play13.nba) as time expired.

But those were fleeting moments. If there is a larger reason for the Spurs to be jubilant and hopeful, it was the return of Tony Parker to being his typically effective self.

The former All-Star and NBA Finals MVP had been losing the head-to-head matchup with Grizzlies’ point guard Mike Conley for the first four games of the series. But Parker finished with 24 points and nine assists on Wednesday night.

“That’s the most confident he’s played in the series,” said Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. “We’ve been trying to figure out why he hasn’t been more aggressive, especially with his shot. He’s been hitting that mid-range shot all year long and done a great job with it.”

Parker drove the bus in overtime, making 3-of-5 shots as the Spurs pulled away for the win and it was his 14-foot pull-up jumper with 1:33 left that put his team in front for good.

“I’ve shot well all season long,” he said. “I’ve been working hard making shots in practice. It’s about time I made one.

“That last one, I played one-on-one like I’ve been doing all season. I’m just happy they went in.”

Parker shot 51.9 percent from the field in the regular season, but has often struggled to find a rhythm going against Conley and the Grizzlies, connecting at only 43.4 percent.

Not only was he more effective with his own shot, but Parker also jumpstarted the other Spurs in Game 5, dishing eight of his nine assists in the first half. He was particularly effective getting the ball to Tim Duncan about 10-12 feet from the basket, so that the Spurs’ big man could turn and face the basket rather than play bump-and-grind in the low post with Memphis’ Marc Gasol.

“That was one game and we still have more work to do to get the series tied,” Parker said. “What I would like to do is build on this.”

If there is going to be a Game 7 back in San Antonio, Parker will have to again be the architect.

http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2011/04/29/spurs-hope-the-return-of-parker/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

[DesignatedT]

Parker should have more confidence tonight then he's had all series after that overtime showing. Lets hope he continues to let them fly and they go in.

[DBMethos]

One of these days, the Conley/Allen/Young trio are going to remember that they're scrub jumpshooters and start missing shots like they're supposed to. Hopefully that's tonight.

[duncan228]

Can the Memphis Grizzlies Close Out the San Antonio Spurs? (http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/04/can-the-memphis-grizzlies-close-out-the-san-antonio-spurs/)
by Marcel Mutoni
SLAM

The San Antonio Spurs know they’re lucky to still be playing (http://www.slamonline.com/online/media/slam-tv/2011/04/video-gary-neals-forces-overtime-vs-grizzlies/) Playoff basketball. Hell, they flat-out admitted this (http://www.emakshow.com/?p=7809) much following their incredible, thrilling Game 5 over the upstart Memphis Grizzlies.

Though understandably shell-shocked by the crushing defeat, Memphis has a chance to put the Spurs away for good tonight (and potentially, Game 7 back in San Antonio), and the Grizz claim that they can’t wait to get back on the court (http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/apr/29/playoffs-game-6-spurs-at-grizzlies-8-pm-today/?partner=RSS).

From the Commercial Appeal:


Zach Randolph couldn’t sleep. Mike Conley and several teammates spent the night watching their Game 5 loss again and again. The Grizzlies insist that they won’t be reeling when their playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs shifts back to FedExForum tonight for Game 6. They’ll be restless. “I wish we could play right now,” Randolph said Thursday shortly after a noon film session.

“We’ve always played better with an edge,” Griz forward Shane Battier said. “After two wins we may have lost it. But being around us (Thursday), I have a feeling the edge is back.” History still is on the Grizzlies’ side. Only eight teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. Plus, the Spurs are 0-5 all time when facing that situation since Tim Duncan arrived. San Antonio has to win three consecutive games to break those trends. The last time Memphis lost three straight was Dec. 17-21. “We’re confident,” Randolph said. “It’s going to be a tough game. Everybody is going to have to contribute to get this win. It’s definitely a must-win situation.”

Lionel Hollins strongly advised his team to forget (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/2011/04/28/hollins-to-grizzlies-%E2%80%98let-it-go%E2%80%99/) the shock of the Game 5 loss, and judging by their statements to the media, they’re ready to do just that.

Now, it’s only a matter of the 8th seed knocking off a proud, veteran championship team (which won the most games in the Western Conference this season.) No big deal, right?

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2011/04/can-the-memphis-grizzlies-close-out-the-san-antonio-spurs/

[lazerelmo]

Game 5 was the turn around. From here on out its smooth sailing.

It's gonna be funny to see how many contested 3's Neil puts up tonight. You know how he gets after he's made one.

:flag:

[beirmeistr]

We're HUNTING Grizzly tonight!

http://nbaspotlight.com/spurs/Ginobili_Hunting_Grizzly.jpg


Great photo--now if only the bear's head was Randolph's head