HarlemHeat37
05-19-2013, 02:37 PM
- The battle up front..
In the matchups against the Spurs during the regular season, the Grizzlies were actually approximately 7 points/per 100 possessions worse with the Gasol-Randolph combination on the floor..this success has been predicated on Tiago Splitter's defense and attack..Splitter played a big role in every Spurs-Grizzlies game in 2013..
The bigger problem for the Spurs frontcourt will be guarding the mid-range jump shot..Marc Gasol's jump shot has been more dangerous than his post game, and this Spurs team has a history of allowing other teams' bigs to thrive on mid-range jump shots..
Darrell Arthur has been terrible for most of the year, but this could be the series to revive him, he'll get plenty of good looks, tbh..
Keys: Splitter's production; Bonner vs. Darrell Arthur..
- Make the weak links beat you..
The Spurs did a horrible job of strategizing against the Warriors in games 1&2..they double teamed Harrison Barnes, closed out too hard on guys like Bogut and Green, etc..
The Spurs adjusted by staying glued on Curry and Thompson and allowing Barnes, Jack and the rest of their guys beat them, which was the obvious move..
Against the Grizzlies, it should be the opposite..they should send double teams at Zach Randolph and close out hard on Mike Conley..
Marc Gasol is too good at passing and is often reluctant to shoot, I'd rather let Tim play him and make him score..his passing allows guys like Tony Allen to get backdoor cuts, etc..it also allows Z-Bo to get easy looks under the basket..
Kawhi Leonard should be swarming and disrupting their offense by sagging off Prince..he should be helping on the mid-range jump shots and double-teaming Zach Randolph..
Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen are both shooting around 25% from 3..don't leave them wide open, obviously, but the Spurs can't stupidly over-play them like they tend to do at times..make them beat you with their jump shots, Memphis's offense sucks for a reason, tbh..
Overplaying them also allows Tony Allen to backdoor cut, which is his best offensive trait..
Keys: Don't be afraid of Prince and Allen, make them beat you, particularly Prince; don't let Marc Gasol get others involved, make him a scorer;Kawhi Leonard's swarming..
- Bench production..
Jarred Bayless is a prototypical Spurs killer-type of player..he can get hot in a hurry, and he's their best volume guy..
Gary Neal should not be guarding Bayless at any point, tbh..it should be Joseph, Green and Leonard on Bayless, the Spurs can't let him get going..
Arthur is obviously a concern, as he displayed in 2011, but Quincy Pondexter has been hot in the playoffs, as well..
The Spurs bench, when it's playing up to it's potential, should be vastly superior..
Keys: contain Bayless with Joseph/Green/Leonard; make your 3s..
- Refs..
The Grizzlies live on physicality..they rely heavily on refs allowing them to play physical..
Zach Randolph got Nick Collison in foul trouble all series, mostly on questionable calls, forcing OKC to play Perkins, ultimately killing their chances..
Keys: hope the officials don't let them back all series; Splitter's foul total; Splitter, Ginobili and Parker need to flop as much as possible, tbh
In the matchups against the Spurs during the regular season, the Grizzlies were actually approximately 7 points/per 100 possessions worse with the Gasol-Randolph combination on the floor..this success has been predicated on Tiago Splitter's defense and attack..Splitter played a big role in every Spurs-Grizzlies game in 2013..
The bigger problem for the Spurs frontcourt will be guarding the mid-range jump shot..Marc Gasol's jump shot has been more dangerous than his post game, and this Spurs team has a history of allowing other teams' bigs to thrive on mid-range jump shots..
Darrell Arthur has been terrible for most of the year, but this could be the series to revive him, he'll get plenty of good looks, tbh..
Keys: Splitter's production; Bonner vs. Darrell Arthur..
- Make the weak links beat you..
The Spurs did a horrible job of strategizing against the Warriors in games 1&2..they double teamed Harrison Barnes, closed out too hard on guys like Bogut and Green, etc..
The Spurs adjusted by staying glued on Curry and Thompson and allowing Barnes, Jack and the rest of their guys beat them, which was the obvious move..
Against the Grizzlies, it should be the opposite..they should send double teams at Zach Randolph and close out hard on Mike Conley..
Marc Gasol is too good at passing and is often reluctant to shoot, I'd rather let Tim play him and make him score..his passing allows guys like Tony Allen to get backdoor cuts, etc..it also allows Z-Bo to get easy looks under the basket..
Kawhi Leonard should be swarming and disrupting their offense by sagging off Prince..he should be helping on the mid-range jump shots and double-teaming Zach Randolph..
Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen are both shooting around 25% from 3..don't leave them wide open, obviously, but the Spurs can't stupidly over-play them like they tend to do at times..make them beat you with their jump shots, Memphis's offense sucks for a reason, tbh..
Overplaying them also allows Tony Allen to backdoor cut, which is his best offensive trait..
Keys: Don't be afraid of Prince and Allen, make them beat you, particularly Prince; don't let Marc Gasol get others involved, make him a scorer;Kawhi Leonard's swarming..
- Bench production..
Jarred Bayless is a prototypical Spurs killer-type of player..he can get hot in a hurry, and he's their best volume guy..
Gary Neal should not be guarding Bayless at any point, tbh..it should be Joseph, Green and Leonard on Bayless, the Spurs can't let him get going..
Arthur is obviously a concern, as he displayed in 2011, but Quincy Pondexter has been hot in the playoffs, as well..
The Spurs bench, when it's playing up to it's potential, should be vastly superior..
Keys: contain Bayless with Joseph/Green/Leonard; make your 3s..
- Refs..
The Grizzlies live on physicality..they rely heavily on refs allowing them to play physical..
Zach Randolph got Nick Collison in foul trouble all series, mostly on questionable calls, forcing OKC to play Perkins, ultimately killing their chances..
Keys: hope the officials don't let them back all series; Splitter's foul total; Splitter, Ginobili and Parker need to flop as much as possible, tbh