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I think this game is a win. I have a feeling Parker out is more of addition rather than subtraction.
Memphis (25-19) at San Antonio (26-18)
Game info: 8:30 pm EST Fri Jan 29, 2010
TV: SS, FSSW
By Brett Huston
The Memphis Grizzlies have learned to win games with defense during their remarkable run since mid-December, and that’s exactly how they beat the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month.
Even with the blueprint to beat the Spurs, winning in San Antonio has been another matter.
The Grizzlies will catch a break as they try to avoid their 10th straight loss at the AT&T Center on Friday night, though, as the Spurs won’t have Tony Parker due to an ankle injury.
Memphis (25-19) has won 15 of 19 games since Dec. 18, a record that’s the best in the Western Conference in that stretch and has helped move it into playoff position.
The Grizzlies have averaged 106.7 points in that stretch, but they’ve displayed some defensive prowess over the past few weeks. Memphis held San Antonio (26-18) to 41.4 percent shooting in a 92-86 home win Jan. 16, and limited its last three opponents to 90.3 points per game - 13.1 below its average allowance.
One of the biggest reasons for that defensive improvement is center Marc Gasol, who’s one of five players in the league to average at least 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal.
Gasol has also refined his offensive game, giving the Grizzlies a fourth scorer that averages at least 15.0 points alongside Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. Gasol had 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals in Wednesday’s 99-93 win at Detroit.
Memphis has won its past four games in which it failed to score 100 points after going 2-11 in its first 13 such contests.
“We’re a different team,” Gasol told the NBA’s official Web site. “We’ve changed our mentality and we’re working harder.”
The Grizzlies have won their past three games by six points or fewer, and Wednesday’s victory was their 25th - one more than they had last season.
“This time last year, we couldn’t wait until it was over,” Mayo said. “This year, we know who our next opponent is and we’re really looking forward to playing our next opponent. We feel like it’s another test for us, to prove we’re one of the best teams in the NBA.”
A win in San Antonio for the first time since Feb. 26, 2005, would tie the Grizzlies with the Spurs for second place in the Southwest Division, and they won’t have to worry about one of San Antonio’s top offensive threats.
The Spurs snapped a three-game losing streak Wednesday with an impressive 105-90 win over Atlanta, but Parker sprained his left ankle and will sit Friday and possibly Sunday against Denver.
“We’re going to have to adjust to it,” said Tim Duncan, who grabbed a career-high 27 rebounds and scored 21 points. “We’re trying to get something going here and then we lose Tony. We’ll find a way to get it done.”
Parker averaged 18.6 points and 7.0 assists during the Spurs’ nine straight home wins over the Grizzlies, but he was held to four points in the loss in Memphis last month.
Duncan and the Grizzlies’ Randolph each had 23 points in that game - Randolph has scored 20 or more in eight straight games - but the Spurs will want to keep close tabs on Mayo. The third overall pick of the 2008 draft has averaged 30.5 points in his two visits to San Antonio - the last of which was a 106-103 overtime loss on Dec. 27, 2008.
*********************
Team Stat Leaders
Points
Zach Randolph Mem 21.0
Tim Duncan SA 19.9
Rebounds
Zach Randolph Mem 11.6
Tim Duncan SA 10.8
Assists
Mike Conley Mem 5.0
Tony Parker SA 5.8
Last edited by duncan228; 01-28-2010 at 10:31 PM.
I think this game is a win. I have a feeling Parker out is more of addition rather than subtraction.
I would love to see Ian get Bonner's 10-15 mins a game for the next month in order to see what the kid's got. Bonner can always come back at that time if he doesn't meet the expectations and hopefully not have to play with a glove on his hand.
If he exceeds expectations that would be a huge boost because the spurs are really missing the presence of another 7 footer that can rebound and alter shots in the paint.
just play with the same intensity that was against the Hawks. don't fall asleep.
RJ and Manu go off, book it
We're going to need all we have... I think we can pull this one off... it would be great too, to start building from the last game...
Friday: Grizzlies (25-19) at Spurs (26-18)
Time: 7:30 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350
STARTING LINEUPS
POS - SPURS - GRIZZLIES
PG - 3 George Hill (6-2, 2nd yr) - 11 Mike Conley (6-1, 3rd yr)
Parker injury sets up meeting of Indianapolis-bred point guards.
SG - 10 Keith Bogans (6-5, 7th yr) - 32 O.J. Mayo (6-4, 2nd yr)
Bogans has 35 starts at SG, but spot could go to Mason or Ginobili, too.
SF - 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 9th yr) - 22 Rudy Gay (6-8, 4th yr)
Battling back spasms, Jefferson was 0 for 6 in teams' previous meeting.
PF - 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 13th yr) - 50 Zach Randolph (6-9, 9th yr)
Randolph punished Spurs with 23 points, 15 boards last time out.
C - 34 Antonio McDyess (6-10, 15th yr) - 33 Marc Gasol (7-1, 2nd yr)
McDyess responded to second start since Dec. 19 with 17 pts. vs. Hawks.
SPURS RESERVES
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 6th yr
45 DeJuan Blair, C/F, 6-7, 1st yr
4 Michael Finley, G/F, 6-7, 15th yr
20 Manu Ginobili, G, 6-6, 8th yr
8 Roger Mason Jr., G, 6-5, 6th yr
28 Ian Mahinmi, C/F, 6-10, 3rd yr
42 Theo Ratliff, C, 6-10, 15th yr
GRIZZLIES RESERVES
1 DeMarre Carroll, F, 6-8, 1st yr
26 Lester Hudson, G, 6-3, 1st yr
45 Steven Hunter, F/C, 7-0, 8th yr
34 Hasheem Thabeet, C, 7-3, 1st yr
10 Jamaal Tinsley, G, 6-3, 8th yr
5 Marcus Williams, G, 6-3, 4th yr
4 Sam Young, F/G, 6-6, 1st yr
COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Grizzlies: Lionel Hollins
INJURIES
Spurs: Tony Parker (sprained left ankle) is out. Michael Finley (sprained right ankle) is day-to-day.
Grizzlies: Darrell Arthur (right pectoralis surgery) is out.
PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Malik Hairston, Parker
Grizzlies: Arthur, Hamed Haddadi
NOTABLE
Entering Thursday, Grizzlies were seventh in Western Conference, the highest they've been in the standings since 2005-06, when they last made the playoffs. ... Memphis owns an 11-game home winning streak, but is just 8-14 on the road. ... Grizzlies won Jan. 16 meeting 92-86 in Memphis, despite not logging a field goal in the final 5:26.
- Jeff McDonald
Referee Assignments
Fri. Jan 29
Memphis @ San Antonio: Bill Spooner; James Capers; Scott Wall
Game Preview: Spurs vs. Grizzlies
by Jesse Blanchard
In a game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the spotlight might not glow very bright George Hill, but for a night at least, it’s yours–even if it is only on Fox Sports Southwest.
An outstanding backup point guard? Sure. A quality shooting guard? Check. But the lead guard for the entire night? He’s done it before but it will be interesting to see how far he has come given the majority of the minutes at point guard.
Hill is certainly a different type of point guard. He lacks Tony Parker’s scoring chops and creative ball handling, leading to fewer shot attempts and forays to the basket. This often leads fans to confuse Hill as a pass-first, pure point guard.
In previous descriptions of Hill’s game, I’ve mentioned that Hill has lacked that elusiveness that the game’s best creators have. Changes of directions and speeds. A lot of his drives are in straight lines, taking advantage of driving lanes presented to him as opposed to creating them himself. For this reason, I wonder if Keith Bogans doesn’t cede his starting spot to Manu Ginobili or Roger Mason to take some of the playmaking pressure off Hill.
I will say that slowly, Hill has added more creativity to his game and given a chance to run the offense more, it will be interesting to see how the game plays out.
Joining him in the starting lineup will presumably be Antonio McDyess, whose 17 points against Atlanta gives hope that the Spurs will have a viable big frontline down the stretch of games. That will be needed tonight against the Grizzlies and their new (never thought I’d write this) All-Star forward Zach Randolph.
Essentially trading Pau Gasol for Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol is still among the questionable trades in the recent NBA history, but Randolph’s surprising play this season has at least given Grizzlies general manager a leg to stand on.
Hopefully Hill can hold down the fort until Tony Parker can do the same.
Its pretty easy to get going offensively against these guys, but defensively its tough. The Grizzlies can put up a lot of points.
Spurs are favored to win, even without Parker, interesting..probably due to Memphis' poor road record..
FINLEY IS GOING TO BE ACTIVE?!..the savior has arrived!..
Finley it says is day to day . I'd say he's out still...
Can we have a vBookie for this game, please? It's going to be tough to guess because TP is not playing, but I think that's what makes it interesting to bet on...
C'mon Pop put Roger Mason in the starting lineup, Hill and Mason are used to each other and have shown some good chemistry together in the past!
With 11 rebounds, Duncan will reach 11,000 for his career.
The milestones keep coming.
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