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The Grizzlies were built to beat the Spurs a few years ago. Nobody has their number this year. I don't think it makes any difference. Just be healthy and playing well, try to get as many home games as possible.
Golden State
Memphis
Houston
Portland
LA Clippers
10 games to go in playoff. Every team playing for position winning and losing game so they don't end up playing a team they can't handle.
The worst Spurs can end up is 8th.
I think spurs will prefer Portland.
The Grizzlies were built to beat the Spurs a few years ago. Nobody has their number this year. I don't think it makes any difference. Just be healthy and playing well, try to get as many home games as possible.
Avoid the Dubs as long as possible, but if they can get HCA in the first round against Portland I'd go for that.
Just for reference:
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/matchups
Get the 3 or 4 seed and your guaranteed at least one HCA. History is mostly against a team winning it all on the road. Don't think this Spurs team can pull that off. And tbh, it doesn't make any sense prolonging a meet up with the Warriors. I'd rather it be sooner than later.
Portland is far and away the easiest potential matchup. Now that they've lost Wes Matthews, they're not much of a threat at all. I'd be shocked if they took us to 6 games without him.
Unfortunately, I think we'll end up playing the Clippers or Rockets. I think we can beat both of them, but I don't see it being an easy series, especially if we don't have HCA (which we probably won't).
I'd probably rather play Memphis over those two teams tbh. We match up well with them and they've been pretty shaky over the past month or so.
I want the Warriors last, let other teams tire curry and klay out with hard screens and . And while hca is an advantage, I've always felt it was overrated. The reason top seeds make the finals so much is cause they've shown to be elite in a 82 game sample. Having 1 extra game at home that you don't often even get to is nice to have but overblown in terms of importance. Though I wouldn't mind having a better record than Cleveland just in case
Easiest matchup for the Spurs are the Grizzlies by far.
Obviously the Blazers would be the best first round matchup since it is very unlikely for the Spurs to meet the Thunder in the first round.
The Rockets would be the worst followed by the Grizzlies/Clippers/Mavs.
Portland is probably an easy sweep, tbh..they aren't a playoff-caliber team without Matthews, especially in the West..
In order of preference(realistic, since Mavs/Thunder aren't getting a top 5 seed):
1. Portland
2. Memphis
3. LAC
4. Houston
I would not want the Grizzlies with Jeff Green. Although we do have Kawhi Leonard, this team still feels like it has a hard time defending long, stretch 3's. A good thing is that they don't have a consistent shooting guard who's a three-point threat.
As long as this team plays like a team, I think we're good.
Portland
Houston
Memphis
in that order
Batum has been really bad this season (he's been playing with a wrist injury that has affected his shooting) Affalo isn't as good as of a defender or shooter as Matthews. Less of an issue to put Parker on Affalo than it was for Parker to guard Matthews who posts smaller guards.
Splitter played well defensively against Aldridge an Duncan can score against Lopez. Ginobili didn't play very well last postseason against the Blazers but he got the the rim fairly easy. Belinelli played his best against the Blazers last year in the regular and postseason.
The Rockets may be without Beverly meaning Terry and Prigioni would split minutes at PG. Neither are the defender that Beverly is. Terry adds shooting and Prigioni, play-making, (even though its minimized with Harden)
Their front court is pretty deep with Howard, Montejunas, Jones and Smith after Harden that would be the biggest challenge. They have 3 stretch forwards that can draw a big out and attack off the dribble.
Jeff Green hasn't been good. They really only have 3 shooters (Conley, Lee and Carter). They rely on points in the paint and FTs. That not a good game plan against the Spurs. I'd prefer Portland but I'd feel confident the Spurs could be the Grizzlies in 5 or 6 games.I would not want the Grizzlies with Jeff Green. Although we do have Kawhi Leonard, this team still feels like it has a hard time defending long, stretch 3's. A good thing is that they don't have a consistent shooting guard who's a three-point threat.
As long as this team plays like a team, I think we're good.
What do you guys think of Memphis playing GSW in the 2nd round? LA has a good chance of overtaking them...They still have to play Paul, GSW and SAS and they look so bad right now I wouldn't be surprised if the lose against NOP, WAS, UTAH.
1. Warriors
2. LA
3. Houston
4. Portland
5. Memphis
6. SA
7. Dallas.
tough 1st and 2nd round, but you get memphis playing GSW...
Portland
Memphis
LA
Houston
Don't get the fear for Memphis. They haven't matched up well with the Spurs since 2011. I don't want to take Houston lightly. I feel like they will expose our weak perimeter defenders.
Well there you go - HCA is an advantage. The only people who really say it's not important are teams that are 5th through 8th seed. Having one extra game at home means if you screw up at home you have a better chance of recovering.
They weren't in '11 either, manu was hurt and Pop wouldn't play splitter. The whole reason we match up so well with them is cause we're one of the few teams that can match them inside. And they can't keep up with our shooting.
Well maybe Im not articuling what I want to, 1 extra game at home is a slight advantage, not a big one. Of course it's better to have it than not, but nothing great imo.
People that are scared of Memphis
I would prefer the Lakers, tbh
Memphis is really starting to fade; Spurs beat them Saturday they'll have a real shot to pass them. Hopefully Houston cools off soon.
WESTERN W L PCT GB HOME ROAD DIV CONF PF PA DIFF STRK L10 1 y - Golden State 59 13 .819 - 34-2 25-11 11-3 35-8 109.8 98.9 +10.9 Won 8 9-1 2 x - Memphis 50 23 .685 9 ½ 27-9 23-14 8-6 31-14 98.7 95.6 +3.2 Lost 2 5-5 3 x - Houston 49 23 .681 10 27-10 22-13 6-6 28-17 103.5 100.2 +3.2 Won 3 7-3 4 Portland 45 25 .643 13 28-7 17-18 9-3 25-16 102.5 98.1 +4.4 Won 1 4-6 5 x - LA Clippers 48 25 .658 11 ½ 27-10 21-15 9-3 30-14 106.4 100.2 +6.2 Won 6 8-2 6 San Antonio 46 26 .639 13 28-8 18-18 5-7 25-19 102.7 97.5 +5.2 Won 2 7-3 7 Dallas 45 28 .616 14 ½ 25-12 20-16 7-8 24-20 104.2 100.9 +3.3 Lost 1 5-5 8 Oklahoma City 41 31 .569 18 27-9 14-22 8-5 21-22 103.4 101.0 +2.4 Lost 1 7-3 New Orleans 38 34 .528 21 24-13 14-21 7-6 22-20 99.2 98.8 +0.5 Won 1 5-5 Phoenix 38 34 .528 21 21-16 17-18 6-8 20-23 104.2 103.6 +0.5 Lost 1 6-4
We can make up some ground with the two games we have against 'em in April. Doubt we win both though. This team is far too inconsistent on the road
Fully expect a split tbh. Need to check their schedule; looks like they have a fairly road-heavy finish.
feels like we aren't making up any ground. like we are stuck at 6.
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