I agree, before game 2 grizz were riding a 3 game win streak against the spurs. Pop needs to look at game 3 as a must win, it's like a 2 for 1, giving the edge to the spurs if they can win it. No doubt, if grizz lose 2 in a row, their play will come down a notch. Game 5 doesn't even matter, since its a given spurs will close it out on their home floor.
The Spurs had one of the WORST officiated games in memory, missed a ton of FTs, had Parker MIA, and won by 8.
I like our chances.
Oh, and every game that MEM won this year was with one of the Big Three out. WITH the Big Three, we are 3-0 against MEM this year.
No way. Spurs played amazing defense; completely shut down the Grizzlies strength. Manu also uncharacteristically missed a bunch of free throws.
Other than the turnovers, I was pretty pleased overall.
My assessment didn't apply to the first two games, yours did. I was basing how good they are on how they played during the season. They played as well as any of the elite teams in the league after their 12-13 start. You ignored that to suggest that they're somehow playing way above their heads so far in this series. They aren't, and that's the realistic take. There's not anything they've done in the first two games that's outrageously lucky. The Grizzlies are probably seeing all the missed opportunities to win game 2.
Who do you think will win this series?
Tell me how is Manu's elbow and I'll answer your question.
Game 3 has to be Parker's efficient game.
I don't really have a clue. But I can say with confidence that the Spurs control their own destiny. They're making the games too close by not getting the ball to their three point shooters, not blocking out or defending worth a crap inside (Dice), not taking care of the ball and not shooting or rebounding well. They shore up a couple of those things and they win it in five. But the Grizzlies are a damn talented team, and proably better than any 8 seed in a while and they're not just going to give up. They have good inside play, good slashers, two of the best individual perimeter defenders in the league, and great team defense.
During the season Memphis went 17-24 against teams above .500, you'd think a team playing at an elite level, would have a positive record against "other" good teams.
Grizz are 3-3 against the spurs this year, including the playoffs. In the wins spurs were missing one of the big three, and grizz shot 55%. In the losses the spurs big three were healthy, memphis shot 40%. You'd think a team playing at an elite level, and would be able to beat the spurs when their healthy, at least once.
The reason the threes aren't flying is because MEM is playing that same damn hedge defense the Lakers threw at us. Their big doesn't show on the P'n'R, conceding the mid-range jump shot that we do NOT want, but denying the rim, and allowing the outside defenders to NOT help off of our shooters.
Gotta disagree. I don't know about game one, but in game two, the Grizzlies showed almost every single time*. The Spurs never made the crosscourt pass to the corner, but it was open a lot when the defender sagged into the paint. I think the Spurs were simply too excited that Manu was back and fixated on penetrating.
That Laker defense doesn't work well on the Spurs when they're aggressive because Manu and Parker see a one on one with a center as a mismatch and go right to the rim trying to draw a foul.
* I say almost because there might have been one time that I didn't see. The Lakers run that because Bynum is so immobile out in space and they're better off having him stand there like an oak tree.
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