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Prince has been mostly trash this playoffs. He's washed up, tbh.
Great writeup by Timvp. I'm just as pessimistic heading into this series for all the reasons that were articulate above.
In order for the Spurs to win, the following must occur:
- Spurs must carry their stout defensive mindset, borne from the last series, into this next series.
- Splitter MUST play with an increased level of physicality against the Memphis bigs
- Spurs role players MUST contribute on a consistent basis to offset the decline of Ginobili and the overall occasional fatigue of Big Three
- Bonner cannot and should not play even limited minutes. This is not a series for him because it's all about physicality and Bonner doesn't meet the challenge. He proved it so memorably a couple of years ago, when he sucked on both ends of the court.
- This series screams for additional physicality. It would ideal for Pop to do the unthinkable - insert Baynes for some brief minutes. Given the fact that there is no more physical big on the roster, any limited contribution from Baynes, even in a very limited role, could come in handy. Of course, this will never happen, but he would certainly be a more viable option for this series than Bonner.
Prince has been mostly trash this playoffs. He's washed up, tbh.
We'll see. That's not a given. Prince is a good defender but not as good as when he was with the Pistons. He's older and slower while he's gonna have to deal with a 21 year old, rising star in Leonard.
Good take.
Rudy Gay wasn't a factor in 2011, as he was injured, so his absence changes nothing. The Grizzlies, however aren't the same team. Aside from that one game in Memphis, the Spurs were IN each of those games in 2011 and had chances to win them. If O.J. Mayo's 3 ball, which was after a buzzer, had rightfully been waived off, and or if Parker doesn't leave Shane Battier open for that last minute 3, the Spurs win Game 1. Both Battier and Mayo are gone [to a lesser note, so is Gay]. While their offense is only strong on the inside, they aren't known for their perimeter game. With Prince on the wing, I think Memphis's perimeter defense has only gotten better. Kawhi is a significant improvement over RJ & a confident and tough [key words] Splitter will make it more difficult than McDyess did at that time. We're better offensively, than last time, but their defense has gotten better enough to offset it. In the end, it's going to be a whole lot on Tim & Tiago's shoulders. I agree that Baynes should get more PT at this point than Bonner or Blair, but you know Pop and his schizo rotations. The Spurs will have to execute to perfection and take care of the basketball. If they can do that, I'll say Spurs in 6 or less. Every little play will make the biggest difference in this series IMO.
GO SPURS GO!!!
Both teams are different today when compared to a couple of years ago. You have to think our chances are better today than back then.
They're an exceptional team but have lost a few players that cause us fits: Battier, vasquez, mayo. Not that bayless will be easy but I'll take that trade off.
That being said, no one can guard zbo. He's listed at 260 but plays a lot heavier than that, we will need ALL our available fouls. I think we'll be playing their game if you just try and defend him straight up, thats what everyone does. We have to make them uncomfortable:
Pack the paint ala the first series, make him guess if he should put the ball on the floor or not, then when he does it's traffic city, he has to pass. And then of course pop may even front him to start. Let's see what their rotation is like.
Also put a body on gasol when he's at the top of the key. He is able to pass and shoot too freely. Put a body on him, he's not the player to put the ball on the floor from way out above the free throw line.
Conley is very under rated, i dont know how he gets 28 pts but he does. It'll be green or kawai on him, with tp stuck on prince. Pop will make prince take over like he did with barnes or jack.
Memphis reminds me of how the Spurs and Pistons played in the mid-'00s. More like the Pistons -- no superstars, grind-it-out, tough as nails. They play "the right way."
These Spurs are the output of a Pop project to see how far a team can go when an aging Tim Duncan with less lateral quickness means they can't play "the right way" anymore, and have to rely more on backcourt offense.
Emotionally it feels like Memphis, the team that plays "the right way," should win. But looking at the matchups... not so fast. Compared to the Spurs team that lost two years ago to the Grizzlies, Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green represent a lot more size and length. Memphis isn't going to be able to feast inside like they did two years ago.
It's funny, all the perimeter players will probably shut each other down. Tony Allen can shut down Parker, Prince can shut down Ginobili. On the other side, Leonard can shut down Prince and hopefully Green can contain Conley. No one really holds the advantage in the perimeter in this series. However, the Grizzlies have a massive advantage inside the paint and that will be the difference. Splitter needs to get his head out of his ass because it's going to be a tough series inside the paint. The bench would usually be the saving advantage for the Spurs but they've been playing mostly like lately. Bonner/neal and even Diaw needs to find ways to score.
1. Thunder stayed close in every game w/ Perkins playing at a negative PER. Duncan just needs to rebound and play D, any efficient or reliable scoring is a bonus.
2. Everyone's hurting at this point in the year. Parker had a few miraculous games against GS, and chasing Curry/Jack/Barnes around on D had him gassed most of the other games. One day off between games will do that.
3. Don't need him to carry the team, just let the game come to him. Manu is a facilitator for the 2nd team, something the Grizzlies sorely lack.
4. Splitter played against undersized 4s this entire series. He'll be fine banging down low. Nobody is gonna stop the Grizzlies front line, but he's just as well equipped as most big men to slow them down. He doesn't need to be laterally mobile against the Grizzlies.
5. Bad bad BADS. Leonard and Green are great double teaming bigs, and they're just as good staying home on shooters. The Grizzlies will have to do literally 80% of their scoring down low if they want to have Allen/Prince/Conley in the game.
6. Baynes.
7. Yes, we all have terrible memories of Neal against the Grizzlies. He's never done anything but screw up against the Grizzlies.
8. He'll be fine. Nobody the Grizzlies can bring off the bench will make him pay for any lack of experience.
9. The Grizzlies offense is as good as Randolph's fluctuating shooting percentage, assuming Gasol and Randolph stay out of foul trouble. Conley is ok, but with Green or Leonard on him he's got nothing. Prince is basically Diaw-level passive at the SF. Allen, just no. This Grizzlies team isn't designed to blow people out but to win tight games scoring most of their points down low. It comes down to their AVERAGE offense versus our PRETTY GOOD defense, and their GREAT defense versus our PRETTY GOOD offense.
10. I don't know where this "know who they are" about the Grizzlies comes from. Hollins ed and moaned constantly about the Gay trade. Prince looks either confused or just bored on offense. Is Arthur their first big off the bench? Hollins doesn't seem to have an answer. Their backup PG is Keyon Mother ing Dooling. Their sixth man is Jarryieid Bayless. Come the on. They were down 2-0 to the Clippers in round 1 and people were ready to throw Hollins in a wood chipper cause he wasn't playing Allen. They figured things out and won the next four, then beat the equivalent of the Lakers. Spurs beat the depleted Lakers, then figured things out against the red-hot Warriors and shut down their two offensive threats.
This is why:
Did the Golden State series feel like it lasted forever? Seriously. It was painful to watch and just seemed to drag on. Even last night's game felt like it lasted about 5 hours.
I don't think the Spurs will win either. Their offense was too good for Memphis during the regular season. It's not at that level right now. But here are some things I think work in the Spurs' favor:
1) I think they lacked focus the first two games against GS and that was a huge reason why this series went 6 games. They shouldn't have struggled, make no mistake about it. However, they'll be locked in against Memphis because you know they'll want revenge. Basically, if they lose it's because they're not good enough, not because they're underestimating an opponent.
2) The Spurs haven't really had problems with defending frontcourts this year. Statistically, a jumpshooting team like GS gave the defense more problems, no? Obviously they're not gonna shut down ZBo and Gasol, but I'd be surprised if they struggled with them like they did in 2011.
3) The Grizzlies are arguably just as flawed offensively as the Spurs. Both teams lack a true superstar, and the Grizzlies lack outside shooting. The Spurs haven't exactly been shooting lights out, though. Both of these factors typically lead to playoff exits.
well that and spurs no longer have RJ
Why? That's the bench Pop will ride until the end. If the Spurs bench don't out produce the Grizzlies bench, things will get ugly.
Sports books have Spurs as slight favorites to advance at -125
Does this well-articulated individual do the trick?
timvp
what an attention
this series could go either way easily
saying either team is overwhelming favorite is plain silly
I'm skeptical too (not because of the overrated, limited Grizzlies, but because of Parker's and now Leonard's health, as well as this team's penchant for melting down in the playoffs . . . though I must say, the unexpected 3 days off between games 2 and 3 could very well swing the series in favor of the Spurs), but to say the Grizzlies should be an overwhelming favorite is just plain stupid. roycrikside already tore your pathetic, "emo" post to shreds though, so I won't bother elaborating.
timvp is just trying to insulate himself from the soul crushing disappointment we felt last year when we just assumed the Spurs were winning it all.
Leonard will be ok. He doesn't have to play as much as he did against the Warriors.
Can I go out on a limb and say Spurs sweep?
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