Game Preview #45: Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs
by silverandblack_davis on Jan 29, 2010 4:00 AM CST
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I'm still not satisfied with that win over Atlanta, and we need to get some payback against the Grizz. Also, this Memphis squad is creeping up behind the Spurs in the standings. Lots of things to worry about, people. Hack preview, after the J.
I will now shamelessly post some choice quotes from the Hawks game, see if it helps with the mojo or for whatever use it may serve.
Coach Pop
I thought we played and executed pretty well for most of the 48 minutes for more of the game than we have lately. Tim was a monster on the boards and I thought Richard showed some good aggressiveness tonight, that’s what we have been looking for. It was a good night.
On if Antonio McDyess starting was a matchup adjustment
Not necessarily. We just like the offensive balance. He did a real fine job. He is getting more and more comfortable shooting the ball and not deferring to people. He played well around the rim tonight. He has always been a solid player; it’s just a matter of him finding a spot for himself. Hopefully that’s happening.
On the injury to Tony Parker
No one is going to replace Tony Parker. Everyone will step up and we will play hard and play to win.
(Play to win? Did I read that correctly?)
Dice Dice Baby
They have very athletic guys just like Chicago. Josh Smith is a great shot blocker in the middle and you have to take it to his body and be aggressive. We definitely did that tonight.
Rage Against the Overpaid
On learning the Spurs system
I just have stick with it – the opportunities are going to come. I haven’t shot the ball well the last few games but you can’t let your confidence go down since you might get frustrated or annoyed. You have to stay the course. Coach Pop does a good job of telling me to focus on other things like rebounding and defense – the offense will come. When you have been doing things for quite a few years and then get into a new system, you are going to have your ups and downs.
Hawkers
"I vil now abzorb yer jumpshot skillz"
Josh Smith on Tim Duncan
I think we did a good job on Tim at the beginning but you have to remember he’s an All-Star and a future Hall of Fame player. Tim finds ways to get his game open and make his shots. Tim attacked the rebounds tonight and got some easy put backs and shot extremely well from the free throw line. When Tim gets going early it normally carries the entire night.
Jamal Crawford on Timmay
Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players of all time. He’s just so smart on the court and you always have your hands full when you play against him. Tonight was a big team effort for San Antonio and they were ready to play tonight. The Spurs were very hungry for a win and you felt that vibe from the start of the game.
I got nothing, so have a lame Grizzly Bear fight!
Since the All-Star reserves (Congrats, Z-Bo! What? No no no, you're not getting a cheeseburger! You got selected as an All-Star! You still prefer the cheeseburger over it? Are you kidding me? You're... hopeless.) have been announced and the All-Star Weekend fast-approaching, here is a clip of Conan 'O Brien wreaking havoc in the 1995 All-Star game in Phoenix. This also explains the origin of David Robinson's nickname, "The Admiral." High comedy. (thanks to BDL for the original linkage)
 Memphis Grizzlies @ San Antonio Spurs Where: AT&T Center - San Antonio, TX When: January 29, 2010; 7:30 PM Spurs time Watch: FSN Southwest
How They Stack Up
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Matchups
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 George Hill Tony who? |
No Tony tonight, but George has been ballin' the last few games with his newfound role as a starter. Conley's solid but not spectacular, so I gotta give Albatross some white box props. |
 Mike Conley Former Buckeye |
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 Manu Ginobili FSM's son |
Shooting Guard This isn't a slight to Mayo, whose game compares reasonably well to that of Manu. We'll count on Keith Bogans to try to quiet him down early on, before unleashing Manu on them. Manu gets the edge for his incredible passing and playmaking. Advantage: Spurs |
 O.J. Mayo Grocery List |
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 Richard Jefferson $14 Million Man |
Small Forward Rudy is better, unless Rage shows us otherwise. I doubt it. Advantage: Grizzlies |
 Rudy Gay Less of a Ballhog |
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 Tim Duncan What year is it? |
Power Forward Zach has been reaaally good this season, and gave us fits during the first encounter. I'm kinda hoping he gets in touch with his inner Jailblazer and sucks tonight. Meanwhile, Timmy just set a career high in rebounds at age 33. Sweet. Advantage: Tied |
 Zach Randolph Former Jailblazer |
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 Antonio McDyess SAM |
Center Maybe Pop will start Dice again after he played another good game the last timeout. But if not, I put him in anyway because I wanted to match up Blair and Thabeet at the reserves. On the other end, Baby Brother Gasol is cool and he's good. Pau is ugly.
Advantage: Grizzlies |
 Marc Gasol Might be better than Pau |
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 DeJuan Blair Blairness Monster |
Bench & Role Players Who cares about Blair's college buddy Sam Young? We want to see a Thabeetdown! Advantage: Tied |
 Hasheem Thabeet Tanzanian Devil |
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 Gregg Popovich Wino |
CoachLionel Hollins just might win COY if he gets these Grizzlies into the playoffs. As for Pop? Maybe he should start caring putting up a decent streak and creating separation in a very tight division. Advantage: Spurs |
 Lionel Hollins Potential (Cursed) COY |
| images via yahoo.com | ||
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Other Factors
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Intangibles |
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The Grizzlies are on a roll. We kinda woke up against the Hawks, though. Advantage: Tied |
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Mojo |
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8-2. That's not the Spurs' record in the last 10, but Memphis'. They know they can beat the good teams. The Spurs? Not yet, really. Advantage: Grizz |
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Winner: |
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| My preview streak was broken by the damn Utah Jazz. I hope to start a new one. And also, I'm thinking the Spurs still want to salvage an even 3-3 at the end of this 6-game homestand. | ||
Keys To The Game
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Strength of ScheduleThis is the 5th game of a 6-game homestand and so far, so bad, we are 1-3. The Spurs only had a day's rest, but hopefully we'll keep on chugging along. The Rodeo Road Trip looms ever closer. Be afraid. Be veeery afraid. The Grizzlies are also coming off a one-day rest, but this is the second half of a 2-game roadie. Last Time They MetThe Spurs lost in the first meeting, 86-92, but played the Grizzlies close. Hopefully we won't get Chicago'd this time. |
Some Other ReadingGrizzliesStraight Outta Vancouver - Here you'll find the SBN site for the Grizz, where djturtleface does everything himself. That guy must have a death wish to do so much. Spurs48 Minutes of Hell: The best TrueHoop team blog is now even better, after adding two new writers. Congrats to Jesse and Andrew, who are already doing good work. |
Where to Tune In
TVThis game will be aired on Fox Sports SW in San Antonio, and maybe on TV in Memphis. If you have cable or satellite, you'll have to look up your individual channel. And of course, there's always League Pass for the haves. For the have nots, read on. OnlineAs always, NBA League Pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Most Spurs games will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate. In fact, nobody can stop you from googling "atdhe". You can also shoot an email to poundingtherockmail@yahoo.com for more assistance. NBA League Pass audio is still free this year, so check it out. RadioIf you're in the San Antonio area and aren't near a TV, tune in to WOAI (1200 AM). |
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Comments
hopefully we’ll show that the hawks game wasn’t an aberration. be nice to see a continuation of the D we sorta showed for large parts of that game. be even nicer to just win 2 games in a row.
free george hill!
by sleep research facility on Jan 29, 2010 4:18 AM CST reply actions
After the game, they said Duncan’s 27 boards was the most by a Spur since Rodman in ’95 when he got 27. I looked it up on basketball-reference.com, and Rodman had 34 rebounds the night before his 27 for 61 rebounds in a back to back. Someone needs to throw this gauntlet down to Blair.
I knew Rodman had some 30 rebound games, but I didn’t remember him having 34 rebounds, followed by 27. That’s just bananas.
scratch that….i don’t know how to read dates or team names….Rodman has 34 rebounds 2 years and 1 day earlier on detroit…he still holds the top 4 rebounding perfomances for the Spurs though….he also got Duncan’s 27 twice with us and 3 times with detroit….i feel like an idiot like when wayne caught me using the sum of individual TO’s instead of team turnovers….
No discussion of the Spur’s going without a turnover until late in Q2 last game? Or the parallel-universe nature of that first turnover?
Memphis plays strong in the paint – in fact they are tied for first in attacking the rim – (hoopdata.com) – they rarely take threes so we should be able to collapse in on them and play some tough defense in the paint. Their attacking the rim shows up in freebies too as they average 3 more freebies per game than the Spurs. They have the size advantage with 4 guys over 7 feet! BTW we don’t have a true 7 footer. As long as we can hold back the tide in the paint and shoot some jumpers Spurs win, if not Memphis by 1.
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
I wonder how the Spurs do against shorter vs. taller teams. Maybe that would explain our erratic win loss pattern.
"If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert"
- DBG
by LasEspuelas on Jan 29, 2010 11:34 AM CST up reply actions
Lakers, Cavs and Hawks are best defensive-tall teams
six or more 6’9 < taller guys and each has at least three true seven footers
"Mr. Gilmore deserves to be in the Basketball Hall of Fame damnit. Highest field goal percentage EVER"
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gilmoar01.html
by Joe deLarios on Jan 29, 2010 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
Manu!
Start Manu at PG and GHill at SG… Manu is second on the team in assists and first in steals… He’s the best the Spurs have at being a playmaker and bringing strong perimeter defense. TD needs to have a big game to offset Gasol and Randolph… I’m hoping McDyess and Mahimni/Ratliff can bring some length and shot-blocking. The Grizz are like a mini-version of the Lakers: Long up front and good backcourt scorers… hopefully Blair can disrupt their rebounders with his energy. Go Spurs!
No Tony Parker = Inane Winning Streak (happened in the past on almost every occasion), i expect this to be the beginning of a new leaf where we stop sucking against winning teams, and (hopefully fingers crossed) people like Dice and Rage figure out their roles, especially on the Rodeo Trip, and we begin to look like an actual team instead of an assortment of good players
by the end of the Rodeo Trip, we’ll know if we stand a chance at winning or if I should just root for Lebron this season, i’m praying its the former (even though I like LBJ)
Small Ball
We were actually doing very well in neutralizing Randolph the last time we played them until Pop went with small ball.
Here’s a chance for us to see what our defense can do.
Without Tony, I am hoping to see the absolute best defensive team we can put on the floor.
I just wanna see what we have in regards to stopping people.
If the score is 16-18 at the end of the 1st qtr I will be happy.
I will be happy.
I’m not buying that.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Jan 29, 2010 1:22 PM CST up reply actions
missed ya man. Considering that last streak of losses, I thought you were off sacrificing young gingers or something.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Jan 29, 2010 1:26 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks
Hilarious.
Even if the glove comes off tonite, Bonner is in a tough spot. We should not be playing him, he is at a terrible disadvantage with only one hand.
Never thought I would be defending Bonner.
I love how you think that’s defending Bonner.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Jan 29, 2010 1:57 PM CST up reply actions
I prefer Bonner playing PF rather than RJ, at least Bonner rebounds (well at least he tries)
But Bonner should not play more than 6-8 minutes, he’s not in game shape yet and he’s shot has abandoned him.
I just don’t know why we can’t see Starters Ian, TD, RJ, Manu, Hill and a bench of Dice, Blair, RJ/Manu, Bogans, Mase
Basically use a 9 man rotation unless someone is in foul trouble then play Ratliff.
No small ball or Bonner and we stay tough on the defensive side of the court. We may struggle to score at times, but we would still win.
If Ian could stay out of foul trouble, I’d like that. But if the Dice from last game shows up, I’m perfectly fine with him starting, too.
suicide > RJ
If Ian could play 5 mins and only get 2 fouls and 5 rebs while guarding the basket I would consider it a success. But he is truly a foul magnet and at some point he has to grow up and learn to defend without fouling.
What was the deal with waiving Haislip, while Bonner was hurt? I would rather us keep Haislip over Hairston.
He wanted to leave so the team let him. At least that’s what i heard
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
With Tony out I want the team to focus on defense and ball movement on offense. Slower pace is fine if the unforced turnovers stop.
Didn’t Mason (and rookie Hill) have some excellent games early last year when Tony was out? If they can play well for the next few weeks and RJ is featured more on offense, we will roll into and through the Rodeo trip like a hot knife through butter.
Question: does anyone actually heat their knife before using butter?
You gotta bring ass to get ass.
Call me crazy but I think Ian matches up better with Thabeet. More athletic and better (slightly) on offense. Plus he won’t pick up cheap fouls guarding him.
"I've got Tim (Duncan) and you don't. That's the difference." -Gregg Popovich
I don’t like mason handling the ball in a point role, it was somewhat disastrous last year. But as a last min sub I guess he’s got no choice.
I think mahinmi must have pissd off pop, he ain’t gettin any playing time, after his stellar debut. Wat’s up with that??
Mason handling the point guard role is fine, just not so much in the playoffs, specially against good defensive teams.
While typing this however, I realized that last year’s Mason as a point guard was basically a pick and pop kind of player, and couldn’t take more than 2 dribbles, so teams would go over the pick and take away his shot and force him to drive, which was bad. This year, however awkward and cringe-worthy it might seem, he’s effective at taking it to the basket and laying it up/passing whenever he’s given an opening. So it’s hard for me to judge how he’ll fare, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after a summer of practice.
When the tooth fairy's own tooth falls out, it is taken during the night by Princess Peanut.
by the little o on Jan 30, 2010 1:09 AM CST up reply actions
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