San Antonio Spurs @ Memphis Grizzlies
FedEx Forum, Memphis, TNJanuary 11, 2013, 7:00 PM Spurs Time
TV: FSSW - RADIO: 1200 AM WOAI
After not writing anything for several months, the fans have spoken and Big50 is back to write...a preview. Ok, I'm not sure the fans spoke, but I volunteered and nobody complained (too loudly), so here I am. The San Antonio Spurs will travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. Game time starts at 7:00pm central time. Get your San Antonio Spurs tickets here!
The Grizzlies. The team that unceremoniously knocked the Spurs out of the playoffs two years ago as the 8th seed. Since then the Grizz have really established themselves a playoff regulars and on the edge of title contenders. Although they've done little in the way of playoff success beyond that victory over the Spurs two seasons ago.
Memphis started the season off hot. They were 12-2 and then they came to San Antonio after the infamous RestGate situation. In an end-justifies-the-means kinda way, the Spurs held off Memphis in a close overtime win. Since that time the Grizzlies are only 11-8. Not too great. I'd like to think the Spurs were responsible for putting a chink in the confidence of Memphis. More likely the Grizz just started playing better teams, but on closer inspection their schedule has probably been a bit easier since that loss against San Antonio. They have also played 5 fewer games than the Spurs. Maybe the loss to the Spurs caused this Grizz team to lose a bit of focus, or maybe they all realized they have to live in Memphis and have been in the doldrums ever since. Hey-O!
Seriously though, this Memphis team is still very good and will likely end up with a top 4 seed in the Western Playoffs. The Grizzlies are 1st in the NBA in points allowed and are 2nd in Defensive Rating. The big problem that Memphis has is they struggle to score on offense, which is usually where a team scores...on offense. Memphis is awful 23rd in points per game and a measly 16th in Offensive Rating.
If the Spurs play half-way decent defense and their normal offense you have to like their chances in this game. On top of that, San Antonio owns a good amount of space in the Grizzlies' heads having not dropped a game to Memphis since that playoff series loss. The Spurs clearly come to play when it comes to the Grizz.
I guess an embarrassing playoff loss will do that for ya.
Lineups
Starters |
Lineups
Starters Lionel Hollins |
Grizz perspective can be found here: Straight Outta Vancouver
Game Prediction: It's been another long week for your beloved Spurs, but I don't seem them losing to one of their bitterest rivals. Spurs by 4.
As always Tony must dominate Fisher, and NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game 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.