@ Season Series Memphis - 3, Spurs - 1 11.3.03: Grizzlies 88, Spurs 80 12.15.04: Spurs 78, Nuggets 67 3.1.04: Grizzlies 81, Spurs 80 3.9.04: Grizzlies 94, Spurs 88 Final Records Spurs 57-25 (.695) 3rd West Grizzlies 50-32 (.610) 6th West Series Outlook: April 17th - Today - ESPN - @ San Antonio April 19th - Monday - TNT - @ San Antonio April 22nd - Thursday - TNT - @ Memphis April 25th - Sunday - TNT - @ Memphis If necessary April 28th - Wednesday - TBD - @ San Antonio If necessary May 1st - Saturday - TBD - @ Memphis If necessary May 3rd - Monday - TBD - @ San Antonio Probable Starting Lineups <u>Backcourt</u> Jason Williams/Tony Parker Mike Miller/Hedo Turkoglu <u>Frontcourt</u> James Posey/Bruce Bowen Pau Gasol/Tim Duncan Jake Tsakalidis/Rasho Nesterovic <u>Sixth Men</u> Bonzi Wells/Emanuel Ginobili Injury Update Memphis Grizzlies N/A San Antonio Spurs N/A <u>Memphis? Statistical Leaders</u> PPG - Pau Gasol - 17.7 RPG - Pau Gasol - 7.7 APG - Jason Williams - 6.8 <u>San Antonio's Statistical Leaders</u> PPG - Tim Duncan - 22.3 RPG - Tim Duncan - 12.4 APG - Tony Parker - 5.5 Key Matchups Jason Williams and Tony Parker - This is the most important matchup of the series, according to Grizzlies? analysts. Jason Williams is one of five players on the team that has playoff experience (J.Williams, M.Miller, Outlaw, Tskalidas, Wright). Jason Williams is the floor general, and it?s up to him to set the tempo of the game. When Jason Williams doesn?t play well, we lose. That?s almost always the case. James Posey and Bruce Bowen - Both of these wingmen are of the top twenty defensive players in the league. Both of them play somewhat dirty, scrappy, and intensely. You could see some real heated tension and maybe a scuffle or two. It?ll be a defensive war. However, I have to favor James Posey in this matchup. He has the stronger offensive side. Pau Gasol and Tim Duncan - You just might see Wright guarding Duncan on defense, but that?s beside the point. These two players are widely regarded as the best on their teams, and they lead their teams in points and rebounds. It?ll be interesting to see how this matchup ends up, because they both play different styles of games. <u>Keys to the series</u> Grizzlies - Get fastbreak points. The Grizzlies win when they take their game to the fastbreak. - Contain Duncan. This is one of the biggest cliche?s ever, but it?s a key. - Spread the love. The Grizzlies win with great ball distribution. Good luck J-Will. Spurs - Endurance. The Grizzlies can go 10 deep, and it wears a lot of teams out. - Pressure Gasol downlow. Another cliche, but another key. - Don?t make stupid mistakes. They obviously have the advantage, they just need to stay away from stupid mistakes. Wave's take I am not going to pick against the Grizzlies in their first playoff game ever. Grizzlies 100 Spurs 96
Alright, I'm ready for this series to get started and see if this Grizz team is for real. What better way to make a name for yourself than beating the defending champions and advancing in their first playoff appearance in franchise history. With that said, I don't believe there is any way the Spurs lose in this first round to an unexperienced team. The Spurs are a group of veterans and they all know what it takes to win a championship. They are the hottest team in the NBA. If they put the Grizz down 2-0, this series will be over in 4 or 5 at the most.
Wave, 100-96 are too much points when Spurs are playing. I?ll say 95-82 for the Spurs, Duncan is too much Duncan.
Spurs are just to much for the Grizzlies so far. Spurs 77 - Grizzlies 55 win 8:56 left in the 4th. Duncan is setting a great example for the rest of the Spurs, and can't be stopped.
Yeah this is the biggest blowout of the day. 81-58 with 6:55 left in the game. Bad start for the Grizzlies in their first ever playoff appearence.
The Spurs made a statement today, they are the defending champions and they are not going to let a first year playoff team strip them from their second championship in as many years. The Spurs absolutely crushed the Grizz tonight. The Spurs have not only taken a 1-0 lead in the series but have stripped the Grizz of any confidence they may have had coming into this series. What a statement from the defending champions.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">The Spurs made a statement today, they are the defending champions and they are not going to let a first year playoff team strip them from their second championship in as many years. The Spurs absolutely crushed the Grizz tonight. The Spurs have not only taken a 1-0 lead in the series but have stripped the Grizz of any confidence they may have had coming into this series. What a statement from the defending champions.</div> Wow, you do not understand the Grizzlies at all. They're not like your Warriors that couldn't even get a good shot at making the playoffs; they're a lot better than that. The Spurs didn't make a "statement". From the start, the Grizzlies were nervous. It was obvious that the Spurs were playing well, but just look at the Grizzlie's shooting throughout the first-half. It was down in the 20-30% range. Mike Miller was throwing up air balls, Pau Gasol wasn't shooting, and Jason Williams was making some stupid moves. The team was obviously shaken. Bonzi Wells played the best, but if you look at the numbers you'll find that Wells has more experience in the playoffs than any other Grizzlie. Hell, Tim Duncan almost has more playoff games under his belt than the entire team combined. That's why it comes down to experience. The Grizzlies chalked this up to experience. They now know what to expect. This was not the same team that won 50 games during the regular season. I believe 100% that Hubie Brown will give them confidence for the upcoming game. One win can be a huge momentum builder. The only thing they need to keep in mind is that if they get that first win, they shouldn't celebrate like there's no tomorrow. A lot of times you'll see teams get that first win, but they don't realize they'll still have to get a second, third, and fourth to win.
The Spurs raped this team last night, no "lovely" way to put it Wave. Maybe next time I'll give a short recap saying the Spurs barely beat the Grizz in a nail biter by 24. Bring on Game #2.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">The Spurs raped this team last night, no "lovely" way to put it Wave. Maybe next time I'll give a short recap saying the Spurs barely beat the Grizz in a nail biter by 24. Bring on Game #2.</div> What the hell are you talking about? Where did I say it was a close game or that it was not a blowout? They got their asses handed to them, but that doesn't mean they'll lose the series.
Nevermind with this, its pointless. Back to the game. Anyone else have thoughts on game one and is it a sign for things to come?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Nevermind with this, its pointless. Back to the game. Anyone else have thoughts on game one and is it a sign for things to come?</div> This is a sign of things to come alright: Spurs can't be beaten in a 7-game series by Memphis, and last night's win really helped instill that mentality and must have undoubtedly shaken the Grizzlies' confidence as well.
Game two will be very interesting. Will we see the Spurs lay down the smack on the Grizz again or will the Grizz suprise me and even this series a one game apiece?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rudeezy:</div><div class="quote_post">Game two will be very interesting. Will we see the Spurs lay down the smack on the Grizz again or will the Grizz suprise me and even this series a one game apiece?</div> I'll have a nice preview to discuss that in tomorrow.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">I'll have a nice preview to discuss that in tomorrow. </div> Looking foward to it.
Havn't checked out all the comments in this thread of course but what you saw in game 1 should be only a sign of things to come. Spurs are playing great basketball, Grizzles have never had an answer for Tim Duncan and neither has Pau Gasol. Memphis have had a great season and getting 50 wins was a surprise to many but the playoffs is a new game, where the best teams show who truely are the best. Grizzles just have no answer for the S.A defense..That won't change at all. Grizzles have a very good team, good rotation and a great coach but the Spurs can counter everything the Grizzles throw at them I laugh when people mention the season series in this match-up, Duncan didn't play in any of the losses...The one game he did the Spurs came out on top and TD dominated. Manu Ginobili has been on a roll lately, Grizzles could not stop him in game 1 and for them to have a chance in this series they need to stop him from attacking down the middle, Spurs are at their best when he and Parker are allowed to get into the lane with ease.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">I laugh when people mention the season series in this match-up, Duncan didn't play in any of the losses...The one game he did the Spurs came out on top and TD dominated. </div> Don't bring the season into this. As I've learned, it's irrelevant. Gasol, Posey, Battier, and all the other first timers in the playoffs seem to have gotten cold feet. It's all about experience. If you want to take the season series into consideration, then don't talk about Tim Duncan. Odds are the Grizzlies were without Williams, Wright, Wells, and/or Miller who missed several games. Also, your information is incorrect. Duncan played in one of the wins.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wave:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't bring the season into this. As I've learned, it's irrelevant. Gasol, Posey, Battier, and all the other first timers in the playoffs seem to have gotten cold feet. It's all about experience. If you want to take the season series into consideration, then don't talk about Tim Duncan. Odds are the Grizzlies were without Williams, Wright, Wells, and/or Miller who missed several games. Also, your information is incorrect. Duncan played in one of the wins.</div> No my information isn't wrong, the game Duncan played in Memphis the Spurs were were by over 14..then Duncan got hurt end of the 1st and Spurs lost the game. You can put all of the Grizzles players that hurt and It would still not compare to not having Duncan around. Unless Pau finds a way to actually have a semi-decent game which doesn't normally happen against Duncan, Grizzles are in trouble. However they should feel no pressure, they are the underdog and are expected to lose...Grizzles need to make the Spurs role players beat them otherwise Duncan will burn them every single time. They need to take a look back at what the Suns did last year.
The playoffs are about expierence, it will be hard for the Grizzlies to come back on the Spurs if they want to even think about winning any games in this series Gasol has to get involoved he should be going at Duncan as much as he can and hopefuly he can draw fouls.They've shown they can beat the Spurs (with and without Duncan) so they shouldnt be scared.The odds are against the Grizzlies 80% of the time a team wins the first game they win the series but you never know.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">No my information isn't wrong, the game Duncan played in Memphis the Spurs were were by over 14..then Duncan got hurt end of the 1st and Spurs lost the game. You can put all of the Grizzles players that hurt and It would still not compare to not having Duncan around.</div> Yes, it is wrong. You said he didn't play. He did, you just said it yourself.
Well the fact is, when Tim Duncan IS in the game, the Spurs have had the edge and will continue to have the edge over the Grizzlies. What was interesting to me was the amount of people who took the Memphis/Spurs series as a possible upset. The Spurs, once again, have not got the respect that the defending champions deserve. Even from day 1 of this season people were saying there is no way they repeat. This team is riding a 12 game winning streak! People need to take a better look at this team, they are a championship quality team. The Spurs should continue to dominate this series. I do think it is possible for Memphis to win one or maybe two games but that is it. If Parker and Manu continue to have their way in this series, "forget about it".
