Grizz vs Spurs - the official series thread!

Sorry man I feel for you tonight. I know you are hurting right now and I don't want to pile on, but after watching tonight's games, I stand by my comments. Your guys played their asses off and Hollins did a great job of coaching. But in the end you did not have enough players that could score. You were undermanned. You just did not get enough back in return when losing Gay and Mayo. Not Hollins' fault.

 

The thing is, having Rudy or Mayo out there would have helped us more than hurt us. They'd both be better options than Bayless, but I don't think we'd really get to the second round with either player on the roster. They played a very selfish brand of basketball on a Grizz squad that was built around ball movement and a team-oriented concept.

You're right that we lost because we were under-manned, but O.J. and Rudy were not the answers, and getting rid of them not only helped us get to the WCF but it opened up the cap room to re-sign Tony Allen.

On the point of TA, that's my biggest gripe with Hollins. I've got several, but that's the biggest. TA's way too important defensively to have on the bench at all in crucial moments, yet he had him on the bench in seemingly every important moment in this series. Let's not forget that before this became a sweep, there were two OT games, where having TA in the game probably would have pushed it to a 2-2 series, or at least a 3-1.

Like I've said before, TA can't make a lay-up in an open gym, but I'd rather have a two-guard that is not only the best one-on-one defender in the NBA but also the best defender in terms of recovering for help defense, than a player like Bayless who plays "hero ball" and just chucks shots up there in inappropriate situations. Allen is also an insane glass-crasher for a two-guard. If he makes a mistake, he'll usually atone for it by diving head first recklessly for a loose ball. Like I said about the missed FT's in game 3, we wouldn't have even been in that position had it not been for TA's hustle.

I've got a lot more complaints about Hollins, but the lack of playing time for TA is just inexcusable, especially because it seems like it was because the two were feuding in the playoffs. They started to really get at each others throats, and there have been a few blow-ups between the two that've been talked about around Memphis, and I can't help but feel like Hollins put his dislike for TA over the betterment of the team. I mean, what got us to this point? Who made us the best defensive team in the NBA? Why go away from that in the playoffs?

 

Memphis should be proud that they defeated two darlings of the NBA without HCA to get to the WCF. And Tony Allen has been a huge part of changing the Grizz's culture. He's arguably their second most important player of their recent surge (after Marc Gasol, of course).

Sounds like they won't have Lionel Hollins to kick around much longer, though. The Clippers are sniffing around him.

 

With the Lakers, Warriors and the Grizzlies, the Spurs have proved they can beat just about every different type of team. But does anyone really give them a chance against the Heat? They've got to take heart from what the Pacers did to the Heat in Miami.

 

"The Memphis Grizzlies: The Cable Drama"

 

The Grizz lost because Z-Bo and Gasol couldn't throw it in the ocean. Z-Bo especially was a complete mess this series. When you have your top two scoring threats get shut down you are not going to win many games.

 

John Hollinger ‏@johnhollinger 14m
Irony 1, Hollinger 0. http://es.pn/WYwWsH

 

ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo 4m
Are Tim Duncan, Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili one of the greatest trios ever? Let's examine where this dynasty ranks: http://es.pn/150BgJX

 

Man, I couldn't have been more wrong about this series! But, I always like to see the Spurs win (except when they play us). It is truly amazing how Pops can take three great players and a bunch of role players and make them a championship-worthy team. After watching MEM hit a brick wall I really hope they can up-end the Heat. All the pundits have been saying that the Spurs lost their defense a few years ago and turned into a team that wins on the offensive end, but it looks like Pops still knows how to diagram a stifling defense when it's needed.
Go Spurs!