| NBA Western Conference Finals Preview: Spurs-Grizzlies |
| By Kevin Cunningham May 19, 2013 www.collegesportswriters.com Coming into the 2013 NBA playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies were not given much of a chance to advance out of the Western Conference. The Grizzlies faced a familiar opponent in the first round in the Los Angeles Clippers, and they had to beat “lob city” without home court advantage. A year ago, the same matchup occurred in the first round, but the Grizzlies had home court advantage and couldn’t get the job done. This postseason, the Clippers had appeared to have gotten better over the course of the year. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, lost their top scorer Rudy Gay in the middle of the season and didn’t look like a team that could come out of the West. Six games later, the Grizzlies went on to beat the Clippers four games to two, while “blowing” game one to what seems to be Los Angeles’ best team. The second round matchup for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year-led Grizzlies appeared to be much like the first. The Oklahoma City Thunder is a team that can shoot with the best of them and love to get out and run. There was one problem. There was no Russell Westbrook. Kevin Durant had to lead the charge for the Thunder offensively, by averaging at least 30 per game, alongside a healthy dose of Kevin Martin to give them a chance to win. With the likes of Tony Allen and Marc Gasol, games weren’t going to be in the 120’s. The Grizzlies slowed the tempo down, like they have all year, and forced Durant into trying to make too many plays. The plan worked, despite giving away the first game of the series yet again, and the defensive-minded Grizzlies are now four wins away from representing the Western Conference. The San Antonio Spurs have had an interesting playoff run up to this point. Coming into the year, the team was deemed as being too old like they always are. Yet again, the Spurs held the No. 2 seed in the West, and were playing a depleted Los Angeles Lakers team. Four games later, the Spurs were up against the red-hot Golden State Warriors. Curry and company had to shoot the lights out in order for the Warriors to win. The Spurs had home court advantage, and unless Mark Jackson’s squad could get out and run, it was going to be a tough series for the Warriors to win. The Spurs played exactly the way the Grizzlies did in getting to the Western Conference Finals; with tough, defensive-minded play. Six games later, like the Grizzlies, the Spurs were moving on to the Western Conference Finals. Series Breakdown This matchup between the Spurs and Grizzlies does not appear to be as exciting for the average NBA fan as the Heat and Pacers series does. In fact, for any normal human being that isn’t a Spurs or Grizzlies fan, likely will not even tune in to each game of the series. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, get out and run type of series, don’t even bother watching. Change the channel while you can. The NBA playoffs naturally slow down due to the fact of every possession meaning that much more. Factor in these two teams, and if both teams reach the 90-point total in any one of these games, I’d be surprised. When looking at matchups and who holds the edge at each position, things get even more intriguing. The point guard battle between Tony Parker and Mike Conley Jr. should be a fun one to watch. Thanks to all the on-ball screening that will be going on, we likely won’t be able to see 48 minutes of these two point guards going at it, but let it be known that both players will have an imprint on each game. On the wings, Tony Allen will likely defend Manu Ginobili, and Tayshaun Prince will be on Kawhi Leonard. Offensively, the Spurs hold the advantage here, but as mentioned earlier, this series will be extremely gritty, and if Allen can lock up a struggling Ginobili, the Spurs could be in trouble. The advantage for the Grizzlies in this series, like in any, can be found in the post. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, one could argue, are the best players at their position in the NBA today. I would say that they’re both in the top-five, guaranteed. Tim Duncan is still productive at the age of 37, but will he get the best of the Grizzlies’ bigs? Doubtful. The Grizzlies hold the advantage on the inside, but the series will be won when the Spurs are forced to provide help. Once the help comes on Randolph and Gasol, and they make the pass to an open shooter, can guys like Allen, Prince, Conley, Jerryd Bayless and Quincy Pondexter make open shots? If the answer is yes, expect the Grizzlies to take the series. The other x-factor for this series is whether Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins decides to throw Allen on Parker. If Conley can’t keep up with Parker, expect Hollins to make the switch. This leaves Conley matching up with Ginobili or Leonard, which give the Spurs an advantage on the perimeter. The Spurs are a team with more threats to score, which can prove to be the difference in a series where games will likely be decided in the 80’s. This one is a toss-up and any game can go either way, which is what will make this series as interesting, if not more interesting, than the Heat and Pacers series. Prediction Grizzlies in 7 |
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