I’m an English major; I’m not a math guy. So the following equation don’t mean anything to me:
Spurs – Manu < Grizzlies
Spurs + Manu > Grizzlies
And it shouldn’t mean anything to you either, because sure, the Spurs were at a disadvantage without Ginobli, and sure, the Grizzlies had an incredible opportunity to steal Game 1 without him on the court (and they did), and sure, San Antonio is a better team with him–probably better than the Grizzlies.
But there’s a reason they play the game. And there’s a reason they play for the best of seven of them. And as we’ve seen with the 2010-2011 Grizzlies, an opponent without one of their better players is sometimes a harder win for Memphis.
Here are 5 things to look for in Game 2:
1) Will Shane Battier start over Sam Young?
Let’s compare the two wings’ stat lines from G1:
Young-15 mins, 2 pts, 4 fouls
Battier-25 mins, 10 pts
So who starts in Game 2? If I know Lionel (which I don’t), I would say he’ll stick with Sam, because Hollins get stuck in his ways and hasn’t shown much unforced flexibility in his lineups this season. But goodness…Sam Young was TERRIBLE in Game 1. It was the first time in history (and that includes time spent watching Thabeet) that I was actually PULLING for a player to foul out. And Battier, well, he just did Battier stuff. Timely buckets, huge three, solid perimeter defense. Look for Young to get the start, but look for Battier to play just as many minutes.
2) PUT IN POWE
Midway through the second quarter yesterday, the Grizzlies went with a lineup that included Marc Gasol on Tim Duncan, and Hamed Haddadi on DeJuan Blair. Now, I have no expectations for Haddadi, and I honestly have no problem with him getting minutes…but Haddadi on Blair? With Leon Powe sitting on the bench?
Blair (who could’ve been a Gri—-well, forget it…) is listed at 6’7” 270 pounds. And although Powe is 30 pounds less, he has an inch on Blair. Plus, he has playoff experience, and once did this.
That was in a Game 2. I’m not saying, I’m just saying…
3) Mike Conley’s minutes
MCJ played in all but 4 minutes of Game 1, and as much as we’d all like that to continue, he probably is going to have to rest a little bit more. So then the question becomes: which rookie PG to play? Hollins will presumably choose Vasquez, with his size, shooting abilities, and versatility. But he was atrocious yesterday, and Tony Parker has about 3 steps on the Venezuelan. Here’s my thought process: we don’t need scoring out of our back up point guard. If anything, we need a “holder”–someone who can come in, play good defense, pass the ball and screen away, and not mess up. As far as I know, Ish Smith has only hit one jump shot in his life (an NCAA tournament game winner against Texas), but he can keep up with Parker and doesn’t try behind the back passes in his first ever playoff series. I like Vasquez, I just don’t like him against the Spurs. Give Conley 40 minutes, and give the rest to Ish Smith.
4) Will the Spurs shoot 49 free throw again?
If I didn’t have extreme and unhealthy emotional investment in the game yesterday, I would’ve turned it off at halftime. It had less flow than Maroda at ECS prom. It was bad both ways.
The Spurs will shoot better in Game 2, and the Grizzlies will probably shoot worse. But it remains to be seen whether the referees will have such a profound impact the rest of the way. With Memphis’s advantage inside, you would think a lot of whistles would give them even further advantage…but this is the NBA–where amazing happens but not rational officating– and the Spurs have won 3 NBA titles.
5) Has Greg Poppovich opted for consistent personal hygeine and clean-shaveness?
. 
In the past, Coach Pop has really let himself go.
But he looked surprisingly un-alcoholic yesterday. Will the clean streak continue?
I invite you to live the GrizzLife with me Wednesday night, and to live it to the full.
Grizz-beck
USER COMMENTS
Track comments via RSS