Round 1: Spurs vs Grizzlies

[LyMinh]

Grizzlies have negative tanking karma. Spurs sweep. Easily.

[Nolan]

Lets sweep these tanking mofos.

[Donald Kaufman]

They need to be punished for thinking it would be easier to play us over the Lakers. That's a slap in the face. I want a sweep.

[GO GRIZZ]

I believe you guys were resting players as well. If Pop decided to do the same last night, Manu could possibly still be healthy. I am not saying that he is not coming back but that was awfully dangerous to see when you know the second season is about to start. You guys call it tanking, I call it being smart. Also the Grizzlies only lost by 7 points after being down by 30 at one point. Also, it seemed they were trying to win the game during the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies doesn't have the luxury like other teams to be able to bring one player after the other off the bench to be productive. What we lack in talent, they more than make up for it in heart and will. That is why we are in the playoffs today without Rudy Gay. I hope it is a good series.

[co_laper]

We rested without any implication to the playoff standing. Win or lose, we don't drop to second. What Memphis did is like what we did last year when we chose to rest guys in order to face Dallas in the first round.

As for the Memphis game, obviously the guys who did play played their hearts out. But it was pretty obvious that Lionel Hollins didn't want to win the game. How else would you explain not putting Battier in and taking out Marc Gasol with 4 minutes left and the game down 5 after Memphis third stringers made it a ball game. There is absolutely no way to defend the notion that Memphis wanted us.

About this series, first game of the playoffs is usually both teams feeling out each other. With that, I'm expecting Zach to have a monster night in the first game. We usually adjust things in the second game and I'm sure Zach will be contained the rest of the series. First game, however, he'll blow out. Not having Manu hurts and if Memphis is to steal a game, this is the game for them.

Parker needs to have a monster night. Also, the playoffs is here. With us not having Manu, Duncan HAS to step up. If Duncan continues to take a backseat and not up his offense, then we can all just forget about seeing a different Duncan in the playoffs opposed to the regular season.

[GO GRIZZ]

What you said has some truth to it about the Grizzlies but I also look at it another way. I think this was a great time for our bench to find its legs. Their is usually an 9 man rotation in the regular season but to get the others playing time could come in handy. You guys bench know what it takes to be winners. Our bench is coming along. I honestly believe if we are looking to play a game of matchups, we absolutely match up better with you guys than the Lakers. Another factor is if we played the Lakers, fans out of nowhere come to Memphis to root for the other team. It would be like the Grizzlies playing five road games instead of having a place where it was all about them. For this case along, I am glad we are facing you guys and not the Lakers. No disrespect intended.

[Donald Kaufman]

With Manu out, we need big games from Hill and Neal. Hill I'm confident about, Neal I'm not so sure.

[Magz50]

Hill has proven he is more than adequate to replace Manu in the starting line up. Let's go SPURS!

[batmana]

I think we can get away with Manu probably missing game 1 but he has to be back for game 2. Especially with the fact that indeed game 1 is Memphis' best shot at stealing our home-court advantage. I am not as confident we will even come close to sweeping them. I definitely preferred the Hornets but obviously Memphis wanted us and frankly, I think they match up better with us and expect a very tough series. My prediction is 6 games and I'd be happy with 5.

[Nolan]

With Manu out, we need big games from Hill and Neal. Hill I'm confident about, Neal I'm not so sure.

Neal's really been struggling with his shot lately. Hopefully he finds his shooting soon because with Manu gimpy we're going to need him.

[spursforever]

Spurs in 5. The Spurs offense is too much for the Grizzlies to overcome. Not to mention that the team has even more motivation to put away Memphis as quickly as possible (them losing purposefully to face us instead of LA). I can see the Grizzlies winning one game but no more than that. The Grizz get their first ever playoff win and the Spurs advance in 5 with hopefully much rest in time for the next series. Everyone wins.

[Donald Kaufman]

With Manu out, we need big games from Hill and Neal. Hill I'm confident about, Neal I'm not so sure.

Neal's really been struggling with his shot lately. Hopefully he finds his shooting soon because with Manu gimpy we're going to need him.

Yup. He needs to shoot the lights out in these playoffs. I hope he can handle the playoff pressure. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

[Blame Rasho]

They will be a tough out. I know people were saying... lets face NO but if we are a championship level team we should be able to handle the Griz.

I am also kinda laughing at the fact that so many people are writing us off. I hope the Spurs prove all of them wrong.

[SD2042]

Considering it's been mostly Laker talk these last 2yrs. The Spurs got put to the backburner. Not surprising since half the media prefer to ride on some Laker jock.

As for the suppose Grizz tank to meet the Spurs talk. Evidence to the contrary says it wasn't Hollins decision to rest the last two games, but rather the last game if they won againt the Blazers earlier this week. Nothing can't be done now.

The series itself the odds are in your favor to win. To expect a sweep and a cakewalk is stupid as hell. If the Grizz managed to win 2 or 3 games out of this series and manage to go down fighting. That's something worth being proud of for the Grizz, the fans and the city of Memphis.

[co_laper]

Well, it's not that we want to face NO because we can't handle the Grizzlies. But ofcourse I rather have the Lakers have a tougher road than us. As of now, LA got New Orleans in the first round and Dallas in the second round. Hell, I personally would take that road instead of facing a bruising team in Memphis and OKC. I don't think any of us feel we can't beat Memphis.

[co_laper]

Memphis is staying on shooters. Duncan starts off hot. Spurs go to Duncan quite a lot. Good to see Duncan can still deliver. Parker struggling right now.

[co_laper]

This is a different Jefferson. He's dribbling more, attacking the rim off the dribble. I like this Jefferson.

[co_laper]

our second unit is playing really well. Parker, Hill, Neal, Blair, Bonner lineup. Probably the only reason why Duncan hasn't return to the game yet.

[co_laper]

Parker really needs to step it up. Conley has 12 points and 5 assists. Parker 2 points and 1 assists right now. The PG position is the matchup we can't afford to lose. I am not liking how the game is going right now. We are not passing the ball well and there are almost no open shots. Other than Duncan's newfound energy, the whole team really isn't playing well and we're not stopping Memphis.

[co_laper]

Halftime. We're down two 45-43.

I have a bad bad feeling about this game. We are not playing anything close to how we play this year. We shoot 41 percent and only have 5 assists. Parker isn't playing well. 5 points and 1 assists for him. Neither does George Hill. McDyess isn't doing too good a job on Zach. Zach has 12 points and 6 rebounds.

I'd say we're only down two because of Duncan and Blair. Duncan has 12 points and 7 rebounds right now. He's playing great defense and aggresive. Blair has 4 offensive rebounds in the game. We shoot 7 more times than the Grizzlies and that's why we're only down 2.

The thing is, we're not moving the ball well and there were few open shots. Memphis is making a concerted effort to chase our shooters down. We only shoot four 3-pointers so far. We really really miss Manu's playmaking here.