2011 Playoffs: (1) Spurs Vs. (8) Grizzlies

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Nice cut and where are the claws

[-BHZMAFIA-]

I wish I could've told some of you about this Grizz team before the season.

[NovU]

The Spurs should be able to come back otherwise it'd be the craziest upset in a recent history for me.

The Grizzlies got OK front court but nothing Duncan and cos can't handle. The Spurs in 7.

[Stress Fracture]

Grizz in 6. Memphis had the opportunity to sweep the Spurs.........

[Andrew]

Memphis had the opportunity to sweep the Spurs.........

For one game.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Just a few facts for some of you (if you don't really keep up with Memphis):

- The last 47 games of the season, Memphis had a 32-15 record which was a top 5 record in the league
- Memphis has moved into the top 8 in defensive efficiency
- Tony Allen is an All-NBA defender

Not sure if Zbo will make the All-NBA 3rd Team, but more than likely it will happen. This series is more about Memphis imposing their will against the Spurs than San Antonio's shortcomings. I hear a lot of "The Spurs are getting old and just are a bad match for the Grizz", but they were not old during the season when they won 61 games.

I don't get why people (specifically the media) are pretty much giving game 5 to the Spurs just because 3 people on their team were champions 4 years ago. I can definitely see San Antonio going out easy just like when the Lakers bounced them in 5 games in 08, the lowerseeded Mavs punched them out in 5 games in 09 and then the Suns swept them last year.

Not to mention, this Memphis team is fun to watch and are actually a lot better than the previous playoff teams. If Memphis wins this series, expect them to give OKC a lotttt of trouble. Don't be shocked if they beat them as well. They went 3-1 against them in the season and even with Perkins, he will not be able to solely stop the Grizz bigs.

[rise]

If Memphis wins this series, expect them to give OKC a lotttt of trouble. Don't be shocked if they beat them as well.

No way. OKC is destroying Denver. Besides, the Grizz got really lucky. The Spurs got bit by the injury bug late in the season and haven't truly recovered yet. Unfortunately, their awesome season is coming to an untimely end against a team that had never won a playoff game before. If they were against any other top team (Lakers, Mavs, Thunder, etc.) they don't stand much of a chance.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Ok.




Remember, this is coming from someone who lives in Memphis and has watched this team the past 10 seasons. Memphis is 3-1 against Dallas this season, 3-1 against OKC this season, 2-2 against the Lakers this season and were 2-2 against the Spurs.

If you don't think OKC is afraid about this matchup, just watch the games.

I'm enjoying the ride this season because no one still seems to believe in this team. I don't think they start believing in them until they give OKC hell in the next round (if we make beat the Spurs of course ).

[rise]

We'll just bring up this conversation again a couple weeks from now and we'll talk then.

I'm not saying Memphis is a bad team, but unless Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook goes down, I'd be saying OKC in five or six. Memphis is a solid team, they just won't be able to take down a healthy team playing at the best of its ability. Neither one of those describes the ancient, hobbled Spurs right now.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Being that Memphis is a very aggressive defensive team, I see Westbrook having a lot of turnovers in the series. Memphis has an All-NBA defender to put on a young player in Durant. They also have Battier to throw on him. Not to mention, Memphis can throw Tony on Westbrook and Battier on Durant.

Zbo and Marc don't have much work to do on the defensive end against OKC bigs. Perkins is not going to go off and I don't expect Ibaka to be consistent with that midrange jumper. It will all come down to whether Memphis perimeter defenders can slow down Westbrook/Durant and can OKC post defenders slow down Zbo/Marc/Arthur.

Memphis backcourt did slow Parker and Manu down, so I'm confident in them playing Westbrook and Durant very well. It will definitely be a good series though. No way I see it going 5 games. 6 or 7 games minimum. The difference between Denver and Memphis is that Memphis is not adjusting to OKC's play which is the way Denver plays. Game 4 looked like an All-Star Game.

If anything, Memphis will make OKC play their game. This team is very poised. Just know that OKC doesn't see this as an easy matchup at all. If you asked anybody in the OKC organization who they would rather face, they would definitely say the Spurs.

[rise]

Memphis backcourt did slow Parker and Manu down, so I'm confident in them playing Westbrook and Durant very well

Do you realize that Manu and Tony were all banged up come playoff time? KD and Westbrook, I believe are the top-scoring tandem in the NBA, and both actually had fairly strong cases for MVP. These two are a much bigger monster than an injured Manu Gibnobili and a top 10 point guard in Tony Parker.

Now you mentioned the KD-Battier matchup:It's Statscube Time!!!
Durant and Battier have played 152 minutes against each other this season. I know that's not a great sample size, but KD 's stats are basically the same against Battier.

Now check this out: http://www.nba.com/statscube/team-vs-team.html#Thunder-vs-Memphis-Grizzlies|1610612760,1610612763;season=r - Memphis's numbers go down significantly vs. OKC, while OKC's shooting stats remained the same for the most part.

More StatsCube Stuff! I matched up OKC's best players (Perkins, Ibaka, Durant, Harden, Westbrook) against MEM's best defensive squad (Gasol, Randolph, Battier, Allen, Conley). OKC's stats still trump those of MEM.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

Everyone is basically banged up in the playoffs. I don't remember Parker suffering from some major injury to give him an excuse for turning the ball over so much in this series.

You can use these "formula" stats all you want. Its a different story on the court and if you went by stats the Thunder would've swept Memphis this season. You have a team that has the best record out of all the playoff teams against the teams in the playoffs at 21-21. You have a team that had a top 5 record starting January 1st.

All in all, I just want to see the matchup.

[Lamrock]

Did you lose your old account or what, Mafia? Either way, good to see you back. For once in my life, I envy that you're a Grizzlies fan. Your team is fun to watch, has size, plays a winning style of basketball and I think they'll make the WCF.

Memphis is owning the Spurs. After San Antonio got a big lead, the Grizz have been defecating on them in the second half. Only a five point game, but San Antonio is donezo

[benji]

No way. OKC is destroying Denver.

What's it like in your alternate universe?

[kibaxx7]

Dagger.

[Patr1ck]

Wow. What an end to regulation.

[kibaxx7]

And that Gary Neal shot is the single reason why the Spurs will win this series in 7 games.

One man can dream.

[Lamrock]

Wow, that was incredible! Bittersweet three because I'm rooting for the Grizzlies though.

[dare]

And that Gary Neal shot is the single reason why the Spurs will win this series in 7 games.

One man can dream.

But you quit on them just a minute ago. Boo you

[shadowgrin]

Can't make up his mind. Quitting on something. That's normal for Thierry.

[kibaxx7]

What, I didn't quit Just said that Randolph shot was a dagger at that moment. Neal was the savior with that regulation 3, just like in my story. Life imitates art.

[Lamrock]

God fucking damn it. As a fan of the entire NBA whose favorite team is the Hawks of the West, this bums me out. It was an epic regulation but I really hope the Grizzlies can play like they did in game 4 and the third quarter of this at home and take game 6 and don't get mentally deflated by that rookie's lucky 3.

[[Q]]

42% 3 point shooting in the regular season makes it not "lucky" but "good"

[The X]

Did you lose your old account or what, Mafia? Either way, good to see you back. For once in my life, I envy that you're a Grizzlies fan. Your team is fun to watch, has size, plays a winning style of basketball and I think they'll make the WCF.

Memphis is owning the Spurs. After San Antonio got a big lead, the Grizz have been defecating on them in the second half. Only a five point game, but San Antonio is donezo

I've come to the realisation that Andrew isn't the jinx anymore, it's you

[Killer Crossover aka OG]

Spurs want to know again It is exciting again
Huh Spurs in 7