The Silver and Black will be taking on the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis tonight. The Grizzlies are 6-3 at home, while the Spurs are 2-8 on the road. The Grizzlies are on a 3 game losing streak which they look to break against the Spurs who are in a 2 game losing streak of their own.
The Grizzlies leading scorer is Rudy Gay at the Small Forward position. He is one of the NBA's top two-way forwards and averages 18.7 points a game along with 6.2 rebounds. Marc Gasol is their center. A rarity in the league nowadays, Gasol plays a true center and averages 15.1 PPG along with 10.4 rebounds per game. He is the defensive anchor in the paint for his team. Memphis is without Spurs killer Zach Randolph.
San Antonio will have their hands full with the Grizz. They will need to find a way to keep Memphis away from the rim. Few teams in the league score as much at or near the rim as Memphis does. Though they are not a great 3 point shooting team, the Spurs were witnesses first hand last year that this so called 'not a great 3 pointing team' can in fact shoot the 3 ball.
The Spurs have two hopes going into this game that will see the Silver and Black pull out a 'W' deep in enemy territory. 1st they will need to rain down 3s on the Memphis squad. Do it early and do it plentifully. 2nd, get their bigs in foul trouble. Marc Gasol is right next to YAWN (Ian Mahinmi) at the top of the committing fouls list for centers.
Coming off of a disappointing loss in Dallas, San Antonio is still trying to find their identity without Manu.
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NBA Stats Cube Lineup Comparison Here . Memphis Grizzlies perspective can be found here:Straight Outta Vancouver
Game Prediction: Memphis by 7
As always Tony must dominate Fisher, and NBA league pass is recommended for those who are willing to pony up the cash. Almost every Spurs game will be broadcast there, which is especially helpful for those of us who aren't in the San Antonio area. Please don't post links to illegal game feeds in the game thread. Links to illegal feeds are not permitted on SBNation, but you can probably find them out there on the internets if you're resourceful and desperate.
0 recs | 42 comments
Nice work Joe. I think with as much rest as our starters got last night that the good guys will have a good chance tonight. I also think the Spurs will pack it in tight and play the numbers against the Grizz. They shoot 31% from downtown and 45% from the field. That’s 29th in the NBA in 3’s and 10 in FG percentage. I can’t imagine how good they be if they could hit the deep ball.
Big50 - January 30, 2012
don’t worry, against us they’ll raise that percentage…
Jordan Leithart - January 30, 2012
And, the inevtiable has finally happened. Without their respective best players, both of these teams would miss the playoffs if they started today. The West is just as crazy as ever.
Tim C. - January 30, 2012
and the East is still as easy as ever.
Ayatollah - January 30, 2012
Congrats on your fantasy victory… I hadn’t counted on losing Rondo and Bogut for the whole week when I traded with you lol.
Tim C. - January 30, 2012
That’s depressing.
Big50 - January 30, 2012
Ed (dfjmed) - January 30, 2012
Those teams, except for new jersey, would be VERY stupid to make those trades. Howard is great, he might be the second best player in the NBA, but you dont trade 2 studs for him (or in the case of chicago, 3/5 of the starting lineup of a juggernaut of a team)
Chilai - January 30, 2012
I dont beleive LA would be stupid enough to trade Pau/Bynum for Dwight.
alamobro - January 30, 2012
I definately think CHI would be dumb to make the trade. 3 of 5 starters for 1 guy is a bad trade. They’re not going to get past Miami with only D12 and Rose. Deng is currently injured. They couldn’t beat them last year… when healthy.
Ed (dfjmed) - January 30, 2012
Bulls also have Taj Gibson and Asik. They aren’t exactly slim at the front court. I’m not saying giving up all that helps, but front court depth/size is not something they lack. At the 3, Deng’s position is a different story though.
grego21 - January 30, 2012
If your look closely, youll see that it says “Noah/BoozerorDeng” . He means Noah and Boozer OR Deng.
alamobro - January 30, 2012
We NEED to WIN tonight
spursfan87 - January 30, 2012
Why, you don’t like the thought of being 10th in the West?
Tim C. - January 30, 2012
We can get a good draft pick!!!
spursfan87 - January 30, 2012
Are there any players that you’d really want in this year’s draft class?
Big50 - January 30, 2012
Well, it is a deep draft. But unless we’re in the high lottery, I don’t like it. (If you’re gonna tank, tank all the way)
Tim C. - January 30, 2012
Last night’s game was SO important, it hurt so much to lose. Tonight’s game is also against a division rival competing directly against us to get in the playoffs. Please oh please lets win this game.
COME ON SPURS, you can do it.
Chilai - January 30, 2012
I think from the standpoint, it was still a success, despite the loss. Pop got exactly what he wanted from his young guys/secondary guys. They played pretty good D.
grego21 - January 30, 2012
And executed in critical moments.
grego21 - January 30, 2012
That’s the half glass full approach. Im worried about the starters. They never look dominant or really good. Right now we are depending on a bunch of youngsters to dig us out of the mess that the starters are making. The starters lack energy. Parker is gassed, Duncan is old, Jefferson is stealing money, Blair is a mess and Kawhi is too damn shy. I would put Danny green or Tiago in the starting lineup, we need some hustle.
Chilai - January 30, 2012
But I think with Manu and TJ back, they can mix and match the players to get the most out of the strongest units. And yes, Parker is gassed, which I was afraid of.
I don’t think Pop should necessarily change the starting lineup, but should just not be afraid to sub out a guy fairly quickly. It’s already going to change when Manu comes back.
grego21 - January 30, 2012
Just food for thought: maybe we could start Tiago and TIm, and then sub in Dejuan or Bonner for Duncan. The idea is to have one of TIm/Tiago at all times on the court while also playing them together as much as possible. To accomplish that, Tiago would have to play a lot of minutes, which is a great idea I think.
If a guy like Marc Gasol can play like 40+ minutes a night and be a beast, why cant Tiago do the same in 35 mins a game?
Another option: play more Kawhi at the 4. Yes, smallball. But I think there is more than enough evidence around the league that you can be an excellent defensive team playing an atlhetic forward at the 4 position. Look at the sixers, look at the heat. Right now in the NBA defending the perimeter and rotating properly and quickly is the most important thing. There arent many post players. Even the most dominant bigs tend to face up and shoot from outside a lot. In the rare case of a team that has 2 great post players, you just play Tim and Tiago a lot and that’s it (like the lakers).
Whatever it takes to play Blair and Bonner a lot less. Those two guys have demonstrated to be bench players you put just if the matchup is right (Dejuan) or if he is shooting a lot and finding the net (Bonner). When that isnt the case, you play them 5 mins or give them a DNP.
Chilai - January 30, 2012
I like this idea a lot.
Tim C. - January 30, 2012
That would be great…if Tiago doesn’t foul.
SpursfanSteve - January 30, 2012
Exactly.
Edg5 - January 30, 2012
Ed (dfjmed) - January 30, 2012
Good old Henry Abbott. He is always soo critical of the Spurs.
lazNirv - January 30, 2012
Josh Guyer (completely deck) - January 30, 2012
SpursfanSteve - January 30, 2012
spursfan87 - January 30, 2012
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
<img src=“”http://gifsoup.com/view/144758/flair-strut.html" target="_blank">
SpursfanSteve - January 30, 2012
“You sound like a big choo choo train..."
In the 666 - January 30, 2012
rec’d
SpursfanSteve - January 30, 2012
Dec. 26, 2011 was a great day. I got to wear my new Christmas shirt and we beat the gizzards on their home court 95-82. We scored 30 points on 10 3’s and they imploded. The key to our victory tonight is to shoot a 3, then shoot a 3, then shoot a 3 and then shoot more 3’s.
indiancharlie - January 30, 2012
I trust you’ll be wearing your lucky shirt tonight?
Big50 - January 30, 2012
Sorry Big..no lucky shirt and also it was our court and I also forgot to point out Manu (the great one) was on fire with 24 for the night. But.. we did fire 33 3’s and 10 fell. Anyway counting foul shots they attempted 99 vs. 143 for the Spurs.
indiancharlie - January 30, 2012
We need a win. I think we should start Green/Anderson in place of Kawhi and have him back RJ. The first unit needs some help in ball handling and scoring/defense.(that is pretty much everything isn’t it)…Green would be perfect for it…
Heman - January 30, 2012
I’m not sure I’d want Green out of the second unit since he plays a little bit of backup PG. Anderson, as I’ve said before is the best match, I think. It gives him a chance to get shots. Although I figure then Neal would get the start, which would hurt the starting D even more, like it did previously.
grego21 - January 30, 2012
I agree, i would give Anderson another shot at starting, Pop gave up too quickly on him in my opinion. The problem Leonard starting is that sometimes is like we are playing 4 on 5 on offense.
Tonight would be a perfect game to start Anderson, he’s got to feel very confident after last night
spursfan87 - January 30, 2012
I agree with both of you..Anderson should start. I said Green only because Green does a bit of everything and I think the starters need that kind of help..just like what Manu used to provide… But I see the point of Green being a ball handler for the second unit as well…
Well, i’m glad I’m not the coach. Anyway..do we know when TJ is schedueld to return?
Heman - January 30, 2012
wins?
“Please sir, may I have some more?”
In the 666 - January 30, 2012
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