Grizz vs Spurs - the official series thread! (1 Viewer)

[NOVoodoo]

^ Well you know your team better than I. So I will defer to you. But when you say.......

Not to mention, what the hell was up with this fourth quarter line-up: Conley/Dooling/Bayless/Pondexter/Gasol? Not to even start on how Dooling should never be in the game, or how Bayless should not be used in important situations

.........My thought is because you don't have anyone else to put in the game. And that is not Hollins fault.

As for Tony Allen, He had a good game, but his two missed free throws in crunch time hurt. Maybe that's why he was not in as much.

No one else to put in the game? C'mon man, Darrell Arthur could start on a lot of teams, and he played 3 minutes! Instead, we had a two-guard in at PF in crunch time. Was a three-PG rotation really necessary, with a SG playing PF? They had a field day against that line-up.

As for Tony Allen, the Spurs went on a huge run with him on the bench, and as soon as he came back, he locked down Parker. He missed some free-throws, but I'm not going to persecute him over that, because the only reason he went to the line the first time was because he got the rebound... a rebound that we wouldn't have even gotten with any other player in the game.

I just think back to the play where Pondexter bricked the open layup and think, "if TA were in there, he'd have cleaned up that board." He's one of the worst offensive players in the game with the ball in his hands, but at least on the offensive end, half-court or transition, he's one of the most active guys in the entire league. If there's a chance at a loose ball, Tony's going to try to get it.

Trust me, this team operates a lot better with him on the court than off. Lionel's just got a petty feud going with him. That's why we lost one of our assistant coaches in the playoffs, why Lionel is not signed through the end of the season, and why Tony Allen only played 26 minutes in a crucial game 3 in the WCF that went to OT.

As far as "Fat-Bo" goes, he's struggled all year long against this Spurs frontcourt. That's nothing new, but we still split the regular season series 2-2. We just need to go back to the way we played in the regular season, feeding the post, playing Tony Allen, and not trying to get into a shooting contest with one of the best shooting teams in the league, when we're one of the worst.

With that said, morale is pretty low around here. I haven't heard too many Grizzlies, or even fans for that matter, talking about making history, turning around the 0-3 deficit into a 4-3 series win, which is where their heads should be at right now. I just hope they show up to play tomorrow, and at least force a game 5.

Moral of the story is that the Grizz should let Lionel walk... let him go to Brooklyn or one of those teams that's buying into his hype, and take Henry Bibby with him while they're at it. They should then promote David Joerger to Head Coach and retain Bob Thornton as an assistant.

 

[PapaG]

Ginobli just went 5-hole on Prince on an assist to Joseph.

 

[PapaG]

C'mon man, Darrell Arthur could start on a lot of teams, and he played 3 minutes! I.

The Idaho Stampede and the Reno Bighorns?

 

[illmatic99]

Spurs about to pull one of the most ho hum runs into the finals in the last decade. Even for them

12-2 in the playoffs so far? Just sick. Still don't think they have a chance against MIA, but I think they can make it interesting.

 

[illmatic99]

Timmy is 4-0 in the finals in his career. Would be a fitting way for him to retire from the game if he wins again.

 

[MickZagger]

I hope the Spurs get their 5th.

 

[PapaG]

The Spurs' owner has a dangerously red face. Blood pressure meds? Anyone?

 

[illmatic99]

Manu's line tonight: 6pts, 6rebs, 6asts, 6 turns on 1-6 FG

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Tim Duncan: 13 years between NBA Finals appearances, most between 1st & last Finals appearance w/same team EVER (Elias)

 

[illmatic99]

How do they know it's his last appearance?

I suppose it doesn't really matter given the wording. That record is his regardless

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Tony Parker's 37 points in Game 4 are the most scored by any Spurs player since Parker scored 37 on Feb. 8, 2012.

 

[Pinwheel1]

No one else to put in the game? C'mon man, Darrell Arthur could start on a lot of teams, and he played 3 minutes! Instead, we had a two-guard in at PF in crunch time. Was a three-PG rotation really necessary, with a SG playing PF? They had a field day against that line-up.

As for Tony Allen, the Spurs went on a huge run with him on the bench, and as soon as he came back, he locked down Parker. He missed some free-throws, but I'm not going to persecute him over that, because the only reason he went to the line the first time was because he got the rebound... a rebound that we wouldn't have even gotten with any other player in the game.

I just think back to the play where Pondexter bricked the open layup and think, "if TA were in there, he'd have cleaned up that board." He's one of the worst offensive players in the game with the ball in his hands, but at least on the offensive end, half-court or transition, he's one of the most active guys in the entire league. If there's a chance at a loose ball, Tony's going to try to get it.

Trust me, this team operates a lot better with him on the court than off. Lionel's just got a petty feud going with him. That's why we lost one of our assistant coaches in the playoffs, why Lionel is not signed through the end of the season, and why Tony Allen only played 26 minutes in a crucial game 3 in the WCF that went to OT.

As far as "Fat-Bo" goes, he's struggled all year long against this Spurs frontcourt. That's nothing new, but we still split the regular season series 2-2. We just need to go back to the way we played in the regular season, feeding the post, playing Tony Allen, and not trying to get into a shooting contest with one of the best shooting teams in the league, when we're one of the worst.

With that said, morale is pretty low around here. I haven't heard too many Grizzlies, or even fans for that matter, talking about making history, turning around the 0-3 deficit into a 4-3 series win, which is where their heads should be at right now. I just hope they show up to play tomorrow, and at least force a game 5.

Moral of the story is that the Grizz should let Lionel walk... let him go to Brooklyn or one of those teams that's buying into his hype, and take Henry Bibby with him while they're at it. They should then promote David Joerger to Head Coach and retain Bob Thornton as an assistant.

Sorry man I feel for you tonight. I know you are hurting right now and I don't want to pile on, but after watching tonight's games, I stand by my comments. Your guys played their asses off and Hollins did a great job of coaching. But in the end you did not have enough players that could score. You were undermanned. You just did not get enough back in return when losing Gay and Mayo. Not Hollins' fault.

 

[NOVoodoo]

Sorry man I feel for you tonight. I know you are hurting right now and I don't want to pile on, but after watching tonight's games, I stand by my comments. Your guys played their asses off and Hollins did a great job of coaching. But in the end you did not have enough players that could score. You were undermanned. You just did not get enough back in return when losing Gay and Mayo. Not Hollins' fault.

The thing is, having Rudy or Mayo out there would have helped us more than hurt us. They'd both be better options than Bayless, but I don't think we'd really get to the second round with either player on the roster. They played a very selfish brand of basketball on a Grizz squad that was built around ball movement and a team-oriented concept.

You're right that we lost because we were under-manned, but O.J. and Rudy were not the answers, and getting rid of them not only helped us get to the WCF but it opened up the cap room to re-sign Tony Allen.

On the point of TA, that's my biggest gripe with Hollins. I've got several, but that's the biggest. TA's way too important defensively to have on the bench at all in crucial moments, yet he had him on the bench in seemingly every important moment in this series. Let's not forget that before this became a sweep, there were two OT games, where having TA in the game probably would have pushed it to a 2-2 series, or at least a 3-1.

Like I've said before, TA can't make a lay-up in an open gym, but I'd rather have a two-guard that is not only the best one-on-one defender in the NBA but also the best defender in terms of recovering for help defense, than a player like Bayless who plays "hero ball" and just chucks shots up there in inappropriate situations. Allen is also an insane glass-crasher for a two-guard. If he makes a mistake, he'll usually atone for it by diving head first recklessly for a loose ball. Like I said about the missed FT's in game 3, we wouldn't have even been in that position had it not been for TA's hustle.

I've got a lot more complaints about Hollins, but the lack of playing time for TA is just inexcusable, especially because it seems like it was because the two were feuding in the playoffs. They started to really get at each others throats, and there have been a few blow-ups between the two that've been talked about around Memphis, and I can't help but feel like Hollins put his dislike for TA over the betterment of the team. I mean, what got us to this point? Who made us the best defensive team in the NBA? Why go away from that in the playoffs?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Memphis should be proud that they defeated two darlings of the NBA without HCA to get to the WCF. And Tony Allen has been a huge part of changing the Grizz's culture. He's arguably their second most important player of their recent surge (after Marc Gasol, of course).

Sounds like they won't have Lionel Hollins to kick around much longer, though. The Clippers are sniffing around him.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

With the Lakers, Warriors and the Grizzlies, the Spurs have proved they can beat just about every different type of team. But does anyone really give them a chance against the Heat? They've got to take heart from what the Pacers did to the Heat in Miami.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

"The Memphis Grizzlies: The Cable Drama"

 

[tlongII]

The Grizz lost because Z-Bo and Gasol couldn't throw it in the ocean. Z-Bo especially was a complete mess this series. When you have your top two scoring threats get shut down you are not going to win many games.

 

[Boise Blazer]

John Hollinger ‏@johnhollinger 14m
Irony 1, Hollinger 0. http://es.pn/WYwWsH

 

[Boise Blazer]

ESPN Stats & Info ‏@ESPNStatsInfo 4m
Are Tim Duncan, Tony Parker & Manu Ginobili one of the greatest trios ever? Let's examine where this dynasty ranks: http://es.pn/150BgJX

 

[blue9]

Man, I couldn't have been more wrong about this series! But, I always like to see the Spurs win (except when they play us). It is truly amazing how Pops can take three great players and a bunch of role players and make them a championship-worthy team. After watching MEM hit a brick wall I really hope they can up-end the Heat. All the pundits have been saying that the Spurs lost their defense a few years ago and turned into a team that wins on the offensive end, but it looks like Pops still knows how to diagram a stifling defense when it's needed.
Go Spurs!