Randolph would smile after the game when told he was getting a happy meal.
Memphis picked up their first-ever home playoff win today in front of a raucous crowd at the Fed-Ex Forum, outlasting an early Spurs run to pick up the W 91-88. The game itself was dirty, physical, and towards the end, even a bit fluky as we saw the veteran San Antonio squad out rebound the larger frontline on the Grizzlies, while the more experienced squad surrendered more turnovers. If that’s not fluky enough, how about Zach “Z-BO” Randolph (yes, that Zach Randolph) hitting a 3 with 41.9 seconds left on the clock to make it a two possession game? That do anything for you?
The game started with tough interior defense being played by both teams, showing to a tee what a “grind it out” series this has been. Grizz point guard Mike Conley was aggressive early, and was rewarded with two quick fouls on his Spurs counterpart Tony Parker, sending him to the bench. Parker would be out played by Conley for most of the night, and would turn the ball over six times, more than double his season average. The Grizz spent the first quarter again going towards their ever-present game plan of “throw it down low to Marc Gasol or Z-BO and use their hugeness to bully the other team into submission” with it working quite well for pretty much the entire game. Memphis would take the lead about 5 minutes into this one, and would never trail again.
The second quarter would start with the San Antonio offense looking completely out-of –sync, missing a ton of open jumpers, especially their three pointers (2-11), and when you are the best three-shooting team in the league, this is a huge issues. They were forced to rely on the amazing drives of Parker and Ginobili, which just did not come often enough. Memphis took advantage, working Conley off of pick-and-rolls and pounding away inside while working hard for good looks, including a downright sexy no look pass from Randolph to Tony Allen with 6:25 remaining. The Spurs’ defense would stiffen as the half was closing, securing multiple blocks, but when the buzzer sounded, they had still only closed what was a sixteen-point lead to ten.
Watching the third quarter must have been quite frustrating for Spurs fans, with the veteran squad seeming to turn the ball over every time they came up the court. One particular stretch with about 8:30 remaining saw three consecutive TO’s by the team, once by Parker and twice by Ginobili. To their credit, they did manage to do a much better job of containing Gasol and Randolph, and did make a run to close the quarter down five, but the turnovers are inexcusable by such a great team.
The fourth were where the Spurs started to finally hit a groove, and things started to get interesting. George Hill hit a critical three to bring the game within range. Ginobili soon after started to pick his game up, tying the game on an and-one field goal to tie at 8:05 remaining, and the Spurs suddenly looked like they just might be interested in trying to win this game. Manu would draw several critical fouls, including the two that would eventually send Tony Allen and his lock-down defense to the bench, and eventually out of the game. The Grizzlies would stay just a step ahead, dangling the lead in front of the Spurs like a bully holding the small kid’s lunch money just beyond his reach.
And then, with Popovich’s squad down only 2 points with 41.9 seconds left on the clock, the impossible happened.
Z-Bo hit a three. A dagger three, to be precise. Sure he’s not just a horrible three point shooter for his position. But that is not in the slightest the play that Lionel Hollins or anyone ever in the history of people or history would have wanted, not even Z-Bo himself, who only did it because the shot clock was winding down, and no one was open. The Grizz would go on to win the game, take a 2-1 lead in the series, and leave the Spurs scratching their heads.
Some days, the basketball gods bless your comeback attempts. Others, they laugh heartily, and send the improbable to crush your hopes. And if there is one thing tonight’s conclusion was, it was improbable.
Key Moment:
With about 1:50 remaining in the game, Tim Duncan goes up for a rebound, like he has done literally thousands of times in his storied career. Only this time, instead of securing it, it goes out of bounds. This was only one of the Spurs’ numerous turnovers, but this one, with the small amount of time, while in the middle of a comeback attempt, it was possibly devastating, especially in a game decided by only three points.
What it Means for Memphis:
It means that with the game one win, they effectively have home court advantage and are well on their way to not only their first play off game wins, but season wins. Their crowd was in full effect tonight, and as long as they stay focused and ready for the crafty play of this veteran opponent, they may well face the Thunder in the next round, who took a 3-0 lead on the Nuggets tonight.
What it Means for San Antonio:
With Antonio McDyess leaving the court in the fourth and his Game 4 status up in the air, the Spurs must do their best to get this loss out of their heads. Ginobili and Parker have to step up their game and limit the turnovers, and the entire team needs to take extra shooting practice and get the three ball back as a weapon next game. Because Tim Duncan isn’t getting any younger, and this could well be the last season he has anything left in the tank for a real title run.
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