San Antonio Spurs/Memphis Grizzlies Game 5 Analysis
16 Wins A Ring Writers offer 3 different perspectives on Game 5 results: Spurs 116 — Grizzlies 103
Spurs Recap by Rich Condon
What Worked
The Spurs enjoyed some home cookin’ after two consecutive losses at the Grindhouse in Memphis. The bench showed up in a big way for the Spurs as the reserves scored 46 points. Patty Mills led the bench mob with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, 5-of-7 from three.
This was an especially welcome sight after Mills had struggled recently. The big story off the bench however was the triumphant return to form of Manu Ginobili. Manu finally scored after over 50 scoreless minutes during the first four games of the series. Manu finished with 10 points and 3 assists in 18 minutes.
As for the starters, only Danny Green finished with less than 10 points. LaMarcus Aldridge and David Lee combined for 23 points and 17 rebounds. Tony Parker continued to excel with 16 points and 6 assists. Last, but not least, Kawhi Leonard finished with 28 points and 6 assists.
After allowing Memphis to score 27 fast break points in game four, San Antonio held the Grizzlies to just seven fast break points in game five. Zach Randolph was rendered ineffective with only 9 points and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Lessons Learned
The Grizzlies shot over 50 percent from the field and over 40 percent from downtown, both numbers the Spurs need to look to reduce as they attempt to close out the series. Mike Conley was once again a thorn in the side of San Antonio, as he scored 26 points and dished out 6 assists.
Pau Gasol continues to struggle for the Spurs in limited minutes. Despite scoring 9 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the floor, Gasol picked up two quick fouls, and looked a little lost on defense.
Despite this, the Spurs were in control of this game nearly from the very opening whistle.
Game 6 Adjustment
DeWayne Dedmon will probably be ready for bigger minutes after missing game four and only appearing in garbage time in game five. Dedmond should slot back into the starting lineup in game six, which will return David Lee to the bench.
Coach Popovich and the Spurs will look to implement this same game-plan on the road. The Spurs will once again try to stop Mike Conley from hitting floaters at will. It’s not like San Antonio is playing bad defense either, most of the shots Conley has converted have a high degree of difficulty.
Game 6 Prediction
The home team has won every game so far in this series. Although, if San Antonio can play this way again in game six, they’re going to be hard to stop. On the flip side, however, Memphis in a do-or-die situation at home in the Grindhouse is perhaps one of the toughest outs in the NBA.
The Spurs will win a close one and close out the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies Recap by SharonShyBrown
What Worked
Mike Conley again had a great game, and was the reason the Grizzlies was able to get back in the game. Conley finished with 26 points (10-of-17 from the field and two-of-four from deep), six assists and four steals. Conley scored 17 points in the third quarter.
Marc Gasol chipped in 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Gasol went 6-of-12 from the field. JaMychal Green had another solid game as a reserved. He added 11 points and shot 3-of-5 from three.
James Ennis added 11 points in the first half and Vince Carter scored 10. Unfortunately however, the Spurs just outplayed the Grizzlies in almost every facet of the game.
Lessons Learned
The Grizzlies played little defense. They allowed the Spurs to shoot 52.5 percent from the field and 50 (14-of-28) percent from beyond the arc. The Spurs reserves were huge. After going 0-of-15 from the field in the four previous games, Manu Ginobili finished with 10 points while going 4-of-6 from the field.
Two words: Patty Mills. Mills killed the Grizzlies with 20 points off the bench. He went 5-of-7 from the three point line, while the Spurs bench outscored the Grizzlies bench, 46–30.
Tony Parker once again had a solid game with 16 points and six assists. Down the stretch, the Grizzlies just couldn’t get a stop. They began trading baskets with the Spurs, who pulled away with timely threes.
Game 6 Adjustment
Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have to provide help to Mike Conley as they did in Game 3. Gasol didn’t have a bad shooting night, but he only took 12 shots. He has to be more aggressive offensively. The Grizzlies are better when he does that.
Randolph shooting woes continued, he went 4 of 10 from the field and finished with just 10 points. He added six rebound and two steals. The Grizzlies gave up 64 points in the second and third quarters combined. That has to change.
There’s no way the Grizzlies can win trading buckets with the Spurs. For game 6, Memphis has to do a better job defensively.
Game 6 Prediction
Grizzlies will even the series again at home to force a Game 7 in San Antonio. Both teams have been able to protect their home courts. Another exciting game is expected on Thursday night.
Why San Antonio Won
San Antonio looked like they had the game locked up when they took an 18-point lead in the third quarter, but Memphis charged back on the strength of Mike Conley’s continued outstanding play. Instead, it was the fourth quarter that set the teams apart, when the Spurs scored on a staggering 13 consecutive possessions. Like the rest of the games in this series, the glacial pace masked the Spurs’ incredible offensive output, nearly 140 points per 100 possessions.
Patty Mills led that charge in the final period, sinking 4 of his 5 made 3-pointers during that stretch. Manu Ginobli also found life, scoring a tidy 10 points after getting shut out the first four games, but more encouragingly made energy plays all throughout the night, including one mind-boggling moment when he and Vince Carter — combining for 79 years of existence on this earth — dove for a loose ball that Manu drew a foul on.
Oh, and that Kahwi Leonard guy was pretty good, too. Another efficient night for the star forward, 28 points on 16 shots.
Why Memphis Lost
It’s tempting to suggest that Mike Conley isn’t getting enough help out there, that the Grizzlies should find a way to win when he scores 27 points, including 17 in the third quarter. Offense isn’t really the issue, however. A 124 offensive rating is outstanding…just, well, not as outstanding as 140.
Defense, then, is the biggest issue. Memphis Coach David Fizdale noted that the Spurs punished every mistake they made, especially down the stretch, taking advantage of mental breakdowns. They can’t blame free throws this time, not when both teams took 22 of them. The 14–28 shots from downtown were backbreaking.
Game 6 Adjustment
Somehow, some way, they have to find a way to stop the Spurs from scoring the way they have most of the series. Tuesday’s fourth quarter was an outlier by any definition, but the process was sound from the Spurs’ perspective, especially compared to game 4 when they relied on ridiculously tough shot-making from Leonard.
Understandably, the Grizzlies focused a lot of attention on Leonard in Game 5, and on some level that makes sense. Leonard isn’t a gifted passer, so forcing him to create for others might seem like the best way to limit his effectiveness. Problem is, that hasn’t worked. The Spurs don’t need Leonard to hit the open man by himself if they can keep the ball moving after he passes out of the double team. Furthermore, the Grizzlies have yet to actually force an inefficient shooting night from Leonard.
Instead, they might consider letting him feast while trying to stay home on everyone else. That’s hardly a great strategy, but it might be the only one left.
Game 6 Prediction
San Antonio looks like they have things well in control. Then again, most of us said the very same thing after games 1 and 2, and look where we are now. Neither team has managed to win on the opponent’s court, though San Antonio’s game 4 effort was as close as either team has gotten.
In this situation, all I can do is back the better team, which means I’ll be taking the Spurs in Game 6, though I feel much less confident about it than I did before Games 3 and 4.
