El Conclusión: San Antonio Spurs 93, Memphis Grizzlies 86

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San Antonio Spurs 93 Final

Recap | Box Score

 86 Memphis Grizzlies
Tim Duncan, PF 35 MIN | 7-15 FG | 1-1 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 15 PTS | +4I had my concerns that he was going to be in good shape physically after playing 44 minutes just two nights before, but that didn’t seem to be an issue for Duncan in Game 4. It wasn’t his best performance, but it was enough on this night.
Kawhi Leonard, SF 38 MIN | 5-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 5 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | +13I can’t say enough about the way Leonard creates turnovers. He doesn’t gamble and play passing lanes like some players, he creates steals that would be impossible for most players. Oh, and he hit a huge 3-pointer when the Grizzlies had cut the Spurs’ lead to three as well.
Tiago Splitter, C 30 MIN | 4-8 FG | 1-1 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 9 PTS | +8A fairly quiet night for Splitter, but he had a big block (his fourth of the game!) on Jerryd Bayless late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win for the Spurs.
Tony Parker, PG 40 MIN | 15-21 FG | 6-6 FT | 4 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 37 PTS | 0Point God.
Danny Green, SG 27 MIN | 2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 2 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | +1Broke the Spurs’ 3-point shooting drought early in the second half. Otherwise, not much to be said about Green’s night.
Matt Bonner, PF 11 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 2 PTS | -2After I go and write 800 words about Bonner’s postseason, he comes out and goes 0-for-3 from the arc. New rule: Only write good stuff about Bonner during the offseason.
Boris Diaw, C 20 MIN | 2-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | +5The passing. He and Splitter were fizzing the ball all around the the paint in the first half.
Gary Neal, PG 7 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | -4Not a single thing sticks out about Neal’s seven minutes.
Cory Joseph, PG 7 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 4 PTS | +2CoJo got a couple of layups in the first half, one after a beautiful through-the-legs bounce pass from Manu Ginobili. It would be a crime to screw up that assist.
Manu Ginobili, SG 25 MIN | 1-6 FG | 4-5 FT | 6 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 6 TO | 6 PTS | +8What a weird stat line from Manu. Not his best tonight, but he did enough to help win and didn’t hurt them enough to lose. If that makes any sense.
Gregg Popovich

Four Things We Saw

  1. I’m genuinely surprised the Spurs swept the Grizzlies. I picked San Antonio to win the series, but I figured it was going to be something like six games. The swiftness in which the Spurs finished off this series is baffling to me.
  2. I’m still marveling at the job the Spurs bigs, and really the perimeter guys as well, did on Zach Randolph in this series. Z-Bo shot 16-for-53 (30.2 percent) in the Western Conference Finals and hit just one shot, by my count, from outside of the lane. Not only that, he was on 50 percent from the free throw line as well. Just an uncharacteristically bad series from Randolph.
  3. Likewise, I’m still surprised by how good San Antonio’s offense was against the Grizzlies. Memphis had a 97.2 defensive rating in the regular season, good for second in the league. In the Conference Finals they gave up a 105.3 rating to the Spurs. There were only select stretches where the Spurs really struggled to score and some of those you could chalk up to fatigue just as much as what Memphis did.
  4. Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich are headed to their fifth NBA Finals, 14 years after their first trip together. Let that sink in a bit.
  • incredibeau

    i don’t think that “14 years after their first trip together” part will ever sink in

  • Jesse Gladsaget

    I think it’s absolutely LAUGHABLE that we’re supposed to abide by this ‘CP3 is the best PG by default’ preset notion! Parker has been better ALL YEAR!! It’s not blasphemy to say so.

    Like the article pointed out, Kawhi’s 3 late in the 3rd was the biggest play of the game, as it quelled the momentum Memphis was building up. I love this damn team beyond any quantifiable measure.

    12 down, 4 to go!!

  • fda1

    You should give Tiago, Bonner, and Diaaw a half grade more for doing what they did to Z-Bo and Gasol. The Red mamba was not very good on offense but he was killing himself on D.

    timmyisagod

  • neverthehero

    Agree, since it’s the internet let’s quibble about things like fake grades. Splitter was easily a full letter grade better than Manu, Diaws passes were key and both of the guy’s defense was a lot more critical to the game than Manu’s. Manu was one foolish 3 pointer away from really putting the Spurs in a bind. I really hope that he doesn’t pull that crap in the finals. As far as Green goes, might help if we run a play for him once in awhile. The defense and Parker are easily the two main reasons why this game was won. Kudos.

  • neverthehero

    Agree, since it’s the internet let’s quibble about things like fake grades. Splitter was easily a full letter grade better than Manu, Diaws passes were key and both of the guy’s defense was a lot more critical to the game than Manu’s. Manu was one foolish 3 pointer away from really putting the Spurs in a bind. I really hope that he doesn’t pull that crap in the finals. As far as Green goes, might help if we run a play for him once in awhile. The defense and Parker are easily the two main reasons why this game was won. Kudos.

  • etomai

    Always felt that Bonner put in serious effort on D, nice to see it plainly helping the team this series. The surprise offensive diversity he’s put in has been a treat, too.

    And of course the lowest jump ball ever between two 6’10″ guys last game.

  • neverthehero

    Almost all the websites had articles on what the Grizz needed to do to prevent the sweep but nary a one (outside of Spurs sites) did I see what talk about what the Spurs needed to do. Wasn’t happy with a lot of the non-ball movement at the end of the game nor some of Manu’s 3′s but defense, clutch Parker and the Grizz not figuring out a good lineup, it’s going to a lot of fun watching them go for number 5. Can’t believe we have to wait 9 days though, might need to ship the Spurs some wd-40 by next week.

  • Colin

    Did anyone notice, beginning 2nd quarter of game 3, Kawhi drawing the defensive assignment on Conley for stretches? I think that was a turning point and a dose of the other team’s medicine towards Parker.

  • andy

    not only that, but parker generally destroys paul when they face off. part of that is the team structure, but it’s always a landslide.

  • Charlie Chen

    Saw the good old sweep after spurs knocked off the warriors! book it: Spurs take it in 5 against either pacers/heat. and the Spurs will have a week to prepare against these young guns

  • SpurredOn

    Defense, just like the old days. Pop was correct to make this the offseason focal point. Spurs held Memphis under 40% shooting three times this series. They’ve done it six times in their past eight games. Wow. Just like it used to be.

    And how about the fact that Memphis never led at any point in the 2nd half of three of these games, plus in neither OT.

  • Andrew

    If one or two of those ‘ill-advised’ Manu 3′s had gone in, we’d be talking about what a cold blooded killer he is in a close out game. Of course, they didn’t go in and he accounted for some bad some turnovers. He hasn’t been great during this playoff run aside from a few flashes(including a double OT rainmaker at the buzzer to beat GSW in game 1), at least in the box score. And its getting to be cliche to talk about all the great things he does off the stat sheet. The odd thing is that it doesn’t appear physical. His shots aren’t falling and his turnovers are attempts at making insane passes and what not. I don’t know but we will need him to turn it up in the finals.

    Kahwi’s 3 was huge but that one Parker hit was enormous, specifically, because its not his shot. He stepped up and uncorked a contested 3 when the team needed it.

    I expect Miami to represent the East though I’m rooting for Indy. While they are the defending champs and had a great season, I don’t think Pop is going to allow Haslem to have shoot around looks all night or Birdman to remain perfect from the field.

    I imagine Pop may do LeBron like he did Amare a few years back and say go score 40, everyone else on lock down. Kahwi is a better defender than Paul George, LeBron will have to work and will meet plenty of help from the bigs.

    One last thing that bears repeating about Tim and JVG was on this point…..the old man runs the floor like a 23 year old wing player and multiple times it killed the Grizz. That’s just plain old determination and desire.

  • neverthehero

    If Lebron goes for 40 plus 10 plus assists then it’s lights out but pretty spot on what will probably happen. The real big problem for the Spurs is that Bosh may continue to shoot a high % 3′s and force Splitter to guard farther than he’d like. Or maybe there is another solution to that problem.

  • Sam Robb

    That Popovich gif is amazing. Must have been drunk on wine.

  • STIJL

    As far as Ginobili…..nothing makes since in his game. The truest point made was (“, but he did enough to help win and didn’t hurt them enough to lose.”) His highly productive games are becoming more and more spaced apart with games you wish somebody else were given more minutes to.

    That said…Green, Bonner, and Neal need to play better on the road. Pacers or Heat won’t be as discombobulated as the Grizzlies played and will take a consorted consistent effort by the entire Spurs team to win it all in the finals.

    Parker = Best PG in the league.
    Duncan = Best player of his time.
    Pop = Genius

    That’s San Antonio’s big three at this point with Kawhi in the wings to become great.

  • Len

    Omg, what an amazing video clip of Pop. Good times

  • Len

    Well, it’s 10 assists that would be the killer. If Pop decides to coerce LBJ into becoming a one dimensional scorer, giving up 40 points would be acceptable so long as he has to work for them.

  • Len

    RE: Manu’s play. I do think that the Spurs will need Manu to play an important part in a couple Finals victories. He’s gotten old in front of our eyes but the man is one of the best big game players in the history (yes I said it) of basketball. I have faith that Manu will have his moments.

  • agutierrez

    Three points about Manu: he won’t make any threes if he doesn’t take them (hence no game winner in Game 1 against the Dubs; 2. some of his turnovers are the fault of his target, on one, CoJo started in one direction and then stopped, on another, Tiago began to roll to the basket and stopped. 3. our second unit grinds to a halt if he’s not running it, pure and simple. In most instances, our second unit builds our lead where most other teams’ does all it can to tread water. Let’s not bury him just yet.

  • junierizzle

    I know Manu hasn’t been consistent but honestly, who doesnt want him out there? Who’s going to run things, Cojo? Neal? TP can’t play the entire game. He’s going to be big in the Finals. Mark my words.

  • The Kawhiet Storm

    I feel lucky to be old enough to remember the Hemisfair days, so special to see this group back in the finals. To put things in perspective, I had just turned 17 when the Spurs won their 1st NBA title, I will be turning 31 on June 6th. In that time I graduated high school, went to college, worked a dozen jobs, lived in San Antonio, Austin, Madison, Wisconsin, Prague the Czech Republic, Austin again. Lived under 3 different presidents, world changing events,had friends and family go fight in two wars, got married, got divorced, had people I loved leave this world and new ones enter it. The only constants in those 14 years have been the inconsistency of life and the San Antonio Spurs. It might be hyperbolic to weigh the achievements of a sports franchise against grit and grind of real every day life but sometimes when everything around us seems chaos even the smallest pebble can seem a rock to which we can cling and weather the storm of life.

    People make so much of how the Grizzlies reflect the character of the city of memphis but I don’t think any franchise embodies the spirit of their town more than the Spurs. San Antonio has grown so much in the last 14 years but the city still feels the same in the best sense of the word. Unlike Austin and Dallas and Houston the city has an identity that does not dilute or waver despite the city’s growth, expansion or success. When I left San Antonio for college in 2000 I couldn’t wait to go out and see what else there. now as a 31 year old man I cannot wait for the days I make that trip down I 35 and remember what is like to feel at Home. Our Spurs, and yes they are OUR Spurs, are an immeasurably large part of that. That and the TexMex food.

  • exocast33

    In fairness to Manu — Timmy (and other Spurs) no longer likes to roll to the basket down th middle of lane. Manu tries to lead them there with passes — ends up in TO. Plus, twice his 3pt shot rimmed out. I think his game was under control enough and the passes he made to COJO and the long one to Duncan were sick.

  • TheFG21

    LOOL Coach Pop was possessed! Man he was having an awesome time!

  • DorieStreet

    First of all - Congratulations to the San Antonio Spurs for preservering for a dozen seasons to get back to the NBA finals.
    Closeout game in conference finals, on the road against a team with a great home record, who almost won the previous two games with a last shot in regulation- and one starter and the entire bench rotation had so-so contributions or worse (by your grades).
    Singe digits again for Green—that can’t go on. He and Leonard will have to make significant offensive contributions come June.

  • DorieStreet

    Now he enjoys being a curmudgeon to Doris, Craig -the entire lot of sideline basketball reporters.

  • DorieStreet

    The sports media has been doing that since the 1950′s: “The (Insert team/franchise) reflects the character of (insert town/city).”
    It started back with the NFL: the Packers (“Titletown USA) Steelers (tough iron workers), Colts (longshoremen, and their ragtag Colts Marching Band) Chicago (the stockyards)—you can go on and on.
    When the Thunder began their rise in 2010, in was Oklahoma City.
    An old, long overused sports cliche that all journalists/reporters should stop using, but it keeps appearing season after season, decade after decade, generation after generation.

  • TheFG21

    In honor to the one and only… El Contusión!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iPSXDDg-aZw#!

  • Titletown99030507d

    He almost blew for us before the end of the 3rd resulting in a 9 point spread. Lucky for him Tony and the gang kept coming back.

  • Titletown99030507d

    “blew it”

  • Titletown99030507d

    Agree.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Manu is saving is his best for last. Hope he plays like he did in 05″. That was his MVP. Sorry Timmy.

  • Titletown99030507d

    So what do we do if LBJ or Wade are assigned on Parker. Kawhi better have a big night.

  • td4life

    Between now and Game 1: Shooting drills, shooting drills, shooting drills, shooting drills. Our guys need to hit it from outside all series long.

    Btw: yeah: Tony Parker, Point God. Is it too late to christen him “Splash” Parker?

  • Titletown99030507d

    Yes he will. He lives for this.

  • Len

    Wade has no chance to stay in front of Tony. And they won’t put LBJ on him all night. Too big of a chance to draw fouls and tire him out some.

  • Titletown99030507d

    That’s what the experts are saying. The ones on TV that get paid for doing the analyzing.

  • etomai

    Some analyst pointed out that you couldn’t blame Parker’s game 4 success just on Conley or Allen because the Spurs run him off so many, many screens, making the team D more significant than the individual. Plus the Heat are a very aggressive trapping D that switch all over.

    So absolutely, other players hitting outside shots is going to be critical, but I don’t think it’s about LBJ guarding Parker so much as about the Heat’s long, athletic swarming D as a whole.

  • Kevin Merrill Jr

    You are only a week older than me. I remember watching the games at Hemisfair on TV or listening to the radio. I saw my first Spurs game in teh crazy Alamodome and have seen the Spurs play in the AT&T Center and in Oakland (not this year though). It has been an amazing ride and I know nothing lasts forever, but the Spurs have always embodied the fighter’s spirit. Because of that I was able to listen to the Spurs when I was in Tokyo during the Spurs’ 2005 run, and go nuts in Roppongi after Game 7 with a championship smile.

    No matter who is on the Spurs, they are like an extended part of all our families. Unlike other cities that tend to bandwagon, Spurs fans are truly diehard and love their team. There is no showing up late by a majority of fans or leaving early to “beat the traffic”. My hope is that for my birthday I watch the Spurs raise the trophy that day. That is the ultimate birthday present and it would entail a third sweep by the Spurs.