Spurs v. Grizzlies: A Game of Inches
It’s time to be concerned, but not for the reasons you might think.
This much is true: the Spurs are in the middle of a funk, driven equally by inconsistent motivation and consistent injury. The dismissive excuses of “it’s only November” have given way to a less convincing “it’s only December,” and after a few more weeks of this, fans will have to find solace in “wait until the All Star break.” After recent losses to the Lakers (inexcusable) and the Blazers (somewhat excusable), it only takes a brief glance at the Western Conference standings to begin the slide into full-fledged panic.
So while it would certainly feel unnatural to leave Wednesday night’s triple-overtime heartbreaker against the Memphis Grizzlies feeling better about the Spurs’ chances this season, there wasn’t much to make you feel worse. That’s no consolation, to be sure, and a hard fought loss is still, ultimately, a loss. But the Spurs seemed to reference all the concerns expressed about their play this season at different points within the game, at times reminding you why you’ve been frustrated, at others quickly turning things around to quell your fears.
They started out with a horribly inefficient first quarter, as each player took turns missing floaters and botching open shots. When things reached an embarrassing level – at one point, the Spurs were struggling to keep their field goal percentage in the twenties – they fought back from a 23-point deficit to bring the game within single digits at the half. Things looked like they were turning the Spurs’ way, but the beginning of the third quarter killed any momentum the Spurs had, as the Grizzlies’ lead ballooned back to 17 points. But just like they had earlier in the game, the Spurs scrapped for rebounds and loose balls and executed with precision to take a lead in the final seconds of regulation. There were many standout performances for the Spurs, but Danny Green embodied the Spurs’ best spirit, playing an unfathomable 52 minutes while putting up an incredible line [25 points, seven threes (!), seven rebounds, three assists, two steals, five blocks (!!), -3 (???)]. Behind his fearless play, the Spurs fought back monster games from the Grizzlies’ usual guys (Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley) and even some of their bench players (Kosta Koufos, Vince Carter). And were it not for an amazing, banked-in three from Marc Gasol (LOL), it would probably have been enough to win the game.
In the absence of an offensive playmaker at point, Manu Ginobili (21 points, eight rebounds, eight assists) was tasked with leading the team down the stretch, and for the most part, he did an amazing job. The Spurs’ comeback that began midway through the third quarter and allowed them to get to overtime was due in large part to his masterful orchestration of the offense, as he found impossible passing angles, sliced through the Grizzlies’ intimidating defense, fought and scrapped for big rebounds and key possessions, and hit clutch basket after clutch basket down the stretch. But “for the most part” – as is the case with really any big Manu Ginobili game – meant fans were treated to a few horrifying decisions. Twice with the game on the line, Manu Ginobili made the wrong play, once electing to toss a halfcourt pass out of the Grizzlies’ coverage that nearly resulted in a big injury to Danny Green, and once on the final possession when he elected not to drive but to shoot a long prayer three instead. The former was baffling, a total head-scratcher that came at the worst possible moment in the game. The latter was confusing but understandable, as the 37-year-old used the final seconds of the game to weigh the uncertainty of a potentially game-winning drive against the certainty of lingering pain on an aging NBA body.
I’ve seen at least one recap today call Wednesday night’s game the end of the Grizzlies’ frustration against the Spurs, but it’s difficult to look at the game objectively and reach that conclusion. It’s not dismissive to say that the Spurs still maintain an advantage if both teams field a healthy roster, as San Antonio has owned this matchup since the Spurs’ stunning defeat in the 2011 playoffs. This is a different Grizzlies team, of course, and Marc Gasol has taken an incredible leap this season. But Wednesday night, the Spurs were missing the kinds of contributions that can tilt such a close matchup.
Cory Joseph has filled in admirably for Tony Parker, with grit and focus and all the things you could reasonably desire from his play, but there’s no getting around the Spurs missing the offensive prowess of Patty Mills. And it’s not simply a defense/offense trade, either. Mills’ floor spacing is valuable, but it was the tenacity he showed on both ends of the court that allowed him to flourish during his run last season. The Spurs were missing two starters last night, as Kawhi Leonard (whose defense and rebounding were sorely missed) and Tony Parker sat to rehabilitate nagging injuries, and it was scenarios like that where Mills shined last season.
More than anything else, though, the Spurs missed free throws. Like, a ton of them. San Antonio shot nearly twice as many free throws as Memphis (27 / 14) and somehow only made two more points there (13 / 11). They shot better from three (48.6%) than they did from the line (48.1%). The parties responsible for such an atrocity were also the two players who led the comebacks in the second and third quarters. Ginobili missed four of his seven free throws, and Duncan, who was otherwise amazing Wednesday night (23 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals, three blocks), missed a whopping ten of his fifteen. All together, Duncan and Ginobili missed as many free throws as the entire Grizzlies team attempted. And exhaustion wasn’t really a reasonable excuse, as the misses were spread throughout the game. It’s tempting to say that the Spurs avoid midrange shots so much that the Big Two momentarily forgot how to shoot from free throw range, but the only other Spurs who shot free throws – Boris Diaw with four and Kyle Anderson with one – made all their attempts. By the third overtime, many were seriously wondering if David Joerger would employ a hack-a-Manu or – *clears throat* – limb-a-Tim strategy.
It goes without saying that leaving so many points on the board is all the difference in a game that shifted on a banked prayer three, bounces on a lucky heave, and ultimately, the last gasps of tired legs. There’s little comfort in losing a game like this, but after the game, Gregg Popovich found the angle he needed and expressed pride at the way the Spurs fought despite the obvious foul line struggles. He told reporters after the game, “I thought they squeezed every bit of blood out of the rock that they could.” Aside from finally answering what’s in the rock they’ve been pounding, Popovich put the game, and the season, in proper perspective. It’s time for concern because it’s always time for concern. Each game provides an opportunity to take a step forward or a step back, and in the larger view of what the team is trying to accomplish, there was something to be proud of in this loss. By showing life in a way the team hasn’t in recent games against the Nets, Jazz, and Lakers, the Spurs inched forward. And after such an exhausting experience, an inch is better than nothing.
