2013 NBA Playoffs – Western Conference Finals Game #4
#2 San Antonio Spurs at #5 Memphis Grizzlies
Spurs Lead Best of Seven Series 3-0
Monday, May 27, 2013, 9:05 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
FedEx Forum – Memphis, Tennessee
Opening Line: Memphis -3
Current Line: Memphis -3
Opening Total: 180 1/2
Current Total: 180 1/2
Opening Money Line: Grizzlies -150 / Spurs +130
Current Money Line: Grizzlies -155 / Spurs +135
The Memphis Grizzlies won their first two playoff series this year by winning 4 straight games after teh Clippers won the first two games of the series and the Thunder won the first game. For Memphis to advance to the first NBA Finals in franchise history they will have to do the same against the mighty San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio took a commanding 3-0 series lead with their win Saturday night in Memphis. The Spurs are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2007. No NBA team has ever come back from an 0-3 deficit to win a best of seven series in 107 tries.
The Spurs routed the Grizzlies 105-83 in game one. In game two the Grizzlies came back from 18 points down late in the third to force overtime, before the Spurs prevailed 93-89. In game 3, the Grizzlies used the energy of a boisterous home crowd to jump out to a 29-13 lead at the end of the first. In fact the Grizzlies were up by as many as 18 points. The Spurs would get back into the game and would only trail 44-40 at halftime. The Spurs wouldn’t take the lead for the first time until a minute into the fourth. From that point on the teams would trade the lead several times. Memphis took an 85-84 lead with just over a minute to play. Manu Ginobli would make two free throws for the Spurs to give them the lead. He fouled Memphis guard Tony Allen with 33 seconds left. Allen made one of two free throws to tie it at 86. Ginobli would miss a 3 pointer with 20 seconds left and Mike Conley missed a shot at the buzzer. The teams went to overtime for the second straight game. The Spurs would dominate in overtime making 8 of 10 shots and win 104-93.
San Antonio outscored the Grizzlies 58-42 in the paint. The points in the paint allowed the Spurs to overcome 17 turnovers which led to 25 Memphis points. The Grizzlies shot just 39.2% from the field including 7 for 20 from 3 point range. What really hurt Memphis was missing 8 of 18 free throws. The Grizzlies are normally one of the best free throw shooting teams in the league.
Tony Parker scored 26 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. Tim Duncan scored 24 points and added 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks. Ginobli added 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Center Tiago Splitter added 11 points and 6 rebounds. Conley scored 20 points and added 5 steals, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds. Both Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol had double doubles for the Grizzlies. Gasol had 16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and a block. Randolph had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Guard Quincy Pondexter scored 15 points before fouling out late in the fourth. Allen had 12 points and 7 rebounds.
San Antonio is coached by Gregg Popovich. The Spurs are 48-45-2 ATS and the total is 43-50-2 this season. San Antonio is outscoring teams 103-96. The Spurs are #4 in scoring and #9 in points allowed. The Spurs are shooting 48.2% from the field and 37.6% from 3 point range. San Antonio is in the top 5 in the league in both categories. The Spurs are #3 in free throw shooting at 79% from the line. San Antonio averages 41.4 rebounds and give up 42.4 per game. Spurs’ opponents are shooting 44.1% from the field and 35% from 3 point range. San Antonio is in the top 10 in both categories. The Spurs average 25.1 assists, 8.5 steals, 5.5 blocks, and 14.1 turnovers.
In the playoffs, Parker is averaging 22.4 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds. He is probable with a calf injury. He had an MRI Friday and there is no structural damage. It is just bruised. Duncan is averaging 18.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Leonard is averaging 13.4 points, and 8.2 rebounds. He is probable with a knee injury. Manu Ginobli is averaging 12.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. Guard Danny Green is averaging 10 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Gary Neal, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, and Cory Joseph make up the rest of the rotation.
Memphis is coached by Lionel Hollins. Memphis is 57-37-2 ATS and the total is 40-54-1 this season. Memphis is outscoring teams 94-90 this season. They are first in the league in points allowed and are #26 in scoring. The Grizzlies are shooting 44.4% from the field and 34.5% from 3 point range. The Grizzlies are #21 in field goal percentage and #24 in three point shooting. Memphis is #9 in the league in free throw shooting at 77.3% from the line. The Grizzlies average 42.6 rebounds per game and give up 39. Memphis is #1 in rebounds allowed and #12 in rebounding. Grizzlies’ opponents are shooting 43.7% from the field and 33.9% from 3 point range. Memphis is #3 in both categories. The Grizzlies average 20.9 assists, 8.6 steals, 5.3 blocks and 13.2 turnovers a game.
In the playoffs, forward Zach Randolph averages 19.7 points, 9.3 rebounds to lead the team, and 1.9 assists per game. Point Guard Mike Conley, Jr. averages 17.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Center Marc Gasol averages 18.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, a steal, and 2.2 blocks per game. Forward Tayshawn Prince was acquired from the Detroit Pistons in the Rudy Gay trade. He is averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the playoffs. Prince rolled his ankle in game #3 but is listed at probable. Tony Allen starts at shooting guard and is one of the best defenders in the league. Allen averages 11.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Point guard Jerryd Bayless, forward Quincy Pondexter, forward Darrell Arthur, guard Tony Wroten, and forwards Ed Davis and Austin Daye make up the rest of the rotation.
San Antonio is 5-1 ATS in road games, and against teams with winning home records, 4-1 against teams with winning records, overall, and against Western Conference teams, 5-2 after a straight up win of 10 points or more, 6-14 on one day rest, 3-8 in WCF games, 4-12 after the opponent allows 100 points or more, and 1-4 after scoring 100 points or more. The Spurs are 4-1 ATS recently against the Grizzlies overall and also 4-1 ATS in Memphis.
Memphis is 6-0 ATS after failing to cover, 4-0 after allowing 100 points or more, 6-1 at home, 11-2 against teams with winning records, 5-1 after a straight up loss, after the opponent scores 100 points or more, and after a straight up loss of more than 10 points, 12-3 on one day rest, 15-5-1 against Western Conference teams, 18-7-1 overall, 5-2 in Monday games, and 35-16 against teams with winning road records.
Tim Duncan seems to be on a mission. The 37 year old is a certain Hall of Famer, and is looking for his 5th championship ring. The fact that he won his first one 14 year ago is amazing and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has won a championship so many years after his first. Duncan and the Spurs know this could be their last and best shot to return to the Finals with unfortunate injuries to Kobe Bryant and Russell Westbrook among other star players on the Western Contenders this season. Still, the Grizzlies have too much pride to get swept. Memphis wins to force game five in San Antonio.
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