Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: NBA Playoffs 2011 Preview
The Memphis Grizzlies will be looking for a second consecutive win against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Centre on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies have a 1-1 record in best of seven quarter-final series.
The Western Conference Champions, on the other hand, are hopeful that the possible return of All-Star Manu Ginobili can lead them to a home win in the second game of the best-of-seven quarter-final series. Ginobili hurt his right elbow in the last game of
the regular season against the Phoenix Suns after a collision with his team-mate Tim Duncan.
Ginobili’s return will definitely give San Antonio a boost as he is the second leading scorer for them, averaging 17.4 points, 4.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game during the regular season.
The Grizzlies go into the game after an impressive 101-98 victory against San Antonio in the opening game of their playoff series. The result marked the Grizzlies first-ever victory in the playoffs since they became a part of the NBA in 1995. Zach Randolph
continued his brilliant regular season form into the playoffs.
Randolph was tremendous in the opening game against the Spurs with a game-high 25 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in the victory. Marc Gasol had 24 points and nine rebounds, while Mike Conley ended with 15 points and 10 assists for the eighth-seeded Memphis.
Grizzlies’ forward Shane Battier praised Conley’s performance by saying, "We had good spacing and we moved the basketball. I was just hanging out on the perimeter, and Mike (Conley) did a great job of penetrating and swinging the basketball. This is awesome."
Battier added, "I am real happy for the city. Beale Street will really be pumping tonight. Most of the guys don't know understand the history and the heartache the city has gone through."
The Spurs leading scorer, Tony Parker, added 20 points and five assists while Tim Duncan posted 16 points and 13 rebounds in the losing effort.
Both teams split this year's regular season series, winning two games each. However, San Antonio had home court advantage over Memphis in the series. In addition to that, they have a very solid home record in the regular season at 36-5. San Antonio's home
record is a point of concern for the Grizzlies as their record on the road this season has not been impressive.
San Antonio's defeat in game one was the result of some poor defence, as they allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 67 percent from the floor. Therefore, they have to sort out their weaknesses in defence, by increasing Antonio McDyess' minutes on the court and
keeping him away from foul trouble.
The Spurs will try their level best to take advantage of their home court advantage in order to level the series.
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