Even when they are in a shooting slump, they are able to hang around and have a chance to win the game in the final minutes. Memphis was ranked number one in points per game allowed in the regular season, at 89.3. Their best asset has been their defense, which has been a constant all year long. If the Grizzlies perform well offensively, they will have an excellent chance of winning this series. Memphis is playing their best basketball of the year right now, and everything seems to be clicking. Ginobilli will face perhaps the best perimeter defender in the league in Tony Allen, which will no doubt be tough to overcome. Duncan has been more than impressive this season – especially at age 37 – but he faces his toughest test yet against Marc Gasol. He will need make every possession count and must be able to score against Conley. Parker’s play will be crucial this series as the Memphis frontcourt is stacked. Of course, the Spurs have a nice supporting cast of players, including Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, as well. San Antonio’s three headed monster of Tony Parker, Many Ginobilli, and Tim Duncan are responsible for the lion’s share of their victories and will again need to come up big in this series. Spurs’ Coach Greg Popovich is one of the best ever at adjusting his game plan depending on whom his opponents are. The Spurs even held the high scoring Warriors to under 100 points in their last four games. The Spurs are one of the best teams on both sides of the ball and are experts in ball movement. The media can spin this as young versus old series, and while the Spurs are one of the older teams in the NBA, Memphis is full of veterans who do not seem to be shell-shocked or surprised to be in the position they are in right now.īoth teams are similar in style, and look to force their opponents into semi-low scoring slugfests. Both teams won at home, and two of the games went into overtime. In this year’s regular season, the teams split four head to head meetings. San Antonio was the top seed in the West and Memphis was the last team to sneak into the playoffs as an eighth seed. In 2011, Memphis upset San Antonio in the First Round of the playoffs. These teams are no strangers to each other. The Spurs were pushed to six games against the upstart Golden State Warriors, but ultimately took the series. San Antonio thrashed a hobbled LA Lakers squad in the first round, sweeping the Lakers. Gregg Popovich’s team is no stranger to this stage and the pressure that comes with it. The Spurs have won four titles since 1999 and will be making their 8th Western Conference Finals appearance in the last 15 years. The Thunder could not handle the Grizz and Memphis dispatched them quickly winning the series in five games.Īs new as this playoff experience is for the Grizzlies, it is the same old, same old for the San Antonio Spurs. After taking care of the Clippers in the First Round, a series that went to six games, they faced powerhouse Oklahoma City.įortunately for Memphis, the Thunder were missing their second best player in point guard Russell Westbrook. They set a franchise record in regular season wins with 56 in 2013 and have made their first ever Western Conference Finals. Much to the chagrin of David Stern and his team of executives, one of these two small market teams will take the National Stage in a few weeks.įor the Memphis Grizzlies, this has been their best season in franchise history, even if it ends with a loss to the Spurs. The Western Conference Finals kickoff on Sunday, May 19th as the Memphis Grizzlies take on the San Antonio Spurs for a spot in this year’s NBA Finals. Odds are provided by TopBet, one of the world’s top sportsbooks and our choice for NBA betting. To Win Series Odds: Grizzlies +115 – Spurs -135 2013 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals – Memphis Grizzlies vs.
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