It’s not for lack of effort — the Grizzlies’ grit and grind mentality has never gone away. This team doesn’t quit and Tuesday night they showed a lot of pride. At home in front of the faithful maybe they can make one game series in close.
But with devastating injuries that have robbed the roster of any playmakers or versatile scoring threats, Memphis is completely outclassed by San Antonio this first round series. Matt Barnes put it perfectly.
Matt Barnes: "We're coming to a gunfight with spoons."
— Geoff Calkins (@geoff_calkins) April 20, 2016
Memphis shot 32.6 percent Monday night, scored just 11 points in the first quarter, nobody on the roster scored more than a dozen points for the game, and as expected fell to San Antonio, this time 94-68. The Spurs now lead the series 2-0.
The Spurs defense, the best in the NBA during the regular season, was at it’s trapping best Tuesday. Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger tried some new tricks — JaMychal Green looks like a player — but the Grizzlies just missed the open looks they did get. The referees let the game get physical like Memphis prefers, but when you don’t have playmakers or shooters there is simply nothing that will change the outcome.
The Spurs were not terribly sharp on offense, but they were sharp enough. Patty Mills led the way with 16 points for San Antonio, and Kawhi Leonard added 13.
The only other interesting note is that Lance Stephenson has fallen so far he’s barely in the Grizzlies rotation, playing just seven minutes before the garbage time the fourth quarter.
Normally this is where I would write about adjustments for Game 3 Friday, but there is nothing Joerger or anyone else can do to change the outcome of that game or this series. There is no magic bullet adjustment to be found. San Antonio has far more talent and is far deeper than an injury riddled Memphis team. A Grizzlies team that has just two games left in its season.