| 29 April 2011
The upset didn't go totally unpredicted. The Spurs limped into their 1-8 matchup with the Grizzlies, their best player injured with no one sure how long the wait would be until his return. The season series showed 2 fairly evenly matched teams. The Grizzlies a team that could bully on the inside and force turnovers, the Spurs with a new-look, fast-paced, 3-point/outside shooting-based team.
The Grizz all but choked away Game 1, with Shane Battier stealing the game from the jaws of defeat by way of a late 3-pointer. Yet, many doubted (and that includes myself). Ginobili's return would surely spark a swift return of Spurs dominance.
San Antonio indeed returned to tie the series in Game 2, but not in the dominate fashion I expected. I assumed rust. The series could still easily be over in 6 games.
And indeed, tonight the series did end in 6. The Grizzlies walking away victorious in Memphis on the backs of their ball-hawking team defense, cold San Antonio shooting, and yet another clutch Zach Randolph 4th Quarter. 17 points and nearly all of the offense down the stretch.
Of course, there was a little more than just the defense and Z-Bo.
Like any team finding playoff success, the Grizzlies needed help from places you don't normally expect. Besides some luck via the Spurs inability to hit open jumpers, the extra boost in Game 6 for the Grizz came from Greivis Vasquez. In a key 10 minute stint in the 1st Quarter as Mike Conley sat with early foul trouble, Vasquez managed 7 points, 2 rebounds and a steal (+5). Though dropping off in more limited minutes down the stretch (and finishing the game with a +/- of negative 1), his stint in the 1st was key in the Grizzlies to avoid surrendering the lead to the Spurs.
Fan-favorite Tony Allen managed 5 points, a rebound, and a block in the 4th quarter, his offense coming by way of well-timed cuts and finishes.
Shane Battier worked hard against Ginobili on defense(limiting him greatly until a 4th quarter flurry) while continuing his series-long solid effort on the boards (7 rebounds in this one).
Marc Gasol figured out problems in the post early in the game (4 turnovers) to throw in an efficient 12 points and 13 rebounds.
The way the Grizz closed out the series was a near-perfect fit for the team, between the slow pace (87 possessions), tough work on the boards (+14.1 OREB%) and battle in the paint on offense (more than 60 points came for the Grizz in the lane).
The Grizz and Memphis are going where they've never gone before, and they did it their way. All heart, grit and grind.
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