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Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 2 NBA Preview & Free Pick

Memphis vs San Antonio Handicapping

When teams get this far into the playoffs, talent tends to even out and coaches have to start really earning their money by making adjustments.

Western Conference finals
Memphis Grizzlies (0-1) at San Antonio Spurs (1-0)
Tuesday, May 21
AT&T Center, San Antonio
9 p.m. EST
Spread – Spurs -5 at SBO
O/U – 181.5

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That’s the task that Memphis coach Lionel Hollins is facing today as his Grizzlies try to avoid plunging into an 0-2 hole in the best-of-7 Western Conference playoffs when they take on the Spurs in Game 2 tonight in San Antonio.

You know it’s been a rough night when the highlight of Game 1 is the 2-0 lead the Grizzlies managed in the early going. Memphis was able to put up only 12 more points in the first period, San Antonio roared out to a 31-14 edge after 12 minutes and that pretty much was it.

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The Grizzlies always dig in defensively, but they were confused in the opener and were unable to run the Spurs off the 3-point line. San Antonio made 14 threes ( a playoff franchise record), and if they even come close to that tonight the Grizzlies will be calling for help and basically needing to win two when the series shifts to Tennessee for Games 3 and 4.

Hollins, meanwhile, has no doubt been working on the Grizz getting better looks for Zach Randolph. The big’s hoop at the 9:26 mark of the fourth period was his one and only basket of the game. Randolph had so many defenders around him when he got the ball down low that it appeared that even George Gervin was part of the SA defense.

Reserve Quincy Poindexter did his part to pick up the slack, but even his 17 points and a total of 38 bench points couldn’t overcome San Antonio’s 48.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc. [ad-6571516]

Spurs big Matt Bonner knows every game is unique, and warns Spurs fans not to expect that kind of lights-out shooting tonight.

“It’s highly improbable we’re going to shoot at the clip we did last game,” Bonner said Monday. “They’ve got the best defense in the league. They’re going to come out and make adjustments and play better on defense for sure.”

Even more than SA’s hot shooting and Randolph’s struggles, what should concern the Grizzlies is that the Spurs were able to dominate without getting a whole lot from Tim Duncan.

The Big Fundamental shot only 3 for 9 from the floor in 27 minutes, though he did grab 10 rebounds.

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With only one day to make changes, it’s unclear how the Grizz will try to get Randolph out of the box tonight. Memphis doesn’t have the offensive firepower to make SA pay for packing it in, and because of that the Grizz don’t have the luxury and letting the game unfold.

If they get behind again, it could make for a second consecutive long night. Liking the Spurs to cover again and go up 2-0.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!