March 2011 Memphis Grizzlies Wiretap

Duncan Expected Grizzlies To Fold Under Pressure

Apr 30, 2011 2:27 PM

Memphis center Marc Gasol had the height, weight and strength advantage over the 35-year-old Tim Duncan.

For the series, Gasol averaged 14.2 points and 11.8 rebounds to Duncan’s 12.6 and 10.5.

“We kept thinking they’d fold under the pressure, but they didn’t,” Duncan said. “They got the exact shots they needed, and they made them. We had so many close games, some that could have fallen to us, but they made the plays.”

In the end, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said this wasn’t as big as upset as the average basketball fan might be led to believe.

“Most people would think that, but they don’t understand the West,” Popovich said. “It doesn’t matter what your seeding is in the West. We all know that everyone is basically as good as everyone else.”

Ron Higgins/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tags: Marc Gasol, Tim Duncan, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, NBA

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Allen: Ginobili Faking Elbow Injury

Apr 24, 2011 7:05 PM

Memphis guard Tony Allen accused Manu Ginobili of faking his right elbow injury.

Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix just tweeted the interesting comment from Allen at the Grizzlies’ practice today, who claimed that Ginobili’s sprained right elbow is “for the birds.” 

Allen and Ginobili have been involved in a physical battle in both games that Ginobili has played in the series since missing Game 1 with what Spurs doctors diagnosed as a sprained right elbow.

“Everybody is banged up,” Allen said. “You don’t see me running to my PR guy telling him about an injury.”

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Tags: Tony Allen, Manu Ginobili, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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Spurs Hold 1-12 Series Record When Trailing 2-1

Apr 24, 2011 2:52 PM

The San Antonio Spurs face long odds as they attempt to come back from a 2-1 deficit versus the Memphis Grizzlies.

In the Spurs’ previous franchise history in best-of-7 series, they’ve been behind 2-1 in 12 previous series. They ended up winning only one of them.

The Spurs’ previous comeback from a 2-1 deficit came in the 2008 Western semifinals when they were behind 2-1 after three games against New Orleans.

They came back from that obstacle by winning three of the final four games, including a dramatic Game 7 triumph at New Orleans.

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Tags: Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, NBA

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NBA Playoff Recaps For Wed. 4/20/11 (In Which LAL And SAS Capture Home Split)

Apr 21, 2011 5:42 AM

Oklahoma City Thunder 106, Denver Nuggets 89

The Thunder joined the Heat, Celtics, Mavericks and Bulls in the up two games to nil column with a convincing, well-balanced victory over Denver.

Denver adjusted onto Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook following their Game 1 explosion, but the Thunder countered with strong offensive performances from Serge Ibaka, James Harden and Nick Collison.

The 54-31 rebounding differential was also huge for Oklahoma City, as they scored 24 second-chance points compared to just 10 for Denver.

The Nuggets just can’t effectively go small and quick against the Thunder and is why this was probably the worst possible matchup for them in the first round.

San Antonio Spurs 93, Memphis Grizzlies 87

We knew Marc Gasol would regress to the mean and that the Spurs would have a better solution for defending Zach Randolph, but Gregg Popovich still needed Manu Ginobili’s return to prevent the series falling apart into an 0-2 deficit. 

Ginobili was a modest 5-for-13 from the floor, but his ability to get to the line 13 times was a big factor for the Spurs. Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Richard Jefferson and George Hill all scored 16 or 17 points apiece.

Los Angeles Lakers 87, New Orleans Hornets 78

Even though Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol combined for just 19 points, the Lakers made significant adjustments to their defense to slow down Chris Paul.

The Hornets committed 16 turnovers one game after limiting themselves to three and the Lakers converted those into 22 points.

The Lakers also dominated the points in the pain battle, outscoring New Orleans by a margin of 50-32.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Tags: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, Recap, Recap NBA

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Grizzlies Announce Zach Randolph Extension

Apr 21, 2011 4:09 AM

The Memphis Grizzlies signed Zach Randolph to a multi-year contract extension, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced on Wednesday. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Various media reports indicate the deal is worth $66 million over four seasons.

“During a week that has seen the Grizzlies franchise take a significant step forward with its first-ever postseason victory, it is incredibly meaningful for this organization to be able to take another by ensuring that Zach Randolph will continue to play on Beale Street for many years to come,” said Chris Wallace, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations. “Zach has been a pillar for this team on the floor and in the community from the moment he arrived two seasons ago, and his leadership has helped to solidify our talented young core, putting the Grizzlies in position for continued success moving forward.”

The 6-9, 255-pound forward posted 20.1 points (19th in the NBA), a career-high and franchise-record 12.2 rebounds (3rd) and 2.2 assists on .503 shooting in 36.3 minutes in 75 games in his second season with Memphis.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Official Signing, NBA Misc Official Transaction

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Randolph Attacked By San Antonio Defense When Ball Is Dribbled

Apr 21, 2011 3:58 AM

The Spurs limited Zach Randolph to just 11 points in Game 2.

"They went after [Randolph] and attacked him defensively every time he put the ball on the floor," said Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins.

Despite Randolph being limited to just 26 minutes because of foul trouble, Darrell Arthur had a productive game in his place.

NBA.com

Tags: Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, NBA

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Jason Williams Announces Retirement

Apr 18, 2011 10:31 PM

Jason Williams(notes) has decided to retire after a 12-year career, the Memphis Grizzlies announced today.

Williams, 35, signed with Memphis as a free agent on Feb. 7 but missed the team's final 17 regular-season games with a sore lower back. In addition to two stints with the Griz, Williams played for the Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.

The 6-1 guard won the 2006 NBA Championship with Miami.

Williams' contract with the Griz included a player option for the 2011-12 season.

Ronald Tillery/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Tags: Jason Williams, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA

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Ginobili Participates In Practice, Still Listed As Doubtful For Game 2

Apr 18, 2011 2:56 PM

Manu Ginobili took part in head-to-head scrimmaging at the end of the Spurs’ practice Monday afternoon.

Ginobili was raising his elbow more in shooting and dribbling than at any time since spraining his right elbow Wednesday night in Phoenix.

“We didn’t scrimmage five-on-five today,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s shooting and trying to his condition up so that when he does heal, he’ll at least be in some decent shape.”

Popovich said the Spurs are getting ready for Wednesday’s Game 2 against Memphis like Ginobili won’t be playing.

“We’ve prepared like he’s not here from the beginning,” Popovich said. “We’re still in that mode.”

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Tags: Manu Ginobili, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, NBA, NBA Injury

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NBA Playoff Recaps For Sun. 4/17/11 (In Which Road Upsets Are Served)

Apr 18, 2011 6:24 AM

The second day of the 2011 NBA Playoffs provided four tightly contested games and nearly four road upsets.

Memphis Grizzlies 101, San Antonio Spurs 98

The Spurs limited Memphis on the offensive glass, Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich surely didn’t se a 9-for-10 from Marc Gasol coming. They probably also didn’t foresee Memphis going 6-for-10 from distance with O.J. Mayo posting a 3-for-4 and Shane Battier with a 2-for-2 and the dagger.

I expect the Spurs to emphasize the transition game a little bit more in Game 2 and also move the ball better as 13 assists for this team is unacceptable.

Memphis did an excellent job in controlling pace and San Antonio’s 47 attempts from the line played a part in that.

New Orleans Hornets 109, Los Angeles Lakers 100

We can throw away the Phil Jackson has never lost a series after winning the first game storyline and I think we’re all the better for it.

Looking at the Hornets in preparation for this series, it shocked me that a Chris Paul team could be as inefficient on offense as they were over the regular season. But Chris Paul wasn’t always the Chris Paul we saw in Game 1. He had the expected 14 assists, but he also scored 33 points on 18 shots and turned the ball over just twice. Paul was scoring with the ease of an MVP and his assists were creating easy buckets at the rim.

As a team, the Hornets also had just three turnovers compared to 13 for the Lakers.

The advantage the Lakers hold over everyone, especially the Hornets, is in the frontcourt. While Andrew Bynum looked healthy and was productive, Pau Gasol was a no-show offensively.

A loss for a team like the Lakers sometimes is worth more than a win and this one could shock them into winning the next four.

Boston Celtics 87, New York Knicks 85 

A 67.8 TS% Game 1 for Amar’e Stoudemire versus a just 38.0 TS% for Carmelo Anthony and New York had to go away from Stoudemire down the stretch. This helps explain why the Knicks had a tale of two offenses in their playoff debut together that they controlled for a large stretch of it. The part 

Beyond Ray Allen’s game-winner and team-high 24 points, the Celtics received fairly typical balance across the board. The other members of the Big 4 were largely inefficient, but were picked up by having a large impact with his 12 points on six shots, four boards and four blocks.

Oklahoma City Thunder 107, Denver Nuggets 103

The Thunder have two superduperstars (Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined to score 72 points) and the Nuggets have a nice collection of well above average scorers.

Eight of Denver’s nine players had at least eight points. Nene was the main man, scoring a very efficient 22 points on 11 shots.

The Nuggets had plenty of opportunities to win this one and will look to the no-call on the offensive interference and their inability to hit efficiently from the line (21-for-33) and from distance (4-for-16) as the main culprits.

Christopher Reina/RealGM

Tags: Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, Recap, Recap NBA

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Randolph, Grizzlies Agree To Four-Year Extension

Apr 18, 2011 12:43 AM

The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to terms with Zach Randolph on a four-year, $71 million contract extension that keeps him with the club through 2015, sources told ESPN The Magazine’s Chris Broussard.

Of the $71 million, $66 million is fully guaranteed and the fourth and final year of the deal is a player option, sources said. Randolph has incentives based on individual and team achievements of $1.3 million each season, according to sources.

The extension comes after the Randolph led the Grizzlies to their first playoff victory in 13 tries.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Spurs' Defense Allows Second Worst Field Goal Percentage Since 2005

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Parker Expects Ginobili To Play In Game 1

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Hollins Denies Grizzlies Tanked To Get Spurs

Mike Monroe/San Antonio Express-News

Hill To Start In Place Of Ginobili

Tim Griffin/San Antonio Express-News

Hornets, Mavericks Win Draft Slot Tiebreakers Over Grizzlies, Lakers

Deseret News

Wallace: Gasol Trade Facilitated Memphis Turnaround

Paul Forrester/SI.com

Grizzlies Clinch Final Playoff Spot In West

AP

Battier Still Trying To Figure Out How To Fit In Grizzlies' System

Ronald Tillery/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Hollins Calls Randolph Grizzlies' MVP

Ronald Tillery/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Ronald Nored Finds Inspiration In 'The No-Stats All-Star' Shane Battier

Gerry Ahern/Yahoo! Sports