The Memphis Grizzlies upset the number one West seed in the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs, but after getting blown out in Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs, the team will need to rebound quickly to keep the series even with Game 2 on Tuesday night.
The first game was not much of a contest for the Grizzlies and it was a very different game for the Spurs, who played Game 1 against the Warriors in the previous series and only won after making a 16-point comeback and winning in double overtime from a shot by Manu Ginobili. The team dominated 105-83 in Game 1 and now the Grizzlies must overcome the mental state that leaves a team in and the fact that Spurs are immensely talented.
Parker was excellent in Game 1 with 20 points and nine assists, while Conley led the Grizzlies with eight assists himself. Quincy Pondexter led the Grizzlies in scoring, highlighting the fact that after the Rudy Gay trade, the team no longer has a superstar scorer that can matchup with anyone. Tim Duncan added 10 rebounds and the fact that he is playing like he is five years younger is tough news for Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, who was held to just two points in the first game on one of eight shooting. The Spurs outscored the Grizzlies in every quarter but the second and now the team must try to make a comeback in Game 2.
Parker is leading the team in scoring average while Conley is second on his with nearly 15 points per game and he will need to step up on Tuesday for the Grizzlies to win. Randolph will need to play much better against Duncan and his scoring touch will need to return for Memphis, who has been lacking a bit without Gay and it was very pronounced in Game 1. Gay was originally traded with six players to the Raptors, with the Grizzlies getting Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince from Detroit after acquiring Jose Calderon. Prince has been solid for the Grizzlies, but he hasn't been able to replicate the scoring from Gay, who averaged nearly 20 points this season and could create his own shots on the floor.
At the time of the trade Gay was averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds and the biggest issue may have been the five-year, $82 million maximum contract he signed in 2010 with the team. He became the fifth player over the past five years to be dealt while averaging at least 17 points and 5 rebounds and as the series goes on, he might be the missing key for the Grizzlies. The Spurs are looking dominant and that a rematch with LeBron James in the finals is inevitable and the Grizzlies might not be able to stop them without a player like Gay.
