The NBA playoffs are into the conference finals and with the San Antonio Spurs taking a 1-0 lead after a commanding 105-83 victory has the team thinking championship, while the Memphis Grizzlies are doing their best to prepare for a rebound performance coming up in Game 2.
The Spurs are a veteran team, while the Grizzlies have never been to the conference finals and the team will be looking to pull another upset in the playoffs. Tony Parker and Mike Conley have previously faced off, but back then Parker was no doubt the better player while now it can be an argument. Tim Duncan has been working in the playoffs like he is much younger and he will need to continue to do that against stars Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The Spurs did a good job on Randolph in Game 1, holding him to two points and they will try to pull that off again.
Game 2 is coming Tuesday in Texas and Manu Ginobili will be ready after having a solid game and the Spurs appear ready to be back in the finals for the first time since 2007 when they swept LeBron James and the Cavs. The team could face James again, although this time he will already have his first championship and will be even hungrier than before.
Quincy Pondexter was the top scorer for Memphis with just 17 points, showing off why the team may miss Rudy Gay in this series, while Gasol had 15 and Randolph just two on one of eight shooting. The Spurs had 28 assists in the game and 14 shots from long range while Danny Green added 16 points. The two teams have previously faced each other, with the Grizzlies upsetting the Spurs in the first round in 2011. At one point the Grizzlies were down 17 and the came back to within six points, but they couldn't close the gap.
The rest of the series will likely be decided on battles between San Antonio Spurs points guard Tony Parker agaisnt Mike Conley and Spurs forward Tim Duncan against Memphis Grizzlies stars Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.
