The Memphis Grizzlies technically won their first “tournament” game since 2017, where they took the Spurs to six games in the first round. However, that was a real playoff game; this is the Play-in tournament, which is technically two different things.
With the inaugural play-in tournament now at hand, the Grizzlies will continue their quest to make the playoffs, with just one more win being the prerequisite for entry. That win must come against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, who are still red-hot, despite a loss Wednesday night.
If the Grizzlies play as they did against the Spurs, we could potentially see Memphis in the playoffs again, and Grind City would love that. Scratch that; Grind City deserves that. First, we have to talk about the win over San Antonio.
Just one more game and the Memphis Grizzlies are in.
The Spurs have a dominant history of making the playoffs. Before last season, they had made the postseason 20 consecutive times. Let’s not forget they have one of the greatest coaches of all time in Gregg Popovich, which is a weapon even without three Hall-of-Famers in Ginobili, Duncan, and Parker on the team.
None of that mattered Wednesday night, as the Grizzlies destroyed the Spurs in the first quarter. Obviously, the Spurs would make a comeback. However, due to the great play by a few players, none of that mattered either.
Memphis Grizzlies C Jonas Valanciunas showed out on national television
It was very easy to see that the Travis Kelce look-alike was the best player on the court last night, and that goes for both teams. Yes, you can just look at the box score and tell that. The 23 points and 23 rebounds catch your eye very easily, but he did more than what’s on the paper.
Valanciunas played tremendous pick and roll defense, which is what may have really won them the game. The Spurs live and die off shooting mid-range jump shots with players like DeRozen, Murray, Gay, Walker, and Johnson. Much of those jump shots become open by way of the screen and roll game used with Poeltl.
Since Jonas Valanciunas played such good drop coverage and screen and roll defense, much of their jump shots did not fall, leaving them at 26-75 on non-three point attempts. Some of that also has to do with Dillon Brooks and the stellar defense he played.