[h=1]Game 2 adjustments for Z-Bo[/h][h=3]How Zach Randolph counters a Spurs D specifically designed to stop him[/h]By David Thorpe | ESPN Insider
The San Antonio Spurs wasted no time getting things going against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
It was the likely game plan, as Memphis had just completed 11 straight games in which it defended offenses with little movement and passing. Now the Grizzlies had to adjust to a crisp, fluid Spurs offense. For instance, on their opening possession, the Spurs threw four passes in a hair less than eight seconds to create an open corner 3, actions symbolic of how San Antonio plays, which was in stark contrast to what the Memphis defenders had gotten used to since mid-April.
Thus, for Game 2, the adjustments are all on the Grizzlies. To be sure, Memphis' defensive mindset will adjust to the new type of scoring threats it is now facing. Slowing down the Spurs' attack will easily be Memphis' greatest challenge of the postseason. But better defense alone won't be enough.
Zach Randolph must return to form. He must play great on both sides of the ball, something that didn't come close to happening in Game 1. Randolph produced so little that, without some major adjustments, Memphis simply cannot win.
Here's a breakdown of the problem facing Randolph and three things he can do to counter a Spurs defensive strategy designed specifically to neutralize him.
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[h=3]Spurs' well-oiled defense[/h]We can only surmise that the conversation between Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and his team before Game 1 went something like this: "[Marc] Gasol and [Mike] Conley are often reluctant scorers, so we need to focus on slowing down Z-Bo."
Indeed, if Randolph gets a lot of touches inside, he will finish many of them and draw a lot of fouls, especially if he creates angles to the rim the way he normally does. Meanwhile, Gasol lives on the perimeter and Conley is small, so the Spurs shouldn't have to foul them. The two might score some, but they can't get the Spurs into foul trouble like Randolph can. If Gasol or Conley got rolling, the Spurs would adjust accordingly.
The problem: The Spurs cut off the Grizzlies' best bucket guy. The execution of that plan was strong, almost flawless. San Antonio defended Z-Bo with Tim Duncan a good portion of the game, and he did an effective job of bumping Randolph out of the paint or pushing him below the rim. The Spurs also were hyperaware of where Randolph was at all times, throwing a second guy toward him any time the ball was one pass away -- typically using whoever was defending Tony Allen -- and sending someone when he drove to the rim.
Randolph never got a clean shot attempt, not even when he was able to get past Duncan. When Randolph has the ball, Duncan's length allows him to press up on Randolph, taking away his jump shot and forcing him to drive toward help.
And Duncan, one of the savviest defenders in NBA history, prevented Z-Bo from getting his body on him and prevented good "seal" opportunities (offensive players don't want space between themselves and their defender inside; defenders do). They also took away Randolph's left-hand drives, even if it meant allowing him to drive to the middle, albeit with his weak hand.
Bottom line, the Spurs emphasized "contest, don't foul," using length and smart angles to avoid making contact with Randolph. And Duncan, still an elite shot-blocker and perhaps the best in the league at blocking shots of the man he's guarding (compared with those that come off help), timed his contests perfectly when Randolph found a sliver of a lane to drive through. Randolph missed easy shots and lost some desire to hunt for great shots. The result was a frustrated Randolph who never got into a scoring rhythm.
Adjustment 1: For Game 2 and beyond, Randolph must make quicker decisions when he catches the ball. In theory, it's great to want to catch and hold (which is what Randolph did in Game 1), see where the help is coming from and play accordingly. But the Spurs are too long and too sound on defense to make catch-and-read work.
Instead, quick attacks can be a solution. The moment the ball reaches his fingers, Randolph can drive or shoot. If he chooses to shoot, the Memphis player whose man was headed toward double-team help on Randolph can crash the glass. If Randolph drives, his sudden attack move is more likely to draw contact (thus a foul) or at least put him in a better position to get past the helper. Offensive players with the ball are easier to defend standing still or moving slowly.
Adjustment 2: Z-Bo must move the ball to the open man quickly. If he drives and draws help defenders, then suddenly makes a pass, the Spurs' rotations will be slower to respond, in part because the helper is moving directly toward Randolph. Earning an open shot for a teammate does not mean Randolph won't get shots, and a scrambling Spurs defense will have a difficult time keeping Randolph (and his teammates) off the offensive backboards.
Randolph did not finish inside the way he's capable of. He was bothered by lengthy defenders and lacked enough shot fakes to keep defenders off-balance. The failure to earn a free throw is a telltale sign of those struggles. Quick attacks and being more patient inside off an offensive rebound can alleviate this. Also, more shot fakes, better balance and just going up strong without concern that he might have his shot blocked can help Randolph score in the paint against the San Antonio defense.
Adjustment 3: Memphis also can line up a rotation of Jerryd Bayless, Conley and Quincy Pondexter with their two starting bigs and keep the smalls on the perimeter behind the 3-point line. Gasol, in the pinch post, can deliver quick entry passes to Randolph, especially if the guards are flooding one side of the floor and the top of the key. This will leave a side of the floor open for Randolph to use as he works to seal Duncan or Boris Diaw toward his teammates and leaving the help side open. Randolph must begin to work his defender into the proper position before Gasol makes his catch in the pinch post area. There won't be enough time to do so after the catch because help will be coming.
Lastly, Randolph excels at grinding, pushing, shoving and bumping. He wears down his opponents this way (see Nick Collison). That part of his game was not seen in Game 1. Duncan has looked tired at multiple times this postseason. A Z-Bo focused on his "ugly" game can demoralize the Spurs' front line, perhaps earning more than eight free throws and a half dozen offensive rebounds. Even if he is not scoring effectively, staying sharp and focused on wearing down the Spurs' bigs can produce the result Z-Bo and his teammates are looking for.
The San Antonio Spurs wasted no time getting things going against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
It was the likely game plan, as Memphis had just completed 11 straight games in which it defended offenses with little movement and passing. Now the Grizzlies had to adjust to a crisp, fluid Spurs offense. For instance, on their opening possession, the Spurs threw four passes in a hair less than eight seconds to create an open corner 3, actions symbolic of how San Antonio plays, which was in stark contrast to what the Memphis defenders had gotten used to since mid-April.
Thus, for Game 2, the adjustments are all on the Grizzlies. To be sure, Memphis' defensive mindset will adjust to the new type of scoring threats it is now facing. Slowing down the Spurs' attack will easily be Memphis' greatest challenge of the postseason. But better defense alone won't be enough.
Zach Randolph must return to form. He must play great on both sides of the ball, something that didn't come close to happening in Game 1. Randolph produced so little that, without some major adjustments, Memphis simply cannot win.
Here's a breakdown of the problem facing Randolph and three things he can do to counter a Spurs defensive strategy designed specifically to neutralize him.
<OFFER>
[h=3]Spurs' well-oiled defense[/h]We can only surmise that the conversation between Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and his team before Game 1 went something like this: "[Marc] Gasol and [Mike] Conley are often reluctant scorers, so we need to focus on slowing down Z-Bo."
Indeed, if Randolph gets a lot of touches inside, he will finish many of them and draw a lot of fouls, especially if he creates angles to the rim the way he normally does. Meanwhile, Gasol lives on the perimeter and Conley is small, so the Spurs shouldn't have to foul them. The two might score some, but they can't get the Spurs into foul trouble like Randolph can. If Gasol or Conley got rolling, the Spurs would adjust accordingly.
The problem: The Spurs cut off the Grizzlies' best bucket guy. The execution of that plan was strong, almost flawless. San Antonio defended Z-Bo with Tim Duncan a good portion of the game, and he did an effective job of bumping Randolph out of the paint or pushing him below the rim. The Spurs also were hyperaware of where Randolph was at all times, throwing a second guy toward him any time the ball was one pass away -- typically using whoever was defending Tony Allen -- and sending someone when he drove to the rim.
Randolph never got a clean shot attempt, not even when he was able to get past Duncan. When Randolph has the ball, Duncan's length allows him to press up on Randolph, taking away his jump shot and forcing him to drive toward help.
And Duncan, one of the savviest defenders in NBA history, prevented Z-Bo from getting his body on him and prevented good "seal" opportunities (offensive players don't want space between themselves and their defender inside; defenders do). They also took away Randolph's left-hand drives, even if it meant allowing him to drive to the middle, albeit with his weak hand.
Bottom line, the Spurs emphasized "contest, don't foul," using length and smart angles to avoid making contact with Randolph. And Duncan, still an elite shot-blocker and perhaps the best in the league at blocking shots of the man he's guarding (compared with those that come off help), timed his contests perfectly when Randolph found a sliver of a lane to drive through. Randolph missed easy shots and lost some desire to hunt for great shots. The result was a frustrated Randolph who never got into a scoring rhythm.
Adjustment 1: For Game 2 and beyond, Randolph must make quicker decisions when he catches the ball. In theory, it's great to want to catch and hold (which is what Randolph did in Game 1), see where the help is coming from and play accordingly. But the Spurs are too long and too sound on defense to make catch-and-read work.
Instead, quick attacks can be a solution. The moment the ball reaches his fingers, Randolph can drive or shoot. If he chooses to shoot, the Memphis player whose man was headed toward double-team help on Randolph can crash the glass. If Randolph drives, his sudden attack move is more likely to draw contact (thus a foul) or at least put him in a better position to get past the helper. Offensive players with the ball are easier to defend standing still or moving slowly.
Adjustment 2: Z-Bo must move the ball to the open man quickly. If he drives and draws help defenders, then suddenly makes a pass, the Spurs' rotations will be slower to respond, in part because the helper is moving directly toward Randolph. Earning an open shot for a teammate does not mean Randolph won't get shots, and a scrambling Spurs defense will have a difficult time keeping Randolph (and his teammates) off the offensive backboards.
Randolph did not finish inside the way he's capable of. He was bothered by lengthy defenders and lacked enough shot fakes to keep defenders off-balance. The failure to earn a free throw is a telltale sign of those struggles. Quick attacks and being more patient inside off an offensive rebound can alleviate this. Also, more shot fakes, better balance and just going up strong without concern that he might have his shot blocked can help Randolph score in the paint against the San Antonio defense.
Adjustment 3: Memphis also can line up a rotation of Jerryd Bayless, Conley and Quincy Pondexter with their two starting bigs and keep the smalls on the perimeter behind the 3-point line. Gasol, in the pinch post, can deliver quick entry passes to Randolph, especially if the guards are flooding one side of the floor and the top of the key. This will leave a side of the floor open for Randolph to use as he works to seal Duncan or Boris Diaw toward his teammates and leaving the help side open. Randolph must begin to work his defender into the proper position before Gasol makes his catch in the pinch post area. There won't be enough time to do so after the catch because help will be coming.
Lastly, Randolph excels at grinding, pushing, shoving and bumping. He wears down his opponents this way (see Nick Collison). That part of his game was not seen in Game 1. Duncan has looked tired at multiple times this postseason. A Z-Bo focused on his "ugly" game can demoralize the Spurs' front line, perhaps earning more than eight free throws and a half dozen offensive rebounds. Even if he is not scoring effectively, staying sharp and focused on wearing down the Spurs' bigs can produce the result Z-Bo and his teammates are looking for.
Five adjustments for the Grizzlies
By Tom Haberstroh | ESPN Insider
How does Memphis get back to Grizzness?
It might seem that the Spurs have figured out the Grizzlies, but this is familiar territory for coach Lionel Hollins' group. The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Grizzlies by 21 points in Game 1 of the first round; the Grizzlies won the series in six games. The Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals by two points; the Grizzlies took the series in five games.
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And here we are in the Western Conference finals, and the Spurs have jumped out to a 1-0 lead, mauling the Grizzlies in San Antonio by 22 points. Bouncing back won't be anything new for the resilient Grizzlies since they've already done it twice this postseason. But if they do eventually right the ship and reach the NBA Finals, they'd be the first team in NBA history to win three seven-game series after losing Game 1.
So how do the Grizzlies recover in this series in Game 2? Here are five adjustments.
[h=3]1. Get Zach Randolph back on track[/h]
Well, duh. Z-Bo wrapped up probably his worst playoff game ever in Game 1. He scored just two points on 1-of-8 shooting with zero free throws, and on defense he gave up multiple blow-bys. Offensively, Randolph missed several shots he normally makes, but the Grizzlies must find a way to get him more touches around the rim and in the post (he had just two all game according to ESPN Stats & Information tracking).
They can accomplish this by feeding center Marc Gasol more in the high post. The Spurs' D shrunk the floor while Tim Duncan practically glued himself to Randolph in the post, but when he did free himself, the Grizzlies' guards couldn't get him the ball. Gasol might be the best passer on the squad, and he assisted Randolph only a dozen times fewer than point guard Mike Conley did in the regular season. Gasol and Randolph need to perform magic together in Game 2.
[h=3]2. Acknowledge the advent of the 3-point line[/h]
The Grizzlies do know that the shots beyond the arc are worth 50 percent more than the ones inside, right? You wouldn't have known it by looking at the shot selection in Game 1. None of the Grizzlies' starters took a 3-point shot, which is unthinkable in today's game. Quincy Pondexter was the only Memphis player to hit a 3-pointer (5-of-9; the team was 5-of-12). Pressuring the defense isn't just about penetration (hello, Conley and Tayshaun Prince); the Spurs happily loaded the paint and crowded the bigs.
Defensively, it was the same story: The Grizzlies completely forgot about the 3-point shot. The Spurs exploited Memphis' oddly scrambled rotations as the Grizzlies abandoned deadeye shooters to over-help after Tony Parker punctured the defense. The Spurs rank among the league leaders in 3-point frequency and percentage so it's not like Game 1 was a complete outlier. They'll need to trust Gasol to wall off the paint instead of leaving shooters.
[h=3]3. Consider starting Quincy Pondexter[/h]
Game 1 often looked like 4-on-5 given the way Spurs guard Danny Green ignored Tony Allen on the perimeter. The Grizzlies will have no shot in this series if that's the case since the Spurs wield as stingy a defense as you'll find (it's the only defense in the league to rank top-three in both regular season and postseason defensive efficiency). Slotting Allen on the bench also would align him with Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili, against whom Allen can leverage his defensive value more effectively.
It makes more sense to have Pondexter defend Danny Green, since Pondexter is a more disciplined defender and won't be as tempted to leave and harass others, as Allen does. Pondexter has been the Grizzlies' best 3-point threat since Wayne Ellington was traded in January, as his deep onslaught in Game 1 demonstrated again. The Spurs' defense is the best one the Grizzlies have faced, and Pondexter can go a long way toward decongesting the paint.
[h=3]4. Force more turnovers[/h]
This should have been a top priority for the Grizzlies even before Game 1, when they forced just 11 turnovers (only six of which were live-ball turnovers). This season, the Grizzlies were 7-10 when they forced no more than 11 turnovers, which makes sense because the Grizzlies derive so much of their offense from converting turnovers into easy buckets.
The Spurs aren't a miscue-prone team (they ranked in the bottom 10 in turnover rate this season), so forcing them to cough up the ball won't be easy. But if there is a player to exploit, it's Ginobili, who had by far the highest turnover rate in the Spurs' backcourt outside of benchwarmer Nando De Colo. That's why it's all the more imperative to consider putting professional pest Allen on Ginobili duty. By the way, in the eight minutes that Allen guarded Ginobili in Game 1, Ginobili didn't get a shot off.
[h=3]5. Contain Tony Parker[/h]
This might deserve to be No. 1 on this list, but we'll save the best for last. As is the case with most teams, the Grizzlies looked powerless against Parker's quickness in Game 1. They got shredded on the "kick" part of the Spurs' patented drive-and-kick offense, but the most important step in preventing it is to not allow penetration in the first place. They failed that objective miserably in Game 1.
That responsibility falls mostly on Conley, but on-ball defense is not a one-man operation. The Grizzlies have to do a better job of pressuring Parker out front in pick-and-rolls, and that requires more aggressive work by the big men than was evident in Game 1. The Grizzlies don't need to overhaul their defense, but they do need to make Parker more uncomfortable if they want to be more successful on that end of the floor.
By Tom Haberstroh | ESPN Insider
How does Memphis get back to Grizzness?
It might seem that the Spurs have figured out the Grizzlies, but this is familiar territory for coach Lionel Hollins' group. The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Grizzlies by 21 points in Game 1 of the first round; the Grizzlies won the series in six games. The Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals by two points; the Grizzlies took the series in five games.
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And here we are in the Western Conference finals, and the Spurs have jumped out to a 1-0 lead, mauling the Grizzlies in San Antonio by 22 points. Bouncing back won't be anything new for the resilient Grizzlies since they've already done it twice this postseason. But if they do eventually right the ship and reach the NBA Finals, they'd be the first team in NBA history to win three seven-game series after losing Game 1.
So how do the Grizzlies recover in this series in Game 2? Here are five adjustments.
[h=3]1. Get Zach Randolph back on track[/h]
Well, duh. Z-Bo wrapped up probably his worst playoff game ever in Game 1. He scored just two points on 1-of-8 shooting with zero free throws, and on defense he gave up multiple blow-bys. Offensively, Randolph missed several shots he normally makes, but the Grizzlies must find a way to get him more touches around the rim and in the post (he had just two all game according to ESPN Stats & Information tracking).
They can accomplish this by feeding center Marc Gasol more in the high post. The Spurs' D shrunk the floor while Tim Duncan practically glued himself to Randolph in the post, but when he did free himself, the Grizzlies' guards couldn't get him the ball. Gasol might be the best passer on the squad, and he assisted Randolph only a dozen times fewer than point guard Mike Conley did in the regular season. Gasol and Randolph need to perform magic together in Game 2.
[h=3]2. Acknowledge the advent of the 3-point line[/h]
The Grizzlies do know that the shots beyond the arc are worth 50 percent more than the ones inside, right? You wouldn't have known it by looking at the shot selection in Game 1. None of the Grizzlies' starters took a 3-point shot, which is unthinkable in today's game. Quincy Pondexter was the only Memphis player to hit a 3-pointer (5-of-9; the team was 5-of-12). Pressuring the defense isn't just about penetration (hello, Conley and Tayshaun Prince); the Spurs happily loaded the paint and crowded the bigs.
Defensively, it was the same story: The Grizzlies completely forgot about the 3-point shot. The Spurs exploited Memphis' oddly scrambled rotations as the Grizzlies abandoned deadeye shooters to over-help after Tony Parker punctured the defense. The Spurs rank among the league leaders in 3-point frequency and percentage so it's not like Game 1 was a complete outlier. They'll need to trust Gasol to wall off the paint instead of leaving shooters.
[h=3]3. Consider starting Quincy Pondexter[/h]
Game 1 often looked like 4-on-5 given the way Spurs guard Danny Green ignored Tony Allen on the perimeter. The Grizzlies will have no shot in this series if that's the case since the Spurs wield as stingy a defense as you'll find (it's the only defense in the league to rank top-three in both regular season and postseason defensive efficiency). Slotting Allen on the bench also would align him with Spurs sixth man Manu Ginobili, against whom Allen can leverage his defensive value more effectively.
It makes more sense to have Pondexter defend Danny Green, since Pondexter is a more disciplined defender and won't be as tempted to leave and harass others, as Allen does. Pondexter has been the Grizzlies' best 3-point threat since Wayne Ellington was traded in January, as his deep onslaught in Game 1 demonstrated again. The Spurs' defense is the best one the Grizzlies have faced, and Pondexter can go a long way toward decongesting the paint.
[h=3]4. Force more turnovers[/h]
This should have been a top priority for the Grizzlies even before Game 1, when they forced just 11 turnovers (only six of which were live-ball turnovers). This season, the Grizzlies were 7-10 when they forced no more than 11 turnovers, which makes sense because the Grizzlies derive so much of their offense from converting turnovers into easy buckets.
The Spurs aren't a miscue-prone team (they ranked in the bottom 10 in turnover rate this season), so forcing them to cough up the ball won't be easy. But if there is a player to exploit, it's Ginobili, who had by far the highest turnover rate in the Spurs' backcourt outside of benchwarmer Nando De Colo. That's why it's all the more imperative to consider putting professional pest Allen on Ginobili duty. By the way, in the eight minutes that Allen guarded Ginobili in Game 1, Ginobili didn't get a shot off.
[h=3]5. Contain Tony Parker[/h]
This might deserve to be No. 1 on this list, but we'll save the best for last. As is the case with most teams, the Grizzlies looked powerless against Parker's quickness in Game 1. They got shredded on the "kick" part of the Spurs' patented drive-and-kick offense, but the most important step in preventing it is to not allow penetration in the first place. They failed that objective miserably in Game 1.
That responsibility falls mostly on Conley, but on-ball defense is not a one-man operation. The Grizzlies have to do a better job of pressuring Parker out front in pick-and-rolls, and that requires more aggressive work by the big men than was evident in Game 1. The Grizzlies don't need to overhaul their defense, but they do need to make Parker more uncomfortable if they want to be more successful on that end of the floor.
