While the Spurs might not be finding it so hard to make up for Tim Duncan’s offensive stats, his leadership seems to be very much missed. Following blowing an additional 4th quarter advantage during their previous matchup, the Spurs will attempt to prevent a high for the year 3rd consecutive defeat Sunday when they pay a visit to the Grizzlies during a possible 1st – round post-season preview.
The Spurs ( 57 – 15 ) still have a 5 game advantage over the Lakers for the finest record within the West, however they have to be worried after losing leads during the final period to drop back to back contests for the 2nd occasion this year. The Spurs had been leading by ten during the 4th versus the Blazers on Friday however dropped the game 98 – 96, giving up 3 of their 19 turn-overs within the last 40 seconds. The loss came 2 evenings following the Spurs had a 7 point advantage within the 4th versus the Nuggets prior to dropping the game 115 – 112.
Both defeats have arrived since the Spurs have Duncan resting on the bench indefinitely to heal a sprained left ankle he endured versus the Warriors on Monday. He didn’t come with the team on this 3 game journey away from home which concludes Sunday. Ginobili has helped pick up the slack on the attack for Duncan’s absence, putting in 23.0
points the previous 3 matchups. Tiago Splitter started in Duncan’s spot once again Friday & got eleven points & 7 boards, not far off the mark from the All Star forward’s numbers. With Duncan skipping Sunday’s matchup, it will be the 2nd consecutive trip to play the Grizzlies that the Spurs are making beat-up. Tony Parker rested on the sidelines during a 109 – 93 defeat to the Grizzlies on March 1st. The Spurs additionally had difficulties with turn-overs in that matchup, giving up 22.
The last occasion the Spurs dropped straight contests were January 4th & 5th, however they answered by picking up their following 8. They have not lost 3 consecutive since January 20th to 25th, 2010. The Spurs, who have won 2 of 3 versus the Grizzlies, might encounter 8th place Memphis ( 40 – 33 ) during the 1st round of the post-season.
The Grizzlies had their 3 game winning run broken by a 99 – 96 defeat at the United Center vs. the Bulls on Friday. Mike Conley bricked a three point shot as the clock ran out. The Grizzlies have kept their past 3 competitors to an average of 83.3 points. The defeat came hours following the club found out Rudy Gay, on the sidelines since February 15th, will undergo year – ending surgery to fix his partially dislocated left shoulder. The Grizzlies are 9 – 7 since he got injured. While he has combined for only thirteen boards during the previous 2 matchups, Zach Randolph, putting in 12.4 points, had twenty-five points & twenty rebounds during the victory against the Spurs the previous month.
The Grizzlies, who play 6 of their following 7 matchups on their home court, have a 1.5 game advantage over 9th – place Rockets.