Matt Barnes on facing Spurs: 'We're coming to a gunfight with spoons'
The most lopsided NBA playoff series in recent history is headed to Memphis, where the physically drained Grizzlies already trail the San Antonio Spurs by two games. Everyone expected this, but watching it unfold has been even uglier than originally forecast.
Memphis' two star players (Mike Conley and Marc Gasol) are hurt, as are several key roles players (Brandan Wright and Mario Chalmers — who tore his Achilles and was waived in March). It's Zach Randolph, Tony Allen and a skeleton crew of D-League misfits, washed up veterans and Lance Stephenson, against a healthy, focused Spurs ensemble that won 67 regular-season games.
After their second straight blowout loss on Tuesday night, Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes summed up his team's dilemma with the most accurate metaphor of all time:
He's not wrong! Memphis can't score. Its offense is averaging 78.6 points per 100 possessions in two games against the best defense in the league. That's mind-bogglingly bad.
Dave Joerger: 'You've got to give their defense a lot of credit.' @memgrizz fell to Spurs, face 2-0 series deficit.https://t.co/fJrsFSKDMc
— FOX Sports Southeast (@FOXSportsSE) April 20, 2016
The Grizzlies are shooting 35.8 percent from the floor, 31.8 percent from behind the arc and 58.3 percent from the free-throw line. Only one player is averaging double figures (Vince Carter at 10.0 points per game) compared to five Spurs, and ... and, um, what else is there to say? Analysis is unnecessary when one team is getting beat down as badly as the Grizzlies.
Head coach Dave Joerger has done a remarkable job getting them this far, but Memphis' season is two games from the final curtain. The glorious Grit N' Grind era is finally over.
