San Antonio Spurs top Memphis Grizzlies in OT Game 2
Tony Parker and the Spurs ran out to a huge lead again, but the Grizzlies fought back.
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Tony Parker Notches Career High in Assists as Spurs Outlast Grizzlies in Game 2
Tony Parker led the San Antonio Spurs in a squeaker over the Memphis Grizzlies, a 93-89 Game 2 overtime win, thanks in part to his career-high 18 assists.
Tony Parker’s 18 assists are tied for 2nd-most in Spurs playoff history, 2 shy of Johnny Moore’s 20 in 1983.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 22, 2013
All night long, Parker was finding open shooters and streaking slashers, with shot after shot falling for the first three quarters.
San Antonio’s second quarter was an amazing all-around performance, with the team notching an assist on each of its 11 field goals in the quarter. Parker was able to pick up six of those 11 assists, but somehow that wasn’t the most impressive stretch from the Frenchman on the evening.
Perhaps most impressive, San Antonio came up with 11 field goals in the third quarter, 10 of which involved Parker. Parker assisted on the first eight, scored the next two and then Manu Ginobili came home with a selfish layup with four seconds left in the quarter.
In all, Parker had a hand in 24 consecutive points.
He had 16 assists after that eight-dime third, but his teammates suddenly stopped making shots in the fourth.
Zero assists came Parker’s way in the period as the Spurs scored just nine points.
Parker, not generally known for putting up huge assist numbers (he averages six per game in his career and 7.6 per game this season) actually set his previous career-high earlier last season.
He picked up 17 assists in a two-point win over the New Orleans Hornets late last January, marking just the third time in his career that he surpassed the 15-assist mark.
With a dime dropped to Tim Duncan on the first play of overtime in San Antonio’s playoff win, Parker was able to tie that mark, and another dish to Duncan to give the Spurs a four-point lead with a minute remaining put him in uncharted territory.
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Tony Allen Sells Key 4th-Quarter Flagrant with Phantom Head Injury in Game 2
The Memphis Grizzlies have a way of making the NBA hardwood a very uncomfortable place for the opposition.
Late in the fourth quarter of Tuesday night’s Game 2, the Grizzlies’ Tony Allen spread those uncomfortable feelings across the basketball world.
With Memphis facing a four-point deficit with less than 30 seconds left in regulation, Zach Randolph corralled a loose ball and found a sprinting Allen racing toward the basket. Allen took two steps toward the basket and soared to the rim, but was pulled to the floor by a trailing Manu Ginobili.
Allen hit the deck and scrambled to the fetal position, violently kicking his legs and holding his head.
Concussion, perhaps? He at least had a splitting headache, no doubt the result of a thunderous impact when his head met the floor.
As the referees gathered for a video review to determine if the foul was flagrant, suddenly, the result of his crash landing became clearer. Allen had braced himself for the landing, taking the brunt of the collision on his forearm then rolling over onto his back.
In other words, there simply was no head-to-hardwood meeting. Just a fine acting performance, and one that gave the Grizzlies new life:
On what planet is that a flagrant foul. And they reviewed it, no less. Poor officiating, brilliant acting by Tony Allen
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) May 22, 2013
Some argued that dramatics aside, the play still warranted the stiff penalty that the Spurs had to endure:
He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out of midair.
— Myles Brown (@mdotbrown) May 22, 2013
Allen “recovered” to convert both of his free throws, and Mike Conley added a game-tying jumper just eight seconds later. Tim Duncan misfired on his potential game-winner in the closing seconds, meaning free basketball inside the AT&T Center.
It certainly bordered on bush league, but still drew the praise of at least one former pro:
What a great play by TonyAllen. Flagrant fouls are so often called based on the reaction of the player who was fouled. He sold that one.
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerrTNT) May 22, 2013
Of course, the next video review may not be quite so forgiving to Allen. But if the league office sends him an invoice, the All-Defensive first-teamer should have no trouble finding financial help in covering the damage:
Tomorrow the league will fine Tony Allen for flopping…and for Memphis it was worth every penny.
— Frank Isola (@FisolaNYDN) May 22, 2013
Now we’re all left to process Allen’s ploy in our own minds, respecting the intention (and certainly the result) if not the method chosen:
I hate what Tony Allen did, but acting like he was killed, earning the flagrant on Manu was game changing and genius…
— Vince Galloway (@Vince_Galloway) May 22, 2013
But that should be a far simpler mental exercise than what the Grizzlies have to perform.
Despite Allen’s thespian gifts and holding San Antonio to just two points over the final eight minutes of regulation, Memphis fell 93-89 in overtime.
The Grizzlies now head home facing a daunting two-game deficit in the Western Conference Finals.
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What’s Taking Miami Heat Fans so Long to Get to the Game?
As the Miami Heat seem to be in the best position to win the 2013 NBA Championship and their second title in as many years, the question remains: Why don’t Heat fans (in visible areas at least) show up on time?
It’s a complaint as old as this Heat team, it seems.
While they do sell out playoff games and have ranked in the top three in attendance in each of the past three seasons (they were 15th in the league the season before LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined), nobody will call this group among the tops in NBA fanbases.
Just take a look at their most recent playoff game, a closeout game mind you, against the Chicago Bulls on a Wednesday evening. There’s the ever-present sight of the free giveaways slung across the backs of seats, waiting for ticket owners to come claim them.
It’s a common sight in Miami, and it’s been happening for a few years now.
In an attempt to mask the fact that there are so many empty seats at the start of each half, the seats are dressed up in white, usually in the form of a towel to wave around or a shirt shimmied over the back.
Excellent job by the Heat matching the white shirts with the color of the seats so its tougher to notice how many empty seats there are
— Evan Roberts (@JoeandEvan) May 11, 2011
Good call on Heat to lay T-Shirts on the seats this time. Harder to tell how empty it is in here.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 15, 2013
That way, when viewed within the context of a “white-out” among the rest of the fans wearing white, it won’t look as if there are entire chunks missing out of the crowd.
The only problem is that people notice, and they complain about the de facto representatives of the best basketball team in the NBA.
The huge number of empty good seats in #Miami at the start of Heat games continues to be ridiculous!
— InsideHoops.com (@InsideHoops) May 11, 2011
Seeing just about the amount of empty seats at the #Heat game I expected. Looks like a mid season promotional night game.
— Richard Camillucci (@RichCami) May 15, 2013
S/O to all those heat fans #emptyseats
— Max Vaundry (@mvaundry22) May 16, 2013
It’s not just the first half, either. Oftentimes you’ll see ticket holders struggle to get back to their seats in time for the start of the second half.
Who knows, maybe the beer line is a bit too long or everybody’s going to use the restroom. Or maybe they just don’t care that much.
The heat easily have the worst fans in the NBA. Over 4mins into the 2nd half and there still is empty seats.
— The Renaissance Man (@PeedyFly) May 16, 2013
Do Heat fans even watch the game when they go to see the Heat play? There is always so many empty seats #FairWeatherFans
— Charlie Dunn (@chuckdirty4) May 16, 2013
There’s often a complaint that the expensive seats at Staples Center in Los Angeles are there for rich people to buy and be seen amongst the famous people scattered throughout the crowd.
While that’s a legitimate gripe that basketball fans have about the Lakers, at least those people are usually in their seats when the game starts.
So what is the deal with Heat fans that sit in the lower bowl?
Obviously there’s some of that Los Angeles-style desire to be seen, but why show up so late and why take so long to return to seats before the start of the second half?
Plenty of diehard Heat fans reside in Miami and around the country; that’s not the problem. There’s a reason they have a loud arena for 36 of the 48 minutes throughout a basketball game. Upper-deck seats are filled and fans are screaming to see this team win.
As far as the lower-bowl coin-droppers are concerned, I’m sure to some extent traffic can be blamed. It’s an arena in the middle of a large city—but then again so is nearly every other arena in the NBA.
There’s a simple solution to that problem, and it’s just to leave your house earlier.
There’s got to be something different plaguing your run-of-the-mill Heat fan, whether it be indifference, or just a general acceptance that missing a few minutes isn’t going to be a big deal.
The only bit of wisdom that I could offer has nothing to do with a solution; it’s just an observation. If one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA isn’t going to get people to show up on time, then nothing will.
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What’s Taking Miami Heat Fans so Long to Get to the Game?
As the Miami Heat seem to be in the best position to win the 2013 NBA Championship and their second title in as many years, the question remains: Why don’t Heat fans (in visible areas at least) show up on time?
It’s a complaint as old as this Heat team, it seems.
While they do sell out playoff games and have ranked in the top three in attendance in each of the past three seasons (they were 15th in the league the season before LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined), nobody will call this group among the tops in NBA fanbases.
Just take a look at their most recent playoff game, a closeout game mind you, against the Chicago Bulls on a Wednesday evening. There’s the ever-present sight of the free giveaways slung across the backs of seats, waiting for ticket owners to come claim them.
It’s a common sight in Miami, and it’s been happening for a few years now.
In an attempt to mask the fact that there are so many empty seats at the start of each half, the seats are dressed up in white, usually in the form of a towel to wave around or a shirt shimmied over the back.
Excellent job by the Heat matching the white shirts with the color of the seats so its tougher to notice how many empty seats there are
— Evan Roberts (@JoeandEvan) May 11, 2011
Good call on Heat to lay T-Shirts on the seats this time. Harder to tell how empty it is in here.
— Tom Haberstroh (@tomhaberstroh) May 15, 2013
That way, when viewed within the context of a “white-out” among the rest of the fans wearing white, it won’t look as if there are entire chunks missing out of the crowd.
The only problem is that people notice, and they complain about the de facto representatives of the best basketball team in the NBA.
The huge number of empty good seats in #Miami at the start of Heat games continues to be ridiculous!
— InsideHoops.com (@InsideHoops) May 11, 2011
Seeing just about the amount of empty seats at the #Heat game I expected. Looks like a mid season promotional night game.
— Richard Camillucci (@RichCami) May 15, 2013
S/O to all those heat fans #emptyseats
— Max Vaundry (@mvaundry22) May 16, 2013
It’s not just the first half, either. Oftentimes you’ll see ticket holders struggle to get back to their seats in time for the start of the second half.
Who knows, maybe the beer line is a bit too long or everybody’s going to use the restroom. Or maybe they just don’t care that much.
The heat easily have the worst fans in the NBA. Over 4mins into the 2nd half and there still is empty seats.
— The Renaissance Man (@PeedyFly) May 16, 2013
Do Heat fans even watch the game when they go to see the Heat play? There is always so many empty seats #FairWeatherFans
— Charlie Dunn (@chuckdirty4) May 16, 2013
There’s often a complaint that the expensive seats at Staples Center in Los Angeles are there for rich people to buy and be seen amongst the famous people scattered throughout the crowd.
While that’s a legitimate gripe that basketball fans have about the Lakers, at least those people are usually in their seats when the game starts.
So what is the deal with Heat fans that sit in the lower bowl?
Obviously there’s some of that Los Angeles-style desire to be seen, but why show up so late and why take so long to return to seats before the start of the second half?
Plenty of diehard Heat fans reside in Miami and around the country; that’s not the problem. There’s a reason they have a loud arena for 36 of the 48 minutes throughout a basketball game. Upper-deck seats are filled and fans are screaming to see this team win.
As far as the lower-bowl coin-droppers are concerned, I’m sure to some extent traffic can be blamed. It’s an arena in the middle of a large city—but then again so is nearly every other arena in the NBA.
There’s a simple solution to that problem, and it’s just to leave your house earlier.
There’s got to be something different plaguing your run-of-the-mill Heat fan, whether it be indifference, or just a general acceptance that missing a few minutes isn’t going to be a big deal.
The only bit of wisdom that I could offer has nothing to do with a solution; it’s just an observation. If one of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA isn’t going to get people to show up on time, then nothing will.
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Heat vs Pacers Eastern Conference Finals Game 1: Big Baby Preview
The Eastern Conference Finals are near so Glen “Big Baby” Davis joins Bleacher Report to preview Game 1 between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat.
In one corner, you have the Indiana Pacers, the league’s top defense anchored by big man, Roy Hibbert. In the other corner, you have the Miami Heat, the NBA‘s most explosive offense led by 4-time MVP, LeBron James.
Will Indiana’s defense be able to rattle the Heat and steal home-court from the defending champs?
Watch now to find out who “Big Baby” thinks will take Game 1.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Biggest Key to Spurs vs. Grizzlies Game 2
The One Thing is a prediction-and-preview show that will tell NBA fans what to pay attention to in every matchup in the playoffs.
The NBA‘s Glen “Big Baby” Davis is here to break down Game 2, and he picked the one thing that he thinks will have a huge impact on the series.
Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs look to go up 2-0 in the Western Conference finals against the resilient Memphis Grizzlies.
How do these teams match up? Which players are the keys to success?
Let us know in the comments below!
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Zach Randolph watched unsolved crimes after Game 1 loss
The Grizzlies star now hopes to solve the big mystery of his Game 1 vanishing act.
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NBA Picks: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs, Game 2
The Memphis Grizzlies are 6-2-1 against the spread when trailing in a playoff series the last two-plus seasons, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks Tuesday, as they take on the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.
Sports bettors will find that the Grizzlies are five-point road underdogs in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 182.5 in the market.
Let’s take a closer look at Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals from a betting perspective while offering up a prediction along the way.
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Video: Tony Parker shuts down Memphis in Game 1
The San Antonio Spurs made the Memphis Grizzlies look like the overachievers that many pegged them to be on Sunday.
As a whole, they appeared to be lethargic and in-over-their-head as the veteran Spurs group cruised to a 105-83 Game 1 victory in the Western Conference finals.
Tony Parker generated 20 points and dished out nine assists.
Please click here to watch this video.
Video: Tony Parker shuts down Memphis in Game 1 appeared first on Players View.
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