The San Antonio Spurs are ready for the postseason. They easily dispatched of the Memphis Grizzlies with a 106-74 victory in Game 1 of the first round Western Conference playoff series on Sunday in San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker led the way for the Spurs, who looked fresh and ready for a postseason run.
Grizzlies vs. Spurs, 2016 NBA playoff results: San Antonio handles Memphis as expected in easy Game 1 win
The Grizzlies couldn’t get anything going against Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs defense, as San Antonio rolled to a 106-74 win.
The Spurs struggled to get going offensively in the first quarter, shooting only 35 percent from the field, but they held the Grizzlies to 22.7 percent shooting from the field and jumped out to a 22-13 lead. Behind some Lance Stephenson magic in the second quarter, the Grizzlies pulled to within two with three minutes left in the first half, but the Spurs sprinted away at the end of the quarter to lead 48-37 at the half.
Parker, who had 15 points and six assists, drove the Spurs in the third as they blew the game wide open. San Antonio led 81-51 at the end of three and coasted to an easy win in the fourth. The Spurs defense was too much for an overmatched Grizzlies team that is going to need a miracle to grab even one win in this series.
Vince Carter led the Grizzlies with 16 points in the loss.
Here’s three things we learned in the Spurs’ Game 1 victory:
Kawhi Leonard is going to run circles around the Grizzlies
It didn't take long for the Spurs' best player to assert his dominance, scoring the first bucket of the game after ripping the ball from Matt Barnes on a handoff. And he didn't let up on either side of the ball, wreaking havoc against the Grizzlies with steals and plays that don't show up in the box score:
Stephenson looked like most players do when they’re on Kawhi Island — and you can’t blame him. When Leonard is on, it’s near impossible to do what you want to do offensively. Plus, he does fill up the stat sheet. Leonard had 20 points, four steals and three blocks. It’s nothing new, simply a reminder that Leonard makes the Spurs go.
The age of the Spurs might not help, but experience sure does
Per the TNT broadcast, four of the six oldest players in the NBA were in this game. Three play for the Spurs (Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Andre Miller) and one for the Grizzles (Vince Carter). For Duncan, who had seven points and 11 rebounds, age isn't a factor — and it isn't for the rest of the Spurs, either. Instead, their experience is key. Aside from LaMarcus Aldridge, the core players have won NBA titles and are ready for anything. Coach Gregg Popovich has his players ready for anything. During one huddle in the second quarter, he urged his players to put the game away early, warning that the longer the Grizzlies stuck around the more they'd believe they could pull off the upset. The Spurs have known all season how good they can be, and they aren't backing off now.
The brooms are ready
You can’t really blame the Grizzlies, they just don’t have the personnel to match up with the Spurs — or really anyone. They’ve been hobbled by injuries and have an a ridiculous amount of lineups this season, and now they’re up against a 67-win team. The Spurs held them to 38 percent shooting in the first half and the Spurs were far from their best.
This series was never expected to be close, and even thought the Grizzlies are trying, they don’t stand a chance. There is an outside shot the Grizzlies steal one game — this roster did somehow win in Cleveland, after all — but the Spurs can get the brooms out.
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