Season 48, Game 26
Memphis 117, San Antonio 116 (3 OT)
17-9, 7th in the West

Perhaps it’s poetic that the game right smack dab in the middle of the Spurs’ most difficult week right smack dab in the middle of the Spurs’ most difficult month should go to three overtimes. That the Spurs lost is perhaps besides the point. When you realize that you’re in the middle of an instant classic, at some point the end result becomes secondary to the art and drama unfolding before you.

These two teams have a way of putting on a show. Even as the Spurs have dominated the series over the last several seasons, each individual game has been something. Even in sweeping Memphis out of the playoffs two seasons ago, each of the four games was a beauty. This is my kind of basketball: tough defense, beautiful offense, smart coaches and players and schemes, the type of chemistry that can only be born from years (decades, for San Antonio) of battling together.

Despite the loss, this game did nothing to disabuse me of the notion that the Spurs own the Grizzlies. It took Memphis three overtimes to beat us in a game when we were missing Patty Mills, Tony Parker, and Kawhi Leonard; in a game in which they had two separate leads of 20 points and then 17 points. It’s a testament to their resilience that they won, particularly when the Spurs only needed to do simple things to close out the game in at least 2 of the 3 “false” endings. Such is the nature of the beast.

It’s hard to parse an epic. Most will point to the free throw shooting of Manu and Tim, and rightfully so. They were very bad. Combined they missed 14 free throws; combined the entire Grizzlies team shot 14 free throws. We all know of Tim’s up and down free throw shooting; but Manu has been particularly shaky this season, shooting a near-career low 76%. Only his rookie season was worse. This is worrisome.

Personally, I’d be more prone to point to the start of each half, when the Spurs just got dominated. Memphis started the game shooting the lights out, and built a double digit lead pretty quickly, one they pushed to 20 early in the second quarter. The Spurs fought back to cut it to 7 at half. To start the 3rd quarter, though, the Spurs went a full 5 minutes of game time without a single point, as Memphis pushed that 7-point lead back to 17. That’s a 30-point deficit spanning about 20 minutes of game time. This is not good.

But basketball is a game of ebbs and flows, an intricate ballet that must be viewed from afar, a beautiful painting that falls apart when you get close enough to see the brush strokes. Had San Antonio won, I’m sure Memphis fans could point to a hundred little moments that lost them the game. As it were, they have a hundred little moments that won it, and the Spurs will rue Boris’ errant pass on a critical defensive rebound, Manu’s “what in the hell are you thinking?!” pass to Danny, all of the missed free throws, etc.

Don’t beat yourself up. The Spurs showed well in defeat, and there’s a lot of good to be taken from the game. Top of that list: Danny Green. Quick question: game on the line and the team needs a 3-pointer, who do you want taking that shot? Right now, I vote for Danny. His stroke is so pretty, and he has a knack for coming up clutch. Defensively, he’s been killing it for the last month, putting up crazy block numbers. He is probably the best shot-blocking guard in the game, not to mention a really good individual and team defender. He is a critical piece to what makes this team special defensively.

Despite the poor shooting, Duncan had another great game. He is just such a smart player on both ends of the court and a true joy to watch. Cherish him.

Tiago looked good in limited minutes. His presence was sorely missed in the second unit. As was Marco’s shot, which is coming around.

The bad part of the game: the team put out a crazy amount of effort to win that game as key players played HUGE minutes. This could have repercussions over the next two games–a back-to-back against Portland and Dallas–as Pop might need to rest some players that might not normally have gotten it. In particular, Friday night’s game against Portland may be put in jeopardy from this game, and one loss may turn into two. Does Pop rest Duncan and Manu after each played season high minutes Wednesday, and gear up for Saturday’s game? Or does he play them Friday, knowing they might still be dragging from the Memphis game and not get a best effort, and then also hobble himself for the Dallas game Saturday? (And could this turn one loss into three losses?) We already know Tony and Kawhi are not playing Friday, so healthy bodies will be in short supply.

This is all part of the NBA regular season. It’s why we have to stop and appreciate it when such a wonderful game falls into our laps on a Wednesday night in December. It truly is a gift.