Season 49, Game 72
San Antonio 110, Memphis 104
61-11, 2nd in the West

That was a bit too close for comfort.

When Pop rests players on the road against good teams, I often applaud the psychological trick: win the game, and it’s an unexpected bonus; lose the game, and it doesn’t really matter, because you were supposed to lose anyway. It’s win-win, and can build confidence for players down the bench.

Friday’s game against Memphis was kind of the opposite of that. Memphis is completely wiped out by injury and has no business playing a competitive basketball game against the Spurs in San Antonio. By resting 3 key players (with Leonard sitting out with a legitimate injury), Pop put the Spurs in a lose-lose situation. Win the game, and it’s expected; lose the game, and it’s a failure and a collapse. Lose-lose. The only way this game could have been a net-positive is if the Spurs had won by 20, and even then it would have been ‘the expected’.

So I’m glad the Spurs won. I’m glad the home record stays in tact. I’m glad Martin and Miller got valuable playing time, and that Simmons found his way back into the rotation, providing some much needed 2nd half energy. But there’s not much else about this game that pleases me. The Grizzlies played harder, showing a defensive energy and tenacity the Spurs couldn’t be bothered to match. They probably deserved the win, all other things being equal.

It wasn’t equal, though, and the Spurs knew that. Aldridge scored 17 points in the first quarter as the Memphis front line looked completely outmatched. The rim was wide open, and the Spurs were feasting.

When the Grizzlies turned up the defensive intensity, though, and effectively closed off the lane and shut down the rim, the Spurs really had no counter. After those 17 first quarter points, you’d think the Spurs would just ride LaMarcus to the easy victory. He only scored 15 the rest of the game, which isn’t bad, except he scored 17 points in one quarter! Get that man the ball.

With the game close throughout the second half, the Spurs hit three 3-pointers in a row, two by Manu, sandwiched around one by Martin. This gave the team just enough breathing room to pull out the win, even though Pop pulled the starters a bit too early and Memphis made it just interesting enough in the final minute.

Ugh. What a horrible game. At least Martin showed he can hit some 3s. That’s good, right?

And if anybody was doubting Green’s value on defense (and Leonard’s, too, obviously), one need only re-watch this game to be reminded of how important wing defense is in the modern NBA. After that first quarter, the Grizzlies – perhaps the most injured team in NBA history – had a near-endless parade to the rim, getting much easier baskets than the Spurs.

The game is over, though, and we got the win. The team has already announced that Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan will not make the road trip and miss the next two games. I’m totally fine with this. I don’t care how the Spurs play the rest of their road games. There’s nothing to be gained, as the team has more or less clinched the #2 seed.

Aldridge-20160325

But I hope they keep protecting home court. I hope they go for 41-0 at home on the season. I hope they use their remaining home games to stay sharp and ready for the playoffs.

There are just 4 more, and I want the Spurs to win them all.

The Spurs play Saturday night in Oklahoma City. I expect a loss, but it’ll most likely be one of those shorthanded ‘win-win’ games. It will certainly be less stressful than this game.

Go Spurs Go.