What to Take From Spurs Game One Dominance

The San Antonio Spurs pounded the Memphis Grizzlies in Game One of the Western Conference Finals 105-83. This game was over right after opening introductions as the Spurs raced out to a 31-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and company looked every bit the team that was here a year ago and many times before. The Grizzlies looked every bit the team playing in the conference finals for the first time.

But do not count these Grizzlies out just yet. Memphis has now been down 0-1 in all three playoff series so far. They will not panic. In their first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, they were down 0-2. So even if the Spurs win Game Two, do not look for Memphis to panic. Also, don’t look for the Spurs to start celebrating.

The Grizzlies were down 0-2 to the Clippers, then went on to win four straight games to take the series. They lost Game One to the Oklahoma City Thunder, then went on to win four straight games to take the series. They are unbeaten at home in these playoffs. So, the key to this series will be whether the Spurs can keep from losing a home game.

The Spurs were up 2-0 in last year’s Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, but then lost four straight to lose the series. ”I can promise you this: Nobody’s happy in our locker room, because we were up 2-0 last year and we lost,” Parker said. ”It’s just one game. It means nothing. We still have a long way to go.”

So what if the Spurs blow out the Grizzlies again in Game Two? Do the Spurs begin to feel good about themselves? Maybe. But they better not break out the champagne at least until they go to Memphis and win a game. If the Grizzlies bring the series back to San Antonio tied 2-2, they will be in great shape. They closed out the Clippers by winning Game Five in Los Angeles and then going home to win Game Six. They closed out the Thunder by winning Game Five on the road.

Game Five seems to be when the Grizzlies make their move. So the Spurs really need to be up 3-1 going into that game to make sure they get a Game Seven at home no matter what. The Clippers and Thunder failed to get to Game Seven so we don’t know hot Memphis would react to a do-or-die on the road.

But we do now how Memphis reacts to losing in Game One. It does not phase them. So while Game One was rather ugly, this series is not over.