There was something different about entering the Memphis Grizzlies locker room last night after they had just lost by ten points and lost all four games of the season series.
While the losing locker room is usually very quiet with players holding their heads down and talking about lack of execution or lost opportunities, I walked into what seemed like a positive environment.
Players this time talked about moral victories, confidence and putting forth a team effort.
“Tonight it worked out for us. They’re a great team, really well-coached and really deep and talented,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I think if we played ten times, it would be five-five. That’s just the way it is with those guys.”
Popovich and the Spurs know those guys well after the Grizzlies stole home court advantage and shocked the NBA in a six-game first round series win.
While both teams finished the regular season series last night, there’s a chance they could still face off in the Western Conference Finals, a battle I personally wouldn’t mind seeing.
NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury agrees, saying he would prefer a Spurs-Grizzlies rematch over a Bulls and Heat series.
At the other end of the AT&T Center in the Grizzlies locker room, Rudy Gay looked down at his shirtless body and tried to count up all of the bloodied scratches he could find – on his neck, both shoulders, his chest, his stomach, one leg.
“Yeah, it was that kind of game,” Gay said.
And it could be that kind of series again sometime in the next couple of months.
By that time, Zach Randolph could very like be at 100 percent. The series would definitley be different than last years, with what hopefully could be a deeper, completely healthy Spurs team against the Grizzlies with Rudy Gay.
The Spurs and Grizzlies still have to finish out the season and have a lot of work ahead in the playoffs for the rematch to take place, but I’m sure the Spurs and Spurs fans would love some redemption.
