Predictions for the first-round playoff series between the 67-win San Antonio Spurs and injury ravaged Memphis Grizzlies were fairly consistent in expecting a dominant showing for the higher-seeded team. All four of our BDL writers predicted a sweep, and San Antonio's dominant Game 1 victory did little to change opinions of this matchup's level of competitiveness. The Spurs can probably start making plans to play Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals at home.
[Follow Dunks Don't Lie on Tumblr:*The best slams from all of basketball]
What we didn't expect was that the experience of this series would be downright enervating. The Spurs controlled Tuesday's Game 2 for a 94-68 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, but it's difficult to provide especially interesting analysis of the result. The dynamics between these teams are well established, and these ragtag Grizzlies cannot hope to match the precision and talent of the Spurs. This was a game that looked decided before either side had scored.
If the first quarter was a little dull, then you can probably guess that the final minutes of the fourth carried little intrigue. In fact, it was dull enough that Spurs legend David Robinson got caught yawning by TNT cameras:


Look, we don't blame The Admiral for this reaction. Like some of us, he probably would have chosen to lie down in the comfort of his own home.
Plus, several players looked ready to leave in the late going, too. Take a look at Vince Carter:
Vinsomnia pic.twitter.com/0BHMO6SINz
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 20, 2016
And here's Kawhi Leonard feeling the excitement of winning his second Defensive Player of the Year award in a row:
“Could a grizzly beat up a shark tho?" pic.twitter.com/yX16FzfWcn
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 20, 2016
The Spurs' win had very few highlights. Only six players scored in double figures, with Patty Mills as the game's leading scorer with 16 on 4-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes. No Spur played more than Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge's 27 minutes each, and 11 saw at least 14 minutes. Gregg Popovich has understandably used this very favorable matchup to ensure players get plenty of rest. Unfortunately, that makes for dull viewing.

Naturally, the state of this series owes far more to the reeling Grizzlies than the steady Spurs. All Memphis's offensive issues were in play Tuesday, from a lack of scoring options to an inability to create or convert good shots. Zach Randolph and Tony Allen were the only players to finish in double figures, and they combined for a total of 23 points. Allen (4-of-7 FG) and Chris Andersen (2-of-2 FG) were the only players to make at least half their shots as the Grizzlies shot a paltry 32.6 percent from the field, including 2-of-14 from deep and 10-of-18 from the line. There were no positives.
It's difficult to see things getting much better at home in Games 3 and 4. Reggie Miller threw out the old cliche about role players doing better in a familiar environment in the last moments of the broadcast, but the problem for the Grizzlies right now is that every guy they have looks like a role player. The math does not apply.
I wish I could tell you that there's a particularly compelling reason to watch the next meeting between these teams on Friday night. Our only hope will be that the night as a whole looks better than the two games we were subjected to on Tuesday. The playoffs are supposed to be markedly more exciting than the regular season. But this doubleheader made me long for the days when I could watch the Sacramento Kings blow a lead late right before bed.
- - - - - - -
Eric Freeman is a writer for Ball Don't Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
Follow @FreemanEric