The San Antonio Spurs begin their 2017 playoff campaign against the Memphis Grizzlies this weekend. Defense defined the two teams’ four regular season match-ups, and will likely be the defining theme of their imminent playoff series as well. This season, the Spurs scored 98.2 points per 100 possessions against the Grizzlies, over 10 points less than their season average. Even in the games the Spurs won, the Grizzlies’ defense gave them fits.
While it is certainly not the most important aspect to the Grizzlies’ defense, pace provides a good starting point with which to examine it. The pace at which the Grizzlies play helps provide a lens into what makes the other aspects of their defense so effective.