Chapter 222: The Battle of the Bathwater.
Two days later, the Spurs managed to secure a win in Game 3 against the Grizzlies, with a 108-101 victory in San Antonio, clawing back a game in the series.
Despite his bravado after Game 2, Coach Popovich reverted to the 2-1-2 zone defense in Game 3, which he had stubbornly avoided earlier. Or maybe, his emotional outburst after Game 2 was a calculated ploy to lull the Grizzlies into a false sense of security.
However, Pop's defensive adjustments weren't the key to the Spurs' victory. Han Sen still dropped 35 points on them. The real turning point was their offensive explosion—thanks to an unexpected hero.
Danny Green had struggled mightily in the first two games of the series, hitting just 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, largely due to Han Sen's suffocating defense.
But more than that, his confidence was rattled. As the saying goes, how can you focus on shooting when your defense feels like it's barely holding things together?
With the zone defense alleviating some of his defensive responsibilities, Green found his rhythm. He erupted for a career night, going 6-for-11 from deep and finishing with 24 points. His first-half shooting alone (4-for-6 from three) set the tone for the Spurs.
The Spurs' offense, built around the Parker-Duncan pick-and-roll, naturally exploited the Grizzlies' defensive schemes. Coach Joerger relied on weak-side help to defend against the pick-and-roll, leaving the strong-side corner vulnerable.
When Green and Leonard are hitting their threes, the Grizzlies' defense faces a nightmare.
With Green heating up, Han Sen had to ease off his help defense. This opened up more opportunities for the Spurs' pick-and-roll attack. Even when Green's shooting cooled down, the damage was done.
This 'breakout game' from Green triggered memories for Han Sen.
In 2013-14, Popovich's famed 'Hammer play'—a tactical masterpiece built around pick-and-roll actions and off-ball screens for shooters—emerged because of Green's legendary performance in the 2013 NBA Finals.