LeBron James vs. Paul George this series is not. Instead, we've been treated to a taste of a Tony Parker clinic, the never-ending flow of Tim Duncan's Fountain of Youth, Zach Randolph's struggles and Gregg Popovich's extraordinary defensive schemes. Though there won't be many people tuning into Game 3, this series promises to still be a great one despite the 0-2 hole the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in. 

Series Notes:

1. Tony Parker isn't just torching the Grizzlies with traditional stats (21.6 points and 7.5 assists through two games) but he's also breaking down the vaunted Grizzlies' defense with his ability to get in the paint and cause Randolph or Tony Allen to step up while leaving backside cutters open. With Allen's inability to stay with his man on the off-ball defensive side, cutters like Kawhi Leonard and Tim Duncan are getting easy buckets. Even though the Spurs almost pulled a Golden State Warriors-esque collapse, it's the process in which they dismantled the Grizzlies defense that's been surprising. Matt Bonner became a big factor simply because the rotations weren't quick enough and he was left open by a quick ball-swinging Spurs offense. His ability to stretch Randolph or Arthur out to the perimeter greatly beenfits the Spurs' passing game. 

2. The growth of Spurs' wing players. In the Warriors' series, Kawhi Leonard effectively shut Klay Thompson down after his electric Game 2 and Danny Green outplayed Stephen Curry for most of the series (though Curry was hobbled by an ankle injury, surprise). They've done the same in the first two games, outplaying Tony Allen, Tayshaun Prince and whatever the Grizzlies are throwing out there in their horrendous offensive scheme—we'll get to this later. The two players have combined for a plus/minus of 52.6 when they are in, with Green and Leonard ranking first and third on the team, respectively. That's not a coincidence, as their two-way ability to shoot the three and defend an assortment of players, making it easy to switch, is integral to Popovich's gameplan. They've made 12 three's in two games between them but it's their ability to guard Mike Conley (who's been struggling with his shot this series) and double and recover that's flummoxed the Grizzlies so far. 

3. The Grizzlies' offense is a problem. Zach Randolph struggled in both games but it's the Grizzlies inability to space the floor effectively that's killed them. Sure, Randolph can't make his patented low-post hooks and drives when two players are draped all over him but that happens when the Spurs are packing in the paint, daring the Grizzlies to shoot. Quincy Pondexter, Jerryd Bayless and Tayshaun Prince immediately become key shooters and that's worked out exactly as you expected: it hasn't. The Spurs aren't giving Gasol any of the easy pinch-post looks the Oklahoma City Thunder gave up and are forcing the two big men to play a two-man game with three or four Spurs in the paint. That's tough sledding, with or without the "shooting" of Rudy Gay. The problem is exacerbated by Tony Allen's inability to shoot, which masks his indispenable defense. Lionel Hollins has to fix the spacing around his big men if he wants to make this series close. 

What to watch for: 

The Grizzlies seemed to figure out what to do with the Spurs offense in the second half of Game 2. They rotated quicker, forced the Spurs into worse decisions and generally wore them down. Either that, or the Spurs' age is playing a bigger part than any of us want to admit. While Leonard and Green are nice players, the team still runs as well as Duncan, Parker and Manu will let them. It was only a year ago when the Thunder seemed to figure out the Spurs at the tail end of Game 2 before beating them in four straight games. The defense of the Grizzlies should figure out the Spurs and slow them down enough in the next couple games. The real question comes as to how the Grizzlies will find a way to supplement their great inside game with some semblance of an outside game. Mike Conley is shooting 42.3 percent this series and he'll have to not only get others going but himself as well. Without some generation of an outside game, this series might be quicker than we thought.