Memphis center Marc Gasol holds a basketball on court as the Grizzlies warm up for Game 1 against the San Antonio Spurs. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)

SAN ANTONIO -- Five quick thoughts on the Grizzlies-Spurs:

1. The Spurs are 18 1/2-point favorites tonight. I am not making that up. This is unlike any playoff series Griz fans have ever seen. It is (happily) unlike any playoff series Griz fans will ever see again.

2. It's surreal, watching reporters try to cover it like any other series. They ask the same questions they always ask, about possible adjustments, and the effort to "steal one on the road" and so on and so forth. But nobody believes there is any adjustment that can make a difference. Nobody believes the Grizzlies can steal one on the road. And if they could, what would they do with it, anyway? The whole "steal one on the road" or "get a split on the road" discussion is useful within the context of a series that the visiting team might win. But the Grizzlies don't have any chance to win this series. They may not even "steal one" at home. So all the usual lines of questioning are useless. It's hard for anyone -- and I include myself in that -- to know what to ask or say.

3. I do not agree with those who think the whole thing would be more fun if the Grizzlies had drawn the Warriors instead of the Spurs. Yes, Steph Curry is more electrifying, at least when he isn't on the bench with a bum ankle. But why would I want any part of that? I've grown weary of watching that team dance and celebrate against the Grizzlies. In addition, I would worry what Game 4 would be like if the Grizzlies had drawn the Warriors. That game tips off Sunday at noon. If the Grizzlies are down 0-3 to the Spurs, they may have issues drawing people to that game. But if they're down 0-3 to the Warriors, all the Steph fans would still show up. So then you could have FedExForum half filled with Warrior fans as the Grizzlies close out the year. Doesn't this team deserve better than that?

4. There was some weird and misplaced Twitter panic Monday about Mike Conley leaving as a free agent after the season, triggered by a report at NBC.com. But the NBC report was just a CBS report from late last week that had been repackaged. And the CBS report didn't have much meat on its bones. It simply said that Conley is "expected" to leave Memphis after the season. Which begs the question: Expected by whom?

5. I don't rule out the possibility that Conley might leave. I hope you saw Nikki Boertman's brilliant picture from Sunday's game of Conley with his face in his hands. It's easy to imagine Conley might think the Griz are headed in the wrong direction. Emotionally, at least, this series can't help. But I still think the Grizzies have a good shot to retain Conley if they put a max deal on the table. If they try and get him for a bargain, all bets are off.