Ronald Tillery

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Grizzlies coach David Fizdale made no apologies for a Game 2 scathing of the officials after his squad fell behind 2-0 to the San Antonio Spurs in their first-round playoff series.

Fizdale said his rant was worth the $30,000 fine he received Wednesday from the NBA.

“Obviously, I was pretty set on getting the point across,” Fizdale said. “If it rallies our fans and it sounds like we’re selling T-shirts right now, and all of the money is going back into our community then it was worth it for me.”

Fizdale also tried to rally his players and build on the momentum of their strong second half effort Monday in Game 2. Memphis cut a 26-point deficit to four points in the fourth quarter.

'It matters to them when a coach steps up and fights for them'

Fizdale, a 42-year-old first-time head coach, also wanted his players to know that he was equally involved in the battle with them.

“It matters to them when a coach steps up and fights for them,” Fizdale said. “I think any player appreciates that… And coaches pull this card a lot. I’m not any more original than any other coach. But you’re fighting for your team and fighting for your life in the playoffs. You don’t have room to let things got for next year.”

Game 3 is Thursday in FedExForum and the Grizzlies will host Game 4 Saturday.

Fizdale said he received positive text messages from retired players and others he’s coaches who remain in the league. Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley sent Fizdale a text message Tuesday at 4 a.m. after the team returned to Memphis from San Antonio.

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“I was just saying thanks for standing up. He didn’t have to do anything,” Conley said. “There’s a lot of emotions at this time of the year and he took it head on. We’re all quiet and we don’t normally say anything. Coach had enough and it got to a boiling point.”

Fizdale’s tirade included a statistical analysis of San Antonio attempting 32 free throws (19 alone for Kawhi Leonard) to Memphis’ 15. He also complained that Conley isn’t respected as a player who deserves calls.

'They're not going to rook us'

“I know Pop (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has) pedigree, and I'm a young rookie, but they're not going to rook us,” Fizdale said Monday night. “That's unacceptable. That was unprofessional. Our guys dug in that game and earned the right to be in that game. And they did not even give us a chance.”

Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph backed his coach, who said Game 2 began his rant by saying Game 2 was poorly officiated.

“What he stated were facts. Everything he said was true,” Randolph said. “That’s the penalty we’ve got to pay but it’s the truth. He has a passion just like us. He’s a champion.”

Conley said the players decided that they would collectively reimburse Fizdale for the fine.

GRIZZLIES VS. SPURS

Local TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast, 92.9-FM, 680-AM

Spurs lead 2-0

Game 1: at San Antonio 111, Memphis 82

Game 2: at San Antonio 96, Memphis 82

Thursday: at Memphis, 8:30 p.m. (TNT)

Saturday: at Memphis, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Tuesday: at San Antonio, TBD

x-Thursday, April 27: at Memphis, TBD

x-Saturday, April 29: at San Antonio, TBD (TNT)

x-if necessary