Grizzlies 102, Mavericks 82 posted by Brad Hurt

Enough was finally enough for the Memphis Grizzlies.  After 13 consecutive losses to the Dallas Mavericks, the Grizzlies outplayed them in every facet of the game on Sunday as they claimed a shocking 102-82 win.

The Grizzlies threatened to hold the Mavericks to a season-low scoring output, missing out by only a point.  They showed the kind of defensive effort that was their calling card in the first few weeks of the season.  More surprisingly, however, the Grizzlies shook off their status as the league's worst rebounding team to outrebound the league-leading Mavs 43-34.  As a result, they dominated second-chance points 26-12.  That is what they have to do to win against playoff contenders.  The Grizzlies must win second-chance points and points off turnovers to win on a consistent basis.

The Grizzlies haven't been a team that will shoot the lights out this season, which is why they reached out to get Darius Miles and Steve Francis.  Outside of that, the most critical stats for them are going to be second-chance points and points off turnovers.  If you aren't scoring with your offense, you have to clean up after yourself and score off your defense.

The Grizzlies showed some resilience on Sunday, overcoming a second-quarter shooting slump in which they missed 10-of-11 shots to hold a lead at the half.  They opened the game by shooting 67 percent, a huge advantage for them.  When they don't get off to a good start, the Grizzlies are not great at playing from behind.

Miles made his Grizzlies debut, playing the final 1:46 of the fourth quarter.  He will play tomorrow against Minnesota before the team has to decide whether to retain him for the rest of the season.  Miles says he would like to stay with the Grizzlies, and since they have only seen one game of what he can bring to the table, I think they will go ahead and sign him for the rest of the season.  They could use some experience and leadership on the roster.

Spurs 91, Grizzlies 80 posted by Brad Hurt

It was a new year but a similar result for the Memphis Grizzlies as they hosted the San Antonio Spurs on Friday.  The Grizzlies faded in the second half of a 91-80 loss after putting up a fight for the first 24 minutes.

Tim Duncan controlled the paint and was more of a factor than he had been in earlier meetings.  On the flip side the Grizzlies had one of their patented third-quarter flops that turned the game in the Spurs' favor.  The Spurs led only 44-40 at the half before going on a 23-8 run in the third.  Duncan had plenty of help as Manu Ginobili scored the Spurs' first seven points of the fourth to snuff out a Grizzlies rally.

Hakim Warrick led the Grizzlies in scoring with 21 points off the bench as the team's two stars struggled once again to put the ball in the basket.  It's good to see him contributing consistently now after having his difficulties in the early part of the season.  Unfortunately, the Grizzlies can't afford to have Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo have coinciding off-nights.  If one of them doesn't have his shot, the other has to pick up the slack.  Without the offensive leadership of at least one of those guys, the Grizzlies don't stand much of a chance of winning, especially against a team like San Antonio.

Marc Gasol had a strong game inside for the Grizzlies, scoring 15 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Now that some of their dirty laundry has been leaked by coach Iavaroni, it's probably going to be hard for the Grizzlies to concentrate on playing their best basketball each night.  What he did really put the final nail in this season's coffin, and that is really despicable.  Mentally, they probably didn't have a chance to win this game, and for their own coach to be the reason they can't compete is a crime.  It's a compromise of his job description, and there is no solution other than firing him.  He has made it clear that he doesn't trust the players, and has thrown them under the bus, so they shouldn't trust him either.  I just hope they make a change soon so the team has a chance to finish with the best record possible. 

Grizzlies grumbling as calendar turns posted by Brad Hurt

It's not easy to have a happy New Year when you drop your last three games heading into the holiday, and the Memphis Grizzlies are suffering from the effects of their struggles on the court.  What is bothering the team the most is the fact that they fall apart when the fourth quarter comes around.  Everyone on the team accepts that as the problem, but the underlying issue is a rift between the coaches and players.  Coach Marc Iavaroni has openly laid the blame for the lack of execution in the fourth quarter squarely on the shoulders of his players, sparing himself most of the culpability.  While some of it may be on the players, the coach's job is to deflect negative attention from his players as much as possible, not use them as scapegoats.  This is the sign of a coach who knows his days are numbered and has given up on his team.  He has lost the respect of his players and obviously doesn't respect them either.  With this kind of discord and dysfunction in the locker room, hopes of an improvement on the court are moot, and a coaching change needs to be made ASAP for the mental health of the organization.Continue reading "Grizzlies grumbling as calendar turns"

Suns 101, Grizzlies 89 posted by Brad Hurt

The Grizzlies got the break they needed when Amare Stoudemire was ejected from Tuesday's game late in the first half.  Unfortunately, Stoudemire's Phoenix teammates used his dismissal as motivation and rallied to beat the Grizzlies 101-89.

The Grizzlies ended the calendar year of 2008 by missing 15 of their final 18 shots, more evidence that they need to pick up a shooter.  Darius Miles is still sitting out his suspension and Steve Francis is still not in action, although he should play following the New Year break. 

The Suns took advantage of the Grizzlies' lack of a post presence by pounding the ball inside to Shaquille O'Neal, who looked a lot younger and more athletic than he has in a few years.  They outscored the Grizzlies 31-11 in the fourth quarter to erase the Grizzlies' 8-point lead.  The Grizzlies gave up 58 points in the paint, which was the most telling stat of the night.  The Suns made only 5-of-16 3-point attempts, but with such domination inside, they didn't need them.  O'Neal finished with 24 points, while third-year forward Louis Amundsen, a UNLV product, scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Hakim Warrick had a great night for the Grizzlies, scoring 25 points on 7-of-11 shooting, but he was pulled from the game with three minutes left and the Grizzlies within three at 92-89.  Why would you do that?  He was the hottest shooter the Grizzlies had last night, but coach Marc Iavaroni yanked him to get Quinton Ross into the game, evidently for defensive purposes.  This team needs to take offense wherever it can get it right now.  I know defense wins games, but this team doesn't have any consistent shooters, so they can't afford to take the ball out of anyone's hands when they are hot.

Timberwolves 108, Grizzlies 98 OT posted by Brad Hurt

Maybe it was the dizzying contrast in the grains of wood used to design the court at the Target Center, or possibly the psychological effect of knowing it was less than 20 degrees and snowing outside, but the Grizzlies' inability to come through on the road reared its ugly head yet again on Monday against Minnesota.

Playing their third period of overtime in two nights, the Grizzlies went cold from the floor and dropped what should have been a winnable game to the Timberwolves 108-98.

The Grizzlies (10-21) got off to a dreadful start offensively and closed the game by shooting an equally ugly 2-of-13 in overtime.  After pushing San Antonio to the limit, they continued their bad habit of following a good performance with a disappointing one.  It was easy to get caught up in the Wolves' terrible record and think you didn't have to give 100 percent for 48, or 53, minutes.  That is a very dangerous state of mind to adopt, as the Grizzlies found out against Oklahoma City.  The Wolves (6-24) had won only twice at home this season.  Why wouldn't they be motivated to give their fans something to cheer about?

Big Al Jefferson gave the thin Grizzlies lineup fits inside, going for a season-high 38 points and 16 rebounds, while O.J. Mayo scored 23 for the Grizzlies.  The Grizzlies held an 84-79 lead in the final few minutes of the fourth quarter but let it slip away.  After a 7-0 Wolves run, Mayo forced overtime with a shot in the lane.

Kyle Lowry recorded his second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 12 assists.

Confident Grizzlies Take On Toothless Wolves posted by Brad Hurt

While the Grizzlies will try to pick themselves up and win after every loss this season, tonight's opportunity may be one that they see as a must-win.

After Saturday's tough loss at San Antonio, the Grizzlies know they have what it takes to compete with a playoff contender on the road.  They have made progress since the beginning of the season, especially when it comes to being physical and aggressive.  It's easy to back off when you are losing and you lack self-confidence.  These Grizzlies have plenty of self-confidence.  They just need to get to where they put it on display every night.  They are not necessarily a team that can be counted out when they are down 20 points to anyone.  Ideally, they wouldn't get themselves into situations like that very often, but they have shown that they can handle it despite their relative inexperience.

Tonight, the Grizzlies face a team in the Minnesota Timberwolves that is going nowhere in a hurry.  The Wolves have had one of the league's worst front offices recently, and general manager Kevin McHale is currently making his second appearance as the team's interim head coach in three years.  For all his success as a player with the Celtics, McHale's front office record is abysmal.  And he's not any better on the bench.

The game features a meeting of former PAC-10 rivals who were traded for each other on draft day.  Rookies O.J. Mayo of Memphis and Kevin Love of Minnesota made headlines in college, but last summer's trade is more evidence against McHale.  Love has been nowhere near the rookie success for Minnesota that Mayo has been for the Grizzlies, averaging only 7.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg this season.

Spurs 106, Grizzlies 103 2OT posted by Brad Hurt

The Grizzlies suffered a pair of painful losses on Saturday.  They dropped a closely-contested game on the road to the Spurs that included a controversial non-call in the final seconds.  Additionally, they learned that Darko Milicic, who suffered a broken knuckle against Indiana on Friday, will miss 4-6 weeks with the injury.  Milicic recorded a season-high 14 points in that game and had been playing well in the past few weeks.  His absence will create problems for the Grizzlies inside, although they gave the Spurs all they could handle on Saturday.

In that game, Rudy Gay appeared to draw a foul on a putback attempt in the waning seconds of double overtime with the Grizzlies trailing by two.  To the dismay of the Grizzlies and coach Marc Iavaroni, no foul was called and the Spurs (20-10) held on for the win.  Now everybody knows a foul is never going to be called in that situation, as obvious as it might be.  That is just how the game goes.  It's unfortunate, and probably wrong, but that's life in the NBA.  It didn't help that the Grizzlies were underdogs playing on the road against a perennial playoff contender, either.  Officials are human, and they build up the reputations of certain teams and players to the disadvantage of others.  It's wrong, but I would love to hear an official try to deny it.

A foul should be a foul regardless of the numbers on the game clock or scoreboard or the names on the jerseys.  It's as simple as that.  Prior to that final sequence, Saturday's crew had been pretty fair to both teams.  I don't understand why they have to swallow their whistles when it matters the most just so they can get out of town sooner.

Grizzlies 108, Pacers 105 posted by Brad Hurt

There was no holiday hangover on Friday as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped a four-game losing skid with a 108-105 victory over Indiana.  The Grizzlies (10-19) never surrendered the lead over the final five minutes of the game, but they had to survive a frantic final minute in which they turned the ball over three times.  O.J. Mayo then sank the clinching free throws with a second on the clock.

The Grizzlies overcame a 68-point first half by the Pacers (10-19) by winning the third quarter to the tune of 27-19, pulling to within a point of the lead as the fourth quarter began.  They mounted their largest comeback of the season in pulling out the win, rallying from 17 points down in the first half.

Each team lost a player to injury as Indiana's Danny Granger left after colliding with teammate Jarrett Jack early in the fourth quarter and the Grizzlies' Darko Milicic broke a knuckle on his left hand.

Mayo led the Grizzlies with 18 points and eight rebounds.

The Grizzlies hit the road again tonight as they travel to San Antonio, where they have lost their last eight games.  The Spurs have won five straight games heading into the matchup and are 10-2 since losing five of their first seven games.  They are coming off an exhilirating 91-90 win over Phoenix on Thursday in which Roger Mason Jr. hit a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.  The Grizzlies' last win at San Antonio came on Feb. 26, 2005.

Although they are aging, the Spurs have several dangerous players.  With Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili now healthy, they are a legitimate contender in the West.  The Grizzlies will need to be aware of Mason and George Hill in particular.  Each of them has burned the Grizzlies this season.  Tim Duncan has not dominated the Grizzlies this year but is always a threat to make a clutch play.

Grizzlies hoping for holiday cheers posted by Brad Hurt

The Memphis Grizzlies have probably had plenty to eat over the last couple of days.  Now, after a short break, they are ready to satisfy their hunger for a win against the Indiana Pacers.

The Grizzlies have showed promise in most of their recent losses, particularly on Monday when they took the Los Angeles Lakers to the brink.  They experienced a setback on Wednesday at Dallas, but returning to FedEx Forum should get them back on track.  The Grizzlies completed their five-game homestand with a 2-3 record, dropping the final three games.  They have lost four straight overall following a four-game win streak.

The Pacers are only 10-18 this season but have won three of their last four games.  They are also the only team in the league that has beaten both the Lakers and the Celtics. 

The key matchup tonight will be at small forward, where Rudy Gay will square off against Indiana's Danny Granger.  Both players are potent offensive weapons.  The difference between the two is that Rudy has help and Granger doesn't.  If Gay can hold Granger down on the defensive end of the floor, the Grizzlies will have a good shot at winning the game.

The Grizzlies are seeking their sixth win of the month tonight, which would be a franchise record.  They are on pace to surpass last season's total of 22 wins.

The Grizzlies need to get off to a good start.  When they have a strong first quarter, they have proven that they can play with anyone.  They fell behind by double figures in the first quarter at Dallas, and the deficit proved too much for them to overcome.

Grizzlies acquire formerly miffed Francis posted by Brad Hurt

Former Rookie of the Year Steve Francis will play for the Grizzlies after all.  The catch is that it will be in Memphis instead of Vancouver.

The Houston Rockets sent Francis, who infamously refused to play for the Vancouver Grizzlies after they drafted him in 1999, to Memphis on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional second-round draft pick in 2011.  The Grizzlies also get a 2009 second-round pick and cash in the deal.

Francis, who hasn’t played a game this season as he recovers from offseason quadriceps surgery, is in the final year of a two-year contract and may end up retiring if he decides his surgically-repaired knee isn’t strong enough for him to play.

Francis had a flashy playing style and can definitely produce, but has the potential to create a chemistry issue.  He has averaged 18.1 ppg and 6.0 apg for his career, but he hasn’t done much lately.  He only played in 10 games for Houston last season, averaging 5.5 ppg.  The last time he played much more than half a season was in 2004-05 with Orlando, when he started 78 games and averaged 21.3 ppg.

While he used to be a great scorer, I think Francis’ best days are behind him.  He is a veteran who may bring some offense to the Grizzlies, but he probably won’t be healthy enough to contribute much this season and may not play at all beyond this year.  General Manager Chris Wallace was at least looking in the right direction with this deal, especially since he didn’t give much up, but if there isn’t a better scorer out there than Francis, it’s a sad market.

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