Rockets 101, Grizzlies 83

"They did what they wanted to. It was very disappointing. They treated us like little girls." Zach Randolph's words pretty much sum up how the Grizzlies' home game last night against the Rockets went. The Rockets flat-outplayed the Grizzlies as the Grizzlies dropped their second game in a row and fourth in five games.

To break down how a 18-point loss at home happened, let's review the keys to the game from Luke's previous post. His first key was to win the points-in-the-paint battle. The Grizzlies actually did this, outscoring the Rockets 58-50 down low. While the Grizz could score down low, they couldn't rebound, and lost the rebounding battle 35-50. Luke's second key was the matchup of point guards Mike Conley and Aaron Brooks. This matchup wasn't even close. While Conley scored a measly four points and dished out five assists, Brooks poured in 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds (and had four assists). The final key to the game was for the Grizzlies to avoid the "terrible quarter." This didn't happen either. Down 75-66 heading into the game's final period, the Grizzlies were outscored 26-17 in the 4th and never gave themselves a chance to come back. Although the Grizzlies did control one key to the game, they botched the other two and lost a game that was a must-win.

In addition to the keys to the game, I just want to point out a couple of things from last night's game. First, the Grizzlies were 1-9 (11%) from three-point range. Over the last five games, the Grizzlies are an ATROCIOUS 15-70 (21%) from beyond the arc. It is extremely difficult to win more than one game out of five shooting like that. Something has to change here. Second, big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol combined for just 16 rebounds. With both players averaging around 10 rebounds (11.5 for Randolph and 9.6 for Gasol), a combined 16 is a disappointment.

With the loss, the Grizzlies are now in 10th place in the West and two games behind a playoff spot. Losing four games out of five hurts, especially when a team has been playing so well, but the Grizzlies have a great chance to bounce back tonight as they travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, the worst team in the West. I feel confident about our chances tonight and hopefully this game will get us back on the right track. GrizzLife will have two correspondents at the game, so look forward to their inside scoop in the next couple of days.

Keep living the Grizz life,

Owen

LJ's Keys to the Game- Grizz VS Rockets

If you've been reading Pete Pranica's tweets, you know this is a must win for the Grizz. The Rockets and Grizz have identical 26-22 records. The Grizzlies have lost 3 of 4, and the games don't get much easier. Needless to say, we must have this one tonight. I know Maroda wants this to have some bragging rights over his Houstonian girlfriend. We're rooting for ya bud.

So here are my keys to the game:

1. Points in the paint. This has been a theme all year for the Grizz who lead the league with 51.6 points in the paint per game, but it proves to be a deciding factor in many games. We were outscored 64-34 in the paint versus the Fightin' LeBrons, and we all know how that game ended. Also, Grizz are 14-4 when GaZ-Bo goes for 15+ and 20+ respectively.

2. The Conley vs Brooks match-up. This is a battle of 3 year point guards, and so far Brooks has the upper hand. The Rockets are 10-2 when he scores 24+ but just 8-12 when he goes for 17 or fewer. A problem for Mike all year has been more physical point guards, but he won't be out physicalled tonight, but he may be out quicked. If Mike goes for 12 and 8 and keeps Brooks for going off, we have a great chance tonight.

3. Avoid the terrible quarter. I know I have been harping on it all year, but the games we lose, we give up a monster quarter and either let the team back in the game or let them extend their lead.

Those are my keys to the game. I'm also looking forward to the Rudy vs Shane match-up. We'll see tonight who got the better of that trade.

Go Grizz!

(Grizz)Life is Beautiful

They say that time heals everything.

I think that by time, they mean two years.

I still remember the afternoon of February 1, 2008. It was my last semester of high school, and everything was going right...except the Grizzlies.

A soft, anything-but defensive-minded Grizz team was suffering through Marc Iavaroni's first season, and things were only getting worse as Pau was coming back from an injury and playing anything-but inspired basketball.

The groans and the trade demands were resounding. Memphis fans didn't really know what they wanted, but they knew they were sick of losing. If that meant giving up the franchise player for...well...just because...than so be it.

And so, the front office complied, trading away Pau Gasol, two weeks before the trade deadline-- for a few baseball cards and a pack of marbles. And if you think St. Jude is the most charitable operation in Memphis, I would have nominated the Grizzlies' front office that year. "The Pau Donation" was as generous as it gets.

And don't tell me, Sean Touhy, Pete Pranica, Heisley, Wallace, etc. that it looked like a great move at the time. That you saw Marc Gasol turning into a premier NBA center. That you felt that you could bait the Wizards into trading for Javaris CrittenGUN.

Because I didn’t either, but I’m glad it worked out.

Two years, and lots of cap-space-clearing, salary-dumping, under the league minimum-spending, and losing, later, here we are. Still in Memphis, in the playoff race, and finally, finally…relevant.

Time has healed a lot of things for this franchise. Disenchantment has become enchantment, and hopelessness has become hope.

It is a story of redemption, more than anything. If the NBA is where amazing happens, than Memphis is where redemption happens.

And so, this past Monday, two years removed from that fateful day, Kobe made history and the Grizzlies continued the mending process. Marc Gasol outplayed Pau, and a hometown hero made the sell-out crowd (believe it) go crazy.

By Marc Gasol’s beard, it was beautiful.

Time heals everything, and losing only makes the winning all the more sweeter.

Living the GrizzLife, one game at a time.

Darrell Arthur Cleared to Practice

As reported by 3SOB and the Commercial Appeal, Arthur is cleared to begin full contact practice. This is great for our bench, but you're dead wrong if you think this fixes our bench problems. He will help off the bench, but please remember he hasn't played basketball since October.

Heres what I expect from Darrell:

1. Another physical, big body to come off the bench. We don't have a true PF back up for Z-Bo, and this will help.

2. Leadership off the bench. Yes, I know he's only a second year player, but that's more experience than the three rookies that come off the bench now.

3. Finally, I hope he comes in with a hungry attitude to win. He has experienced winning (I witnessed him do it in San Antonio over the Tigers) He has never experienced winning with the Grizz, but I'm confident that he will be hungry to prove himself and win.

Who knows if Arthur can produce, but we all know we need him. We'll see what happens. Go Grizz!

LJ

Cavaliers 105, Grizzlies 89

If you are a sports fan (or if you are in touch with the popular sayings and adages of society), you have heard of a moral victory. Now before you keep reading, I am not saying that a 16-point loss is a moral victory. No; last night's game against LeBron and the Cavs was both a moral and physical loss. We shot 38%, gave up 64 points in the paint, our All-Star contributed 8 points and 4 rebounds on 3-14 shooting and we shot a woeful 14% from beyond the arc. There is no debating that the Grizzlies lost in every way possible last night.

When I reference the phrase "moral victory," I am referring to our last two games, when we went 1-1. Is 1-1 good for this Grizzlies team, one that has come so far this season and is in position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2006? Normally, I would say no. But is 1-1 good when those two games are against the two best teams in the NBA, on back-to-back nights, and both home and away? YES!! 1-1 is good, when one of those victories is against the Los Angeles Kobes and one of those losses is against the Cleveland LeBrons. Would I be happy if the Grizzlies went 1-1 against the Nets and Timberwolves? Of course not. But to go 1-1 against the cream of the NBA crop is something different and that's something I'll take any day.

Now I know what you're all saying: "But the loss dropped us out of a playoff spot and now we're tied for 9th in the West!!!" I would like to point something out: the Memphis Grizzlies are a mere four games out of the 3rd spot (that's right! 3rd!) in the Western Conference. The West is a deep and talented conference. If the Grizzlies keep playing the way we've been playing (like winning 13 of 19), we will be just fine. As the old coaching saying goes, "we can't control what any other team is doing. We can only control ourselves." If the Grizzlies keep controlling themselves, everything will be just fine.

Stay tuned for for analysis on Friday's game against the Rockets and keep living the Grizz Life.

Owen