Raptors Defeat Grizzlies

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Carmen Patton

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On Sunday, the Memphis Grizzlies faced the Toronto Raptors for the first time this season. The game was just their second game since the All Star Break and the trade deadline. The Grizzlies started the week figuring out how to regroup after losing their franchise leader, Marc Gasol, to injury and ended the week figuring out how to finish the rest of the season with two of their leading scorers traded for 5 draft picks and three new players. The new Grizzlies team traveled to Canada after a victory at home against a young Minnesota Timberwolves team on Friday. The new Grizzlies team, however, will not return home with a victory after losing to the Raptors 98-85. There are no moral victories, but the Grizzlies can find some hope as they work towards holding on to their position in the Western Conference.

Defense is alive and well and possibly better.

If most Grizzlies fans are honest, even if this team were at full strength, defeating the Raptors at home would have been a feat. The Raptors came into Sunday’s game as the 2^nd team in the Eastern Conference and had the 5^th best record in the league. Grizzlies were 5^th in the Western Conference and had the 7^th best record in the league. The Raptors were averaging over 100 points per game in wins. The Grizzlies held the Raptors under their 103 point average in wins, with four of the season’s role players out of the rotation (Gasol, Tony Allen (sore knee), and traded Jeff Green and Courtney Lee). The Raptors were averaging a FG% of 46% in wins, but the Grizzlies held them to 41% on Sunday. Additionally, the Raptors averaged 39% in three point shooting in wins prior to Sunday, but the Grizzlies only allowed them to connect on 25% of their three point attempts.

Yes, they lost and lost by 13 points, but the Grizzlies with essentially four new players in the rotation (Brandan Wright’s first game since 11/7 was Friday) after only two games, held their opponent under their averages while on the road. This is good news.

Lance Stephenson IS Born Ready.

Sunday night was Stephenson’s first night in a Grizzlies uniform. Luckily for the Grizzlies, Born Ready, as Stephenson is known, appears to be just that. Stephenson contributed 16 points in just over 22 minutes on 6/10 shooting with 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in his debut with the Grizzlies. Additionally, he had only one turnover and one foul. This is good news.

Vince Carter had his two best games of the season this weekend.

Vince Carter had his best game of the season on Friday with 15 points (50% FG%), 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Carter also made a 73’ buzzer beater at the end of the 3^rd quarter in Friday’s game to change the momentum of the game and help lead the Grizzlies to victory. In his return to where it all started, Carter topped Friday’s scoring and scored 16 points in just under 31 minutes (again shooting 50%). He additionally contributed 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals. Since Gasol’s injury, it appears Carter has turned back the hand of time. This is good and timely news.

Leading Grizzlies’ Scorers:

Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies’ starters with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in just under 36 minutes of play.

Mario Chalmers led the Grizzlies’ bench with 17 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in just under 19 minutes of play.

The Grizzlies bench outscored the Grizzlies starters 52-33.

Head to Head with the Raptors:

The Grizzlies connected on just 37% of their field goals (28/76) compared to 41% by the Raptors (33/81).

The Grizzlies had 44 rebounds, while the Raptors had 47.

The Grizzlies connected on just 15% of their three point shots (3/20) compared to 25% by the Raptors (7/28).

The Grizzlies had 32 points in the paint compared to 40 by the Raptors.

The Grizzlies bench had 52 points, while the Raptors bench only had 39.

The Grizzlies will head home and will face the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. This will be Kobe Bryant’s last game at Fed Ex Forum. With a few days practice together, hopefully the new Grizzlies (aka the Goon Squad) can get a win at home on Wednesday and head out on the road with confidence to stockpile more wins. Though some of the faces and roles may have changed, the GRIND MUST GO ON!

**Statistics from nba.com**