Game Recap: Grizzlies at Pacers
All day Thursday, fans, media and bloggers plotted and schemed every possibility for making the Grizzlies better. Trades, benching players, signing the half-court shot tater tot winner, running guys out of town with pitchforks (okay not quite that, but you get the picture), all kinds of solutions were mentioned. Some fans were still having flashbacks of the Cavs game beatdown the night before. For a hot minute Wednesday night, I myself considered going into mourning, complete with sackcloth and my personal bag of ashes. When I came back to my senses I realized two things: 1. It was game 1 of 82 and 2. It couldn’t possibly get much worse than the 30 point beatdown of my Grizz I witnessed Wednesday night.
On Thursday night, the Grizzlies took on the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The game started off with two Courtney Lee jumpers and looked to be in the Grizzlies favor. They were working, aggressive, and looked like they were attempting to prove the detractors wrong, ending the 1st quarter up 29-20. In the 2nd quarter the Pacers were making shots and drawing fouls. The Grizzlies defense stepped in with 2 steals by Matt Barnes, 1 steal by Mike Conley, and 2 steals by Tony Allen. The 2nd ended with Grizz up 50-49. The 3rd was a back and forth battle ending with the Pacers up 73-75. The 4th ended with the Grizz winning 112-103. This win marked the second year in a row that the Grizzlies have won their first road game of the season, both against the Pacers. It also marks the end of the NBA’s longest streak of scoring less than 100+ points against the same opponent (Grizz and Pacers).
Before last night, neither the @memgrizz or @pacers had scored 100+ pts in their last 8 meetings. That was the NBA's longest active streak.
— Ross Wooden (@RossWooden) October 30, 2015
We finally got to see a little of what Jeff Green can bring to the table. He ended up with 12pts on 5-6 shooting, was 2-2 from beyond the arc, pulled down 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and was a +14 on the night. Twitter reaction to this was gold:
Y'all owe @unclejeffgreen an apology. #BallGameStrongAsHisSuitGame ?? pic.twitter.com/WH4MUaLGf5
— Aimee (@MamaHellCat) October 30, 2015
Uncle Jeff with the Tayshaun Memorial "Boo This!"
— Jen Clarke (@jensized) October 30, 2015
JEFF GREEN SAYS YOU WILL LOVE ME!!! YOU MUST LOVE ME!!! ?
— Chris Vernon (@ChrisVernonShow) October 30, 2015
In case you missed it, my review of last night's Grizz game pic.twitter.com/9WCZpSWRtz
— I am the Zenguin (@theamazinmattyb) October 30, 2015
Of Note:
*Memphis defense was on point with 12 steals (Tony Allen with 4, Matt Barnes with 3, Mike Conley with 2, Jeff Green with 1, Courtney Lee with 1, Beno Udrih with 1)
*The Grizzlies had a 39 point 4th quarter. Yes, I said 39 points.
*Memphis ended up going 43.8% from 3 point land (Conley with 1, Jeff Green with 2, Barnes with 3, and Udrih with 1)
*Matt Barnes is starting to look like he is ready to fulfill the role that he was brought into Memphis for (3-6 from beyond the arc, 10 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals)
*Beno Udrih looked much better in this game (13 points and 6 assists)
*Marc Gasol was the high scorer with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block
*Mike Conley broke out of his mask and his slump with a 13 point, 10 assist, 4 rebound, 2 steals performance. Coincidence or nah?
*Zach Randolph put on his hardhat and turned in the highest +/- with +17, 11 points, and 8 rebounds
As our friend Matt Moore tweeted
Oh hey. Memphis won. Grizz can basketball after all.
Grit. Grind. Win. Repeat.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) October 30, 2015
Next up: Grizzlies take on Lionel Hollins and his Brooklyn Nets Saturday night in the Grindhouse at 7pm.
Grit. Grind. Win. Repeat.
- Grizzlies Look to Maul Reeling Dallas Mavericks - March 31, 2017
- Here We Go Again – Grizzlies vs Warriors Preview - March 26, 2017
- Grizzlies Gore the Bulls in Chicago - March 16, 2017
