How will the Grizzlies respond after being embarrassed on ESPN?

Mike Conley was inactive due to an Achilles injury. The Grizzlies were down to one point guard. Mario Chalmers didn’t get the start instead the starters were Marc Gasol, Matt Barnes, Jeff Green, Tony Allen and Courtney Lee. Yet, Mario Chalmers had a near triple-double 23 points (team high), nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals in the Grizzlies’ 112-94 loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday night.

 

Game Stats

**Points in the Paint: Grizzlies 38, Thunder 46

**Second Chance Points: Grizzlies 11, Thunder 18

**Fastbreak Points: Grizzlies 18, Thunder 15

**Field Goal Percentage: 38.9% (35-90), Thunder 45.8% (38-83)

**Rebounds: Grizzlies 39 (9 OREB), Thunder 52 (13 OREB)

 

By the Numbers

Kevin Durant and Russell Wesbrook combined to out-score, out-rebound and had more assists than all five of the Grizzlies starters. That’s right, those two players outplayed all five of the Grizzlies starters.

 

Durant and Westbrook

— Durant: 26 points (9-18), 17 rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal.

— Westbrook: 20 points (7-17), seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals.

 

Grizzlies starters

— Matt Barnes: 13 points (6-11), two rebounds and one steal.

— Jeff Green: 10 points (3-12), four assists, five rebounds and one steal.

— Tony Allen: 8 points (3-5), five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

— Marc Gasol: 8 points (2-11), four rebounds and two assists.

— Courtney Lee: 0 points (0-6) and two rebounds.

**Lee left the game with a left hip contusion in the third quarter and didn’t return for the game.**

 

‘Wall of Shame’

Grizzlies bench outscored the starters by 16 points (55-39). The reserves were 21-of-45 from the field, while the starters were an abysmal 14-of-45.

Coach Joerger should have started Mario Chalmers as the point guard. Chalmers ended up playing nearly 40 minutes anyway. The offense could have been a little better early on if Chalmers was running the offense.

The Grizzlies continue mediocrity against the elite teams. They just haven’t figured out how to beat those teams consistently. It’s not the fact that they lose to those teams; it’s how they have lost that’s the problem!!

 

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Grizzlies vs. Nuggets Preview

After being embarrassed on national TV once again, the Grizzlies headed home to Memphis to host the Denver Nuggets. Both Mike Conley (Achilles) and Courtney (hip contusion) are listed as questionable for the game due to injury.

The starters should step up, all five of them. The ones that started against the Thunder should be mortified. Not only did their own bench outscore and outplay them; furthermore, two players on the opposing team did as well. Denver is a dangerous team and the Grizzlies should be prepared to battle. Which Grizzlies team will show up?

 

Marc Gasol after the Thunder game

“It’s hard to sometimes figure out what we try to accomplish offensively, what our goal is in every set. We’re not very disciplined. I don’t know why, but I know it ended up with me. I’ve got to be more assertive. I’ve got to be a playmaker.”

That is very interesting to me. Why has it taken him this long to figure this out? Oh and there’s more.

From The Commercial Appeal

“I’m just going to break plays and try to take it to the hole,” Gasol said Wednesday night after the Grizzlies’ 112-94 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

 

“Since the lineup change, we play certain ways and keep shuffling things to try to figure out how to get us going,” Gasol said. “Sometimes you’ve got to stick to something and make it clear.

 

 

“But at the same time during the flow when I don’t feel like anybody is making plays, I don’t feel like I’ve got to be a playmaker and just keep passing it and keep passing it. That makes me very passive and I end up being less aggressive. If I’m not aggressive and I’m not shooting shots — if I end up taking five or six shots in a half — that’s not going to take us anywhere. I’ve got to force the issue.”

Yet, all of this is still baffling to me. It seems as if Big Spain hasn’t had much confidence and it has shown on the court. I really don’t know what is going on but he is not the Marc Gasol we know he can be.

Why can’t we get the Gasol that scored 39 points against the Pelicans every game? When Gasol wants to, he can be the best player on the floor. The only person that stops him is Big Spain himself. He has to be aggressive EVERY GAME!!

The $110 million question is, “Where in the world is Wendigo?”

From here on out, Marc Gasol has to be the max player the Grizzlies believe in!! There are no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. We can’t continue to make excuses for him.

 

Tip-Ins

The Grizzlies waived center Ryan Hollins. They are expected to sign former Memphis Tiger Eliot Williams to a 10-day contract.

 

Tip-Off

Where: The FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN

When: 7 pm CST

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Southeast/ESPN 92.9 FM

 

***Stats via ESPN.com***