Recap: Grizzlies at Houston: The Demise Of Grit and Grind Has Been Greatly Exaggerated
Thanks to the weirdness of the NBA regular season schedule, this is the second time these two teams are meeting in less than a week. Their first meeting of the season came last Friday at FexEx Forum, and then again last night in Houston.
Both were fairly decisive victories for this Grizzlies team, and I think fair to say were also decisive defeats for a Rockets team that appears to have lost contact with mission control. Whatever the issues are for Houston, they look to be far deeper than just ineffective coaching and bad match ups. Any way you slice it, it’s not a great look for a team that fought their way to the conference finals last season.
But enough about Houston, let’s talk about this Memphis team, shall we? It’s Thanksgiving Day and all of us in Grizz Nation have a lot to be thankful for.
Just a few short weeks ago, the prevailing narrative from Serious Basketball Writers and bloggers alike about the Grizzlies seemed to be some variation on the “they’re too old/tired/can’t shoot well enough/Zach Randolph is washed up/Marc Gasol is soft/Mike Conley is scared after having his face broken/Jeff Green exists/Tony Allen does Tony Allen things” tropes.
So first and foremost, let us all rejoice and be thankful that the demise of this Memphis Grizzlies team and Grit and Grind has been greatly exaggerated.
I told y’all to keep a cool booty. Ahem.
Now onto some numbers, for good measure:
All of the Grizzlies starters scored in double digits last night.
Jeff Green lead the Grizzlies in scoring last night, finishing with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 assist, including 10-10 from the free throw line.
Mike Conley scored 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting, and 4-4 from the free throw line. He also tied with Mario Chalmers for a team high 5 assists, for a combined 10 dimes.
Marc Gasol closed out the night with 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Matt Barnes finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, as well as two of the Grizzlies three made 3 point field goals.
Tony Allen had 10 points on 5 of 10 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 amazing block on Dwight Howard, complete with follow up Dikembe Mutombo-esque finger wag.
Courtney Lee rediscovered his mid-range pull up jumper, and finished with a season high 17 points, 1 rebound, 2 steals, and 2 assists, on 8-14 shooting.
JaMychal Green and Mario Chalmers had 6 points each for the night, plus the aforementioned 5 assists from Chalmers.
Vince Carter was scoreless but still made an impact on the game defensively, with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
And now, have some pictures. Because a picture is worth a thousand words and I don’t have time to write any more words. (as I am running perpetually late per the usual and I still have to get myself and two kids ready to drive to another state for an early Thanksgiving dinner)
This picture pretty much sums up the entire game.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there in Grizz Nation today, may you all be blessed with days filled with food, family, and fun. Or football, if you’re into that sort of thing. I leave you with this James Harden Thanksgiving meme, because I can.
Doesn't bluff, stays grinding.
Bluff City Born and Memphis Made
- Memphis Grizzlies Assistant Coach Niele Ivey Named New Head Coach for Notre Dame Women’s Basketball Team - April 22, 2020
- Notes From Grizzlies Media Day 2019 - October 2, 2019
- Memphis Grizzlies 2019 Training Camp Roster - September 30, 2019
love your voice, Aimee–happy, happy Thanksgiving
Very nice article Aimee !!!