Ride with us, or collide with us.

Zbo and Mr. Carter bullied the Bulls

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The six game losing steak is toast. The Grizzlies 108-92 victory over Bulls was much needed for the team and Grizz Nation. It is great to see streamers and hear All I Do is Win after a game.

The Grizzlies returned to their defensive dominance over the Bulls on Tuesday. They forced 20 turnovers from the Bulls and set a season-high 38 points off of those turnovers. When defense turns to offense, the Grizzlies are nearly unstoppable.

Zach Randolph and Tony Allen set the tone early for the team. The other players and the crowd fed off of their energy.

The Grizzlies remain in the fifth spot in the Western Conference playoffs race. But the Trail Blazers are on their heels. The Blazers are only a half game back of the Grizzlies. The Blazers have three games remaining in the regular season while the Grizzlies have four.

 

Stats of the Game:

Field Goal Percentage: Grizzlies 44.8 percent (39/87), Bulls 44.2 percent (34/77).

Rebounds: Grizzlies 42 (12 OREB), Bulls 42 (13 OREB)

Points in the Paint: 44 Grizzlies, Bulls 30

Fast Break Points: Grizzlies 11, Bulls 15

Three Point Field Goals: Grizzlies 36.8 percent (7/19), Bulls 37.9 percent (11/29)

Bench Points: Grizzlies 40, Bulls 41

Steals: Grizzlies 13, Bulls 6

 

Highlights

 

Players Notes

Grizzlies

Zach Randolph led all scorers with 27 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Zbo recorded his 17th double-double of the season.

Vince Carter led the bench unit with 17 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Matt Barnes chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds.

Jordan Farmar added 15 points (season high) and four assists.

Tony Allen didn’t reach double figures but he had a solid game with six points, nine rebounds and four steals.

 

Bulls

Nikola Mirotic as a reserved was the Bulls high scorer with 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Pau Gasol chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Derrick Rose added 12 points and eight assists.

Bobby Portis finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

 

 

Interesting Stats

Randolph (4), Carter (4) and Farmar (4) combined for 12 of the Grizzlies 18 assists.

This win solidified the Grizzlies sixth straight winning season.

 

 

All about Marc Gasol!! 

Marc Gasol returned to the FedEx Forum last night.

 

 

Thoughts

1. It was a great win for the team. Winning is good. Hopefully, it will be a confidence builder for the last four games remaining. They must close the season out on a high note and be ready for the post season.

2. This game the starters out-performed the bench and it was a good thing. This time Zbo didn’t have to try to win on his own. Matt Barnes and Jordan Farmar stepped up big time.

3. Vince Carter still has it. He rallied the troops and finished with a +/- rating of +23, the highest of the night.

4. Lance Stephenson didn’t see any action and hopefully, he will be get minutes in the last four games of the season. I will not speculate or offer a motive as to why Joerger sat Born Ready in the game.

5. Just win baby win! That’s what the Grizzlies need to do. It may be difficult to beat the Warriors twice but they can try to get a split. I never say never about this team because they are so unpredictable.

 

Locker room video

 

 

 

Quotables:

 

Coach Dave Joerger

On the game

 

“Heck of a team win. They deserved to get the win tonight with their hard work and staying together through tough times. Just a total team win and we did it at the defensive end of the floor. Forced 20 turnovers and were just being very physical and active covering up for each other all night long. Everybody had a nice rhythm on both ends of the floor, I couldn’t be prouder. We got great point guard play out of Jordan [Farmar] and Xavier [Munford] tonight. X [Xavier Munford] played great defense on a guy in Aaron Brooks who has scored 30 in this league many times. I thought we did a great job on Jimmy Butler. Just a tremendous performance. I told Matt [Barnes] before the game I was going to play him 40 minutes. I ended up playing him 41. I had no intention of not giving Lance [Stephenson] time. That was an in-game decision. I thought Tony [Allen] was playing pretty well, and I thought Vince [Carter] got a nice rhythm. We had matchups that were favorable for us at the wing so that’s why I did that.”

 

 

On ending the six-game losing streak

 

“I don’t even know what the streak was. You could’ve told me it was 10 or you could’ve said it was two. I wouldn’t know the difference. We’re just starving to get a win. Every night we just go out and compete. We’re just like okay well what’s the next one? We didn’t get this one it’s been a tough road for us. It’s a happy locker room, and they deserve it. As far as the pressure goes I think it just gives us more confidence and they feel good like hey if we do it this way we have chance to do something.”

 

 

Tony Allen

On the Grizzlies defensive performance:

“I think, like I said, paying attention to detail on the defensive end. Everybody was tied in and when you have all the guys locked in defensively we can get out and run, we can get out and get early post ups. With Zach (Randolph), we can play off of him. He’s been a terrific passer as of late, so he’s going to continue to be a willing passer and give himself up and continue to lead the way. For the most part, I thought everybody bought in today on the defensive end.”

 

 

Jordan Farmar

On how important tonight’s win is:

“Very important. They’re saying that we’re still able to make the playoffs, so we’re trying to push, we’re trying to fight—one, to get it in and two, for seeding. We still believe. It’s good to see nobody held their head down and kept competing. This is our job, this is our profession. We have guys who take this very seriously.”

 

 

Zach Randolph

On the game:

“It’s just a great win. We’ve been searching and been desperate for a win. The guys came out and played great tonight. Vince (Carter) had a great game tonight. Jordan (Farmar), X (Xavier Munford), JaMychal (Green), it was a team win, Tony (Allen). Like I said, if we come out and play like that every game we give ourselves a chance to win. Even through the circumstances of our team and what we have going on, but all we can do is play hard.”

 

Up Next:

The Grizzlies travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks. Tip-Off is at 7:30 PM CT.

 

Player News

It has been reported the Grizzlies will sign guard Xavier Munford for the remainder of the year. He’s been productive and fits in well with the team.

Munford has a season average of 5.6 points per game. X as his teammates and coaches call him is shooting 50 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from beyond the arc. 1226ic

 

 

 

Sharon Brown
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