No chill before All Star break for the Grizzlies

There was no chill for the Grizzlies before the All Star break after a loss to the Pelicans at the Grindhouse on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies had a chance gain more ground in the west standings but fail short of that goal. The Pelicans spoiled the party by stunning the Grizz 95-91. The Pelicans snapped a seven game losing streak against the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies

Mike Conley and Marc Gasol combined for 11-33 from the field. Conley led the Grizzlies with 17 points and four assists. Gasol had a near triple double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. He recorded his seventh double-double of the season.

Zach Randolph finished with 16 points and nine rebounds. His play in the second half helped the Grizzlies to overcome an 18 point lead.

Toney Douglas made a case to remain with the team beyond the expiration of his second 10 day contract. He chipped in eight points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Most of the things he was able to accomplish are not in the box score.

 

Pelicans

Solomon Hill led the way for the Pelicans with a season-high 23 points. Hill went 8-of-11 from the field and was 4-of-6 from the three point line. The Grizzlies had no answer for him.

The Grizzlies will have nightmares about Jrue Holiday. Holiday chipped in 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds. He was absolutely too much for the Grizzlies’ defense.

Anthony Davis added 18 points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

Alexis Ajinca recorded his first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

 

Stats of the Game

 

 

Quotables

David Fizdale

On the game:

“We were a little flat but credit to them they really got after us. People don’t talk about them like a defensive team but now that they’re healthy and have their guys they are really guarding. They didn’t beat us like New Orleans usually beats people with scoring; they defended the heck out of us. They did a good job on Mike [Conley] and Marc [Gasol] making it tough on them. I don’t know if it was as much us being flat or if they just beat us. They played well tonight.”

 

On trade deadline hopes:

“I have no hopes. I like our team and I think we’re still working through a lot of stuff. Adding Toney Douglas and Brandan Wright into the mix is like adding two new players at this point in the year. Obviously I’m going to keep pushing for more production out of Chandler [Parsons] which would add another element if he can get closer to who he can be. It’s up to the front office but I haven’t heard anything. I think we’re on the right path to be a team that contends.”

 

Marc Gasol

On the loss:

“We started the game well. And then we kind of stopped playing defense after three or four minutes. We just kept going up and down. We couldn’t be consistent enough or disciplined enough. We kept giving up easy drives or it would put us in scramble mode way too early.  Offensively we couldn’t shoot the ball well. You know, we keep saying that if we don’t play a good defense it puts a lot of pressure on our offense.”

On losing to teams below .500:

“I don’t know… If I could fix it, I would. Obviously, when something happens like that the first thing you do is look at yourself and look at what you could’ve done better. If I would’ve shot the ball better tonight, we would’ve had a way better chance of winning. We would’ve won, honestly. So, that’s my take on it. I need to shoot better.”

 

On playing in the All-Star Game for the third time:

“I’m going to try to have fun out there. Obviously, after a tough year for me personally and being out for a long period of time, to be in the locker room with those guys is going to be a lot of fun.  I’m just going to try to enjoy it as much as I can.”

 

 

Tony Allen

On going into the break with a loss:

“[Coach Fizdale] told us to get this loss out of our heads. Obviously, we wanted to win it, but we didn’t keep the right focus for 48 minutes. Therefore, this is the result you get.  I’ve been saying for the longest that we’ve got to hold our hats on the defensive line. We’ve got to grit and grind. Period. Today was a day that it was noticeable. I thought that team got to do whatever they wanted to do… We didn’t have our antennas going on the defensive end.”

 

Up Next

The Grizzlies will be on an extended vacation and will return to action on February 24, 2017 against the Indiana Pacers.