Grizzlies Week in Review

Written by David On January - 4 - 2010Email Author

Grizzlies Back To Even

After a tumultuous 1-8 start to the season, the Memphis Grizzlies have finally managed to claw back to 0.500 with a 25-point win over the 21-13 Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies had a great December finishing 9-4, including wins over Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, and Denver. Three of the Grizzlies’ four losses were by 7 points or fewer. The Grizzlies outstanding play has earned Coach Lionel Hollins the Western Conference Coach of the Month award.

Zach Randolph notched three double-doubles in three games last week.

Last week, Memphis defeated the Washington Wizards in overtime, the Indiana Pacers, and dismantled the Suns in Phoenix. Zach Randolph led the way, extending his active streak of double-doubles to eight games. He has recorded double-doubles in 12 of his last 14 games. Marc Gasol was just one rebound away from also having three double-doubles last week. The two big men have formed one of the most imposing frontcourt tandems in the league.

The Grizzlies were without Rudy Gay for the Wizards’ game due to an ankle injury, but O.J. Mayo picked up the slack with 28 points and 6 assists. Gay returned for the Indiana game and put up 31 points. Mayo capped the week with 25 points against the Suns. Sam Young had a strong week off the bench, averaging 13.7 points, including 22 at Phoenix.

2010 NBA All-Star Game Voting

Be sure to reward the Grizzlies’ hardwork and recent success by voting them into the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. Click here.

Last Week’s Games

DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT	LEADING SCORER	LEADING REBOUNDER	MOST ASSISTS
Mon, Dec 28	Washington	W 116-111 OT	O. Mayo 28	Z. Randolph 19	O. Mayo 6
Wed, Dec 30	@ Indiana	W 121-110	R. Gay 31	Z. Randolph 13	M. Conley 7
Sat, Jan 2	@ Phoenix	W 128-103	O. Mayo 25	Z. Randolph 11	M. Conley 7

Quote of the Week

“You have to play at a high level against this team. Lionel has them playing great. Every game, they seem to be playing with more confidence.”

Suns’ Head Coach Alvin Gentry

Rumor of the Week

Newsday.com reported in their Knicks Fix section that a potential trade between the Grizzlies and Knicks fell through when guard Nate Robinson exercised his trade veto. The supposed details of the deal were that the Knicks would send Nate Robinson to the Grizzlies in exchange for seldom-used guard Marcus Williams and a draft pick.

Upcoming Games

The Grizzlies currently sit 1.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the Western Conference (see full standings at end). They have three chances this week to move up when they play Portland (22-13) and Utah (18-15) twice. The Grizzlies will also travel to play Coach Larry Brown and the Charlotte Bobcats (14-18).

The Grizzlies travel to Portland Tuesday to face Brandon Roy and the Trailblazers.

In early November, the Portland Trailblazers defeated the Grizzlies 93-79. Tuseday’s game figures to be a different story. First, this obviously is not the same Grizzlies team. Second, Portland will be without Greg Oden (out-fractured patella), Steve Blake (out-pneumonia), and LaMarcus Aldridge (doubtful-ankle). Portland is on a hot-streak, winning eight of their last ten games. Brandon Roy has been sensational, leading the Blazers scoring in eight of the last nine games he has played.

The Grizzlies will have two chances this week to avenge their embarrassing 27-point loss to the Utah Jazz earlier this season. Utah is slumping a little right now, going just 4-6 in their last ten games. Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer have both been sensational so far this season. Williams is averaging 19.6 points and 9.7 assists. Boozer is again averaging a double-double with 19.3 points and 10.5 rebounds. The Jazz should be at full strength this week, with no injuries being reported. The Grizzlies will travel to Utah on Wednesday and then host the Jazz on Friday.

On Saturday, the Grizzlies travel to Charlotte to face the Bobcats for the first time this season. The Bobcats are 5-5 in their last 10 games and will face Chicago and New York before hosting the Grizz. Charlotte is led by Stephen Jackson (20 points and 5 rebounds) and Gerald Wallace (17.9 points and 11.9 rebounds). The Bobcats will more than likely be without shot blocker Tyson Chandler, who has missed the last five games with a foot injury.

This Week’s Games

Tue, Jan 5	@ Portland	9:00 PM	Fox South – Tenn
Wed, Jan 6	@ Utah	8:00 PM	Fox South – Tenn
Fri, Jan 8	Utah	7:00 PM	Fox South – Tenn
Sat, Jan 9	@ Charlotte	6:00 PM	Fox South – Tenn

Grizzlies Injury Report

Darrell Arthur – Torn Pectoral

Season to Date Statistics

NAME	GP	GS	MIN	PTS	TOT	AST	STL	BLK	A/TO
Rudy Gay	30	30	39.2	20.8	6.2	2.0	1.67	0.90	0.94
Zach Randolph	32	32	36.7	20.2	11.4	2.0	0.84	0.47	0.85
O.J. Mayo	32	32	38.1	18.0	3.8	3.1	1.13	0.28	1.43
Marc Gasol	32	32	35.3	15.2	10.0	2.3	0.91	1.38	1.11
Mike Conley	31	31	30.3	10.3	2.1	4.9	1.10	0.16	2.55
Sam Young	32	1	17.0	7.9	2.5	0.6	0.50	0.13	0.56
Marcus Williams	21	0	12.7	3.8	1.0	2.6	0.38	0.00	2.62
Jamaal Tinsley	21	1	16.7	3.8	2.0	3.0	1.00	0.10	1.88
DeMarre Carroll	30	1	13.8	3.6	2.4	0.6	0.40	0.07	1.00
Hasheem Thabeet	28	0	11.1	3.1	3.2	0.1	0.32	1.18	0.20
Steven Hunter	13	0	8.0	2.4	2.2	0.0	0.08	0.38	0.00
Hamed Haddadi	12	0	4.1	0.7	1.2	0.2	0.00	0.17	0.33

Southwest Division Standings

SOUTHWEST	W	L	PCT	GB	HM	RD	CONF	DIV	STRK	L10
Dallas	23	10	.697	-	11-5	12-5	14-7	5-5	Won 1	7-3
San Antonio	20	12	.625	2 ½	14-5	6-7	10-9	3-1	Lost 1	8-2
Houston	20	14	.588	3 ½	10-4	10-10	16-10	4-4	Lost 1	6-4
Memphis	16	16	.500	6 ½	10-5	6-11	9-12	1-2	Won 3	7-3
New Orleans	15	16	.484	7	13-3	2-13	11-8	2-3	Won 2	5-5

Western Conference Playoff Picture

Seed	Team	W	L	%	Games Back
1	L.A. Lakers	26	6	0.813	0.0
2	Dallas	23	10	0.697	3.5
3	Denver	21	12	0.636	5.5
4	Portland	22	13	0.629	5.5
5	San Antonio	20	12	0.625	6.0
6	Phoenix	21	13	0.618	6.0
7	Houston	20	14	0.588	7.0
8	Oklahoma City	18	15	0.545	8.5
9	Utah	18	15	0.545	8.5
10	Memphis	16	16	0.500	10.0
11	New Orleans	15	16	0.484	10.5