The Grizzlies began what looks to be a difficult month on paper in dynamic fashion.
They scored more than 100 points without making a 3-pointer, forced 22 turnovers and remained the aggressors from start to finish –- thoroughly outperforming the team with the NBA’s best record.
Memphis easily handled the San Antonio Spurs, cruising to a 109-93 victory Tuesday night before a crowd of 13,480 in FedExForum while sending a message to themselves if no one else.
Just because the next two weeks on the schedule are filled with playoff-bound opponents jockeying for position doesn’t mean the Griz will flinch.
“We don’t care who is in our way. We’re going to fight. It just goes to show you the fire we have inside of us,” reserve forward Darrell Arthur said after he matched Zach Randolph with a team-high 21 points in the Grizzlies’ fifth straight win at home.
The Griz now must face New Orleans, Dallas, Oklahoma City, New York and Miami in their next five contests. It’s a tall order but the Griz are by no means an easy out, either.
The Spurs found that out Sunday when the Griz wiped out a 20-point deficit and led by seven points before losing 95-88 in San Antonio. This time, Memphis maintained control throughout because of its defensive intensity and efficiency on offense.
“We did to them what they did to us,” Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. “We came out with great emotion and great intensity. We were physical and aggressive. We kind of knocked them back on their heels. We kept attacking and kept attacking. The effort was unbelievable.”
San Antonio, playing without starting point guard Tony Parker because of a calf injury, also couldn’t get Manu Ginobili going. Ginobili had just nine points and played with foul trouble two days after he torched the Griz with 35 points.
“We won in San Antonio because we had the juice and the aggressiveness. We didn’t have it (this time), and they kicked our butts,” Ginobili said. “We were a little soft with the ball. We knew they were going to jump on us.”
Memphis’ coaching staff counted 31 deflections for the game. San Antonio’s offense was easily disrupted with George Hill playing in place of Parker. Hill had five turnovers in the first half, which ended with the Griz leading 61-52.
The Griz scored 30 points off the Spurs’ mistakes, and many of the baskets came off fast breaks. Memphis’ lead swelled to 16 points when the fourth quarter began, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich waved the white flag soon after Arthur connected on a pair of 18-foot shots.
Arthur’s 3-point play with 9:09 left gave the Griz their largest lead at 25 points.
“It was just a good team effort, especially on the defensive end,” Randolph said. “We were moving our feet. We were helping each other. We were talking. That’s what we have to do these last 20-something games.”
Popovich lamented his team’s lack of urgency in the game.
“It wasn’t just the turnovers,” Popovich said. “It was the offensive rebounds along with the lack of focus. Memphis played more physical and aggressive. They wanted the game more than we did and it showed in a variety of ways.”
Poise played a factor, too.
Arthur’s performance came with eight rebounds in extended playing time. He logged 30 minutes because center Marc Gasol was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 5:12 left in the second period.
Gasol had already picked up a technical in the opening quarter for his animation while arguing a foul call. The Griz remained settled even though they picked up three technicals in the first half.
San Antonio shot just 34 percent in the second half after enjoying 55-percent shooting in the first two periods.
“They’re a different team without Tony Parker. With him they’re the 49-10 Spurs,” Griz forward Shane Battier said. “You have to temper your enthusiasm a little bit. But I hope our guys see that if you play hard and play with energy, we can beat anybody.”
If the playoffs began today, the Griz would meet the Spurs in the first round. But they have higher aspirations, sitting just a game behind sixth-seeded New Orleans.
“We understand we have a tough stretch,” Griz point guard Mike Conley said. “We definitely know we don’t have time to relax.”
Article: Ron Tillery
Image courtesy commercialappeal
source: www.commercialappeal.com
They scored more than 100 points without making a 3-pointer, forced 22 turnovers and remained the aggressors from start to finish –- thoroughly outperforming the team with the NBA’s best record.
Memphis easily handled the San Antonio Spurs, cruising to a 109-93 victory Tuesday night before a crowd of 13,480 in FedExForum while sending a message to themselves if no one else.
Just because the next two weeks on the schedule are filled with playoff-bound opponents jockeying for position doesn’t mean the Griz will flinch.
“We don’t care who is in our way. We’re going to fight. It just goes to show you the fire we have inside of us,” reserve forward Darrell Arthur said after he matched Zach Randolph with a team-high 21 points in the Grizzlies’ fifth straight win at home.
The Griz now must face New Orleans, Dallas, Oklahoma City, New York and Miami in their next five contests. It’s a tall order but the Griz are by no means an easy out, either.
The Spurs found that out Sunday when the Griz wiped out a 20-point deficit and led by seven points before losing 95-88 in San Antonio. This time, Memphis maintained control throughout because of its defensive intensity and efficiency on offense.
“We did to them what they did to us,” Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. “We came out with great emotion and great intensity. We were physical and aggressive. We kind of knocked them back on their heels. We kept attacking and kept attacking. The effort was unbelievable.”
San Antonio, playing without starting point guard Tony Parker because of a calf injury, also couldn’t get Manu Ginobili going. Ginobili had just nine points and played with foul trouble two days after he torched the Griz with 35 points.
“We won in San Antonio because we had the juice and the aggressiveness. We didn’t have it (this time), and they kicked our butts,” Ginobili said. “We were a little soft with the ball. We knew they were going to jump on us.”
Memphis’ coaching staff counted 31 deflections for the game. San Antonio’s offense was easily disrupted with George Hill playing in place of Parker. Hill had five turnovers in the first half, which ended with the Griz leading 61-52.
The Griz scored 30 points off the Spurs’ mistakes, and many of the baskets came off fast breaks. Memphis’ lead swelled to 16 points when the fourth quarter began, and Spurs coach Gregg Popovich waved the white flag soon after Arthur connected on a pair of 18-foot shots.
Arthur’s 3-point play with 9:09 left gave the Griz their largest lead at 25 points.
“It was just a good team effort, especially on the defensive end,” Randolph said. “We were moving our feet. We were helping each other. We were talking. That’s what we have to do these last 20-something games.”
Popovich lamented his team’s lack of urgency in the game.
“It wasn’t just the turnovers,” Popovich said. “It was the offensive rebounds along with the lack of focus. Memphis played more physical and aggressive. They wanted the game more than we did and it showed in a variety of ways.”Poise played a factor, too.
Arthur’s performance came with eight rebounds in extended playing time. He logged 30 minutes because center Marc Gasol was ejected after receiving his second technical foul with 5:12 left in the second period.
Gasol had already picked up a technical in the opening quarter for his animation while arguing a foul call. The Griz remained settled even though they picked up three technicals in the first half.
San Antonio shot just 34 percent in the second half after enjoying 55-percent shooting in the first two periods.
“They’re a different team without Tony Parker. With him they’re the 49-10 Spurs,” Griz forward Shane Battier said. “You have to temper your enthusiasm a little bit. But I hope our guys see that if you play hard and play with energy, we can beat anybody.”
If the playoffs began today, the Griz would meet the Spurs in the first round. But they have higher aspirations, sitting just a game behind sixth-seeded New Orleans.
“We understand we have a tough stretch,” Griz point guard Mike Conley said. “We definitely know we don’t have time to relax.”
Article: Ron Tillery
Image courtesy commercialappeal
source: www.commercialappeal.com
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