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Champagne Over the Bow: Grizzlies beat Raptors 115-107

March through the arch people, the Grizzlies picked up win number one (out of only two games played!) last night against the Raptors. The win was especially encouraging because it showed that this team can, in fact, be very good at what it's supposed to be good at. The rebounding was fantastic, the pace was fast but not out of control, and lots of the starters turned in fantastic scoring nights.

Even the defense looked good, besides on Bosh, and the players all were definitely hustling, which is always a good sign. After last game's embarrassment of a bench, tonight Hollins went short, giving almost no time off to Rudy Gay and giving DeMarre Carroll almost all the minutes as a reserve. Hasheem Thabeet notably got a DNP, with Hamed Haddadi receiving all two of the minutes at backup center.

Turns out that this "no bench look" might be very helpful for the Grizzlies, but it's also going to run them into the ground. Once Iverson gets back I suspect to see a little bit more time off for both Rudy and Conley, who shouldn't be getting that much run.

For more recaps check out the TSN Raptors vs Grizzlies recap and for more analysis hit up the excellent Raptors HQ, but to see your new standard postgame programming for Straight Outta Vancouver, hop on over the jump:

Star-divide

Rockness Monster: Zach Randolph dropped in thirty real efficient like, while still stacking up three dimes and seven boards. Chris Bosh slayed him on offense at times, but defense is for losers anyhow.

U-Turn: Mike Conley didn't exactly impress, but he did get a little dirty tonight. O' Connels kicked out ten passes that ended up in the basket and scored in double digits. That, my friends, is what we call the double-double dance.

Bitter Lemon: O.J. Mayo is still taking too many inefficient shots. I wasn't pleased with his looks, though the jumper did get wet on a nice three in the third that seemed to put the Raptors out of range. Still O.J. needs to loosen up the jealousy -- Rudy is allowed to finish and not care about passing, he can touch the top of the backboard. Mayo has got to get it in his head that he's supposed to be part facilitator, part finished; not straight shooter.

Sleeping With the Enemy: Hedo looked bad, which made me feel warm, but Chris Bosh was an absolute terror. Marc, Carroll, and Z-Bo were switching on him and Bargnani and it didn't really seem to matter which Grizzlie covered the team mascot, Bosh still was scoring. Otherwise a completely unremarkable game from anyone else on this Raptors squad -- can you be too deep?

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i agree dj

no way they can sustain the pace they want to play a whole season without a bench. i think the grizz, w/a.i., will be able to score with most, if not all, teams. the d is what i think has to pick it up to if they want to challenge for a playoff spot. z bo’s and mayo’s #s on d i think will tell us a lot about where the grizz will be at the end of the year. mayo seems to be trying to find his i.d. on this team – how about defensive stopper oj?! he’s got the perfect frame for that.

great win for the grizz though – the raptors are no slouches.

by razorbackrb on Oct 31, 2009 7:54 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

O.J. would be a stopper...

If he played PG, but he’s kind of undersized to be a great defender at SG position. For the most part all of the elite SG’s (and especially SF’s in mismatches) can just shoot right over him.

Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist

by djturtleface on Oct 31, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he's 6' freakin 5", 200 lbs.

not a big 2, but don’t think i’d call that small. that’s just 1 inch shorter than kobe. even better – let him guard the point and shut the point down.

defense is a mentality. you gotta want to do it. look at artest. he d’s up people taller, shorter, quicker, stronger. i guess i’d like to see that mentality out of oj – that swagger that artest has. he’s got the strength and frame. he seems to have that “cali” mentality instead of artest’s bronx mentality.

by razorbackrb on Oct 31, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

O.J. isn't 6'5"

He’s listed at 6’4" but scouts say he’s really more like 6’2" or 6’3"

He could be a good defender but I don’t know if he’ll ever be elite. Oftentimes that mindset isn’t that easy to change.

Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist

by djturtleface on Oct 31, 2009 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

JYD

I love seeing DeMarre "Junk Yard Dog’ Carroll get all these minutes. Watched both games thus far and you can tell he what type of college program he was in, because he is constantly hustling, constantly getting back on D and up on breaks. His shots will start to fall, but for now i is great seeing him out there.

I think Arthur’s injury is going to allow the Grizz staff to see Carroll for the player he is and he will be in games a crucial times throughout the season.

Wit OJ, Rudy, Gasol and Randolph DeMarre isn’t in there to put up 20 a night. He is in there to defend, grab boards and hustle. He is doing a great job of it thus far.

With thy watchwords, Honor, Duty / Thy high fame shall last.

by MizzouHoops on Oct 31, 2009 10:21 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Lovin Him Too

I liked the pick from the get go, even though he went earlier then he really need to, but oh well.

Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist

by djturtleface on Oct 31, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Another JYD fan.

Must admit, I really only cared about the Grizzlies when they drafted Carroll… But, seein as how we have no NBA team in KC, I think I’ll just go ahead and adopt Memphis as my basketball team. Cheers on the first win!

by Randa4life on Oct 31, 2009 10:43 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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