Traveler's Tales: Grizzlies lose to Clippers 98-88
by djturtleface on Nov 29, 2009 7:55 PM CST
10 comments
If there's something more painful than watching your team put up one of the worst 4th quarters in basketball, it has to be getting on a plane with your team up 16 points, then seeing that they've lost by 10 when you land. I didn't believe it at first; it had to be a mistake by ESPN. But after booting up my League Pass and watching the game, it was clear that I wasn't the only tired traveler.
The Grizzlies just fell apart in the fourth. O.J. Mayo couldn't even come close to guarding his less-heralded arch rival Eric Gordon, and Al Thornton also stepped up to make some big shots. They turned the ball over, couldn't execute anything, and it showed as forced shot after forced shot kept clanking.
Head over to Clips Nation to give them their due, bang your head against a wall, and get some rest, because we go back at it tomorrow against the Utah Jazz. Awards and, as per usual, your insights are over the jump.
Rockness Monster: Is Marc Gasol ever going to give this spot up? The Spaniard is, arguably, outplaying his brother Pau Gasol during his stay in Memphis. I mean, seriously, Zach Randolph wasn't exactly reaping vengeance out there and Marc just carried the post with 26 points, 5 boards, 6 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
U-Turn: The Grizzlies had an uncharacteristically poor rebounding night tonight, largely due to Z-Bo's inability to make much happen out there. Marc started seeing double-teams from Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby, both defensive stalwarts, and it led to a tough night. The runner-up was Z-Bo dishing 4 assists after recognizing that he probably should avoid shooting -- big ups, big man.
Bitter Limon: Mike Conley is still starting over Jamaal Tinsley, which isn't how things should be. Tinsley deserved and got the lion's share of the minutes, but Lionel Hollins needs to set the ship right before there are any locker room tiffs.
Sleeping With the Enemy: I would rather have Eric Gordon than O.J. Mayo. Really. No, really. In his second or third game back, Gordon looked special. Even Old Man Camby had this to say about kid:
"Eric's a phenomenal player," Camby said. "I think he has the potential to be a special player like the LeBrons, the Kobes and the Carmelos. You'll be mentioning Eric Gordon's name for a long time."
Now that might be taking it a little bit far, but Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin are going to be a terrible two-some in the upcoming years.
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a collapse of biblical proportions
1. OK. I guess I won’t be saving that game on the DVR.
2. Thank goodness we’ve got a game tonight.
by jwoods1 on Nov 30, 2009 7:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Jazz...
Are going to be even tougher. Maybe we’ll have more rebounding against them with Okur in though.
Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist
by djturtleface on Nov 30, 2009 5:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Don’t see why that Eric Gordon comment would be controversial – kid is fantastic.
by Vic De Zen on Nov 30, 2009 3:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Just because...
O.J. Mayo was supposed to be more fantastic.
Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist
by djturtleface on Nov 30, 2009 5:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Not a surprise to me at all
I’d take Gordon over Mayo pretty much anytime of the day. I’ve come to realize that Gordon is the better shooter, and Gordon is lighting fast(not saying Mayo isn’t but I havent seen him much.) Nash couldnt even keep up with him. At one point I thought Mayo was suppose to be better. However the more I watched Gordon, the more I realized that this kid was capable of driving to the hoop. Let’s also not forget that this kid can score around 20 with only 11-12 touches a game!! Gordon just doesnt get enough media coverage because 1) We have Blake, 2) He’s an overall quiet kind of guy, and 3) He’s playing for the other Los Angeles team. Wait til we make the playoffs and then you might hear more from this guy!
Also, let’s not forget that Gordon is only 6’3…
by JackduhSun on Dec 1, 2009 9:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
I feel like the media had it backwards. Mayo is the scorer with Ben Gordon upside; Eric Gordon is the franchise player.
Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist
by djturtleface on Dec 1, 2009 5:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Problem is
Mayo was a dominant scorer back at USC. People were questioning Gordon because of his second half of the season. Nobody was sure if the first half was a fluke and that the real Gordon was the 1st season, or was it just because he really was injured. Then there was the firing of the coach and what not. The problem with the media is that if Gordon was selected at 5, he might have been known as a bust, being selected over Mayo or Love. Potentially. Then there’s Memphis’s draft pick of Hasheem Thabeet. You couldn’t really selected anybody else besides Thabeet because Harden and Evans wasn’t needed (they’re not really passing pg’s) and nobody fully knew about Brandon Jennings.
As for Mayo not being a franchise player, I don’t believe that’s true. However, it is an intresting comparison with Ben Gordon and Mayo now. I mean, Eric Gordon was constantly depicted as Ben Gordon ( maybe its because its the “Gordon”
name), but I thought it was because of their shooting abilities and their abilities to get either very hot or very cold.
I’m curious though djturtleface, who do you compare Gordon with? At one point I wanted to say Wade, but Wade just isn’t a pure shooter like Gordon. (They’re both somewhat undersized though!). At this point, I can’t even think of anybody to compare Gordon with.
Then there’s Dan. Gallinari who completely surprised me… Think D’Antoni has a hand in his stats?
by JackduhSun on Dec 1, 2009 6:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh,
and Rubio didn’t want to play for Memphis. Man Rubio should learn to shut his mouth. Have fun sharing his mins. with Flynn and Sessions. But hey, Rubio was practically either a high risk, high reward pg, or a high risk, TOTAL BUST pg. I guess this goes with Thabeet also, but atleast we known Thabeet has a good around the rim defender.
by JackduhSun on Dec 1, 2009 6:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Thabeet wasn't necessity...
We knew what Tyreke Evans could do, he played in Memphis after all…
As far as the guys from last year:
I think a fair comparison for Eric Gordon is a rich-man’s Rodney Stuckey (or maybe the full manifestation of what the Pistons thought Stuckey could become).
Dano is totally a product of the D’Antoni, plus he’s regressing now anyhow. If you’re similar to Al Harrington and the system makes Harrington look rock-star, chances are you’re not really that good.
As far as O.J. Mayo not being a franchise player, when I see him play some defense and get along with his teammates (who all get along with each other) then that might change. For now he’s just a scorer.
Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist
by djturtleface on Dec 1, 2009 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd also compare Eric Gordon to...
Young, awesome Ray Allen
Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist
by djturtleface on Dec 1, 2009 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
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