Straight Outta Vancouver: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: College Football Preseason Top 25 Rankings

Some Take, Some Give: Grizzlies beat by Thunder, 102-94

Kevin Durant proved why he is the future superstar, while Rudy Gay is struggling to get a contract for the price of a second banana. While Durant exploded on Rudy for 32 points and 10 rebounds, Rudy looked out of place and confused on the way to a night of shooting 25% from the field.

This one appeared to be a first-half blowout, not unlike the Cavaliers game, but the Grizzlies killed it in the 3rd quarter with Zach Randolph getting after it on the boards and solid defense causing even the best Thunder players to turn into habitual shot-missers.

But in the 4th the Grizzlies fell back to playing pretty poorly on offense and terribly on defense, giving up 36 points to the Thunder. Oklahoma City scored 10 straight capped by a three-point dagger from Russell Westbrook that essentially closed out the game.

The positive points were Mike Conley putting up 20 points, 8 assists, and 3 steals and Zach Randolph snagging 20 boards and scoring 19, albeit awfully inefficiently. The rest of the Grizzlies barely made any noise, doing just enough to keep the team in it by shooting an abysmal 41% from the field and 58% from the line as a team.

Stop by Welcome to Loud City to give props, hit up the comment threads to speak your mind, and lets all send Grizzlies a get better soon card -- the next three games, at Miami, back home against Boston, and then on the road against Atlanta, aren't going to get any easier than this one.

0 recs  |  Comment 2 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

A couple of days late, but a few observations:

I’m not that disappointed by the loss; the Grizzlies just lost to a better team in OKC. Let me count the ways:

1. Defensively, OKC was a step quicker most of the night. They may have set an NBA record for deflections; with their defensive energy and anticipation they seemed to get their hands on the ball at least every 2nd or 3rd posession. And since the Grizzlies weren’t hitting from outside, they packed it in defensively, further restricting our interior ball movement. Scotty Brooks was a 3rd string point guard on the Jeff Van Gundy coached Knicks’ teams of the 90’s, and it’s obvious he spent his bench time wisely.

2. Offensively, in my opinion, OKC’s ball movement was very crisp, and their screens were tight. This is a well coached team. They are every bit as inexperienced as the Grizzlies, but one would have guessed that this unit had been playing together for several years.

3. Although the Von Wafer rumor mentioned a couple of days ago may have sounded odd to some, it makes sense for the following reason.

Wafer’s outside shooting is streaky, but when he’s hitting he can really fill it up from outside. This would have kept OKC from collapsing down defensively, and would have kept OKC’s defensive scheme “honest” for lack of a better word.

4. Although the Grizzlies were rather anergic to start the game, their defensive energy rose as the game went on. For the most part, I do not fault their effort. Execution must improve, to be sure.

5. If you thought OKC’s defensive effort was intense, wait until you see the Celtics Monday. They will have had an off day, while the Grizz are playing the 2nd game of a BTB. The Celtics can shut people down; they are an extremely well coached, motivated defensive unit.
.

by jwoods1 on Dec 13, 2009 8:33 AM CST reply actions  

The Celtics are excellent defensively...

That’s going to be a tough one. The Grizzlies execution isn’t good enough to beat them if they decide to really bring it. Of course this season’s Celtics have been known to look tired or take nights off, so we’ll see.

But yeah, I agree, the Thunder had an excellent night defensively, and the Grizzlies do need another shooter because Sam, Tinsley, Williams, and DeMarre do not stretch the floor at all.

As someone who watches the Thunder a decent amount I can say that they don’t normally look this good, but I’m not sure if it was just an up night or if the Grizzlies lack of perimeter offense let them execute a really simple ‘pack-it-in’ defense.

Straight Outta Vancouver - The Memphis Grizzlies DO Still Exist

by djturtleface on Dec 13, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Memphis Grizzlies.
Start posting about the Grizzlies »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

Connect_with_facebook

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Untitled_small
Need a Memphis Grizzlies perspective on this trade idea for Melo
Smokies-baseball_small
Grizzlies Release 2010-11 Schedule
N2331852243_1908_small
A Thank You to djturtleface
Jordanhill_small
The Jefferson trade means (sort of) good things for the Grizzlies.
Small
Trade Proposal Chi/Mem/Tor
Lakers1_small
Poll: Grizzlies fans, Which NBA team do you hate the most?
Cooke-kane_small
ESPN Rumour: Timberwolves and Grizz swapping picks?
Kg_wolves_small
2010 NBA Mock Draft: #28 Overall
Priorpumped_small
Paul George Update
Kg_wolves_small
2010 NBA Mock Draft: #25 Overall

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SBNation.com Recent Stories

NEW YORK CITY NY - AUGUST 12:  Kevin Durant #5 looks on during the World Basketball Festival USAB Showcase at Radio City Music Hall on August 12 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images for Nike) +4 updates

FIBA World Championships 2010: Team USA Routs Iran 88-51, Clinches Top Spot In Group B

Cleveland Cavaliers' Delonte West, right, shoot over Indiana Pacers' Jeff Foster in the first half of a NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, April 13, 2009.  (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) link

Celtics Sign Free Agent Delonte West

Rose +2 updates

FIBA World Championships 2010: Team USA Ekes Out 70-68 Win Over Brazil

More from SBNation.com >


Managers

2963410-500x500_small djturtleface