Grizzlies vs. Suns

Post #1 » by **jman3134** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 5:59 am

vs.

Who: Memphis Grizzlies (8-14) @ Phoenix Suns (11-9)
When: Wednesday, December 8th
Where: US Airways Center - Phoenix, AZ
Time: 9:00 PM ET
TV/Radio: 103.5 FM, Affiliates, NBA ALP/GT.....SPSO HD, Satellites, NBA LP/LPBB/LPM
Trivia Facts: The Suns currently have former Grizzlies backup Hakim Warrick. While we won the last meeting with the Suns due to our presence inside, we lost the first contest because Gay failed to miss a free throw; they consequently threw an alley oop with tenths of a second on the clock to send the game to OT.

Blow by

"It's all going to be over real soon"....

Grizzlies Starters

Suns Starters

Keys to the Game:

Rudy Gay and Zach do not try to force the action one-on-one. Conley needs to get dribble penetration and do a good job defending Nash. We need to control the tempo of this game and rebound the ball at a significantly higher rate than the Suns. Contain outside shooters on closeouts and run to spots after missed shots.

Post #2 » by **jman3134** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 7:39 am

Any chance we use this game to get back on track? (so that maybe, just maybe we can reach 500 at some point soon)

vanjulio · Post #3 » by **vanjulio** » Wed Dec 8, 2010 3:57 pm

It looks like Channing Frye and Earl Barron are starting because Turkoglu is old and Robin Lopez is injured.

I think the Grizz will surprise some people and bounce back tonight. They have laid some eggs but really they played well against Atlanta and partly against Denver. They played well against Utah but were on a back-to-back. The only horrible game they've had recently was Houston at home. If they come with the effort they had for ATL and part of Denver they can win.

mid-post · Post #4 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 3:16 am

I've only watched part of this game (basically the second quarter). They look alright, but it seems more just Phoenix looking old/tired out there more than Memphis just taking it to them.
I'm really hoping they grab a win. I have to get up in 6 hours and I'm not trying to mess with my sleep just to watch them lose to Phoenix.

Post #5 » by **jman3134** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 3:52 am

^ Written like a true fan.

So far we are really taking it to them. Conley has 8 assists and we are not even into the fourth yet. Pretty good game for him in that respect. Zach is a beast inside. They can't stop him.

mid-post · Post #6 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:13 am

See now, this is the kind of garbage I'm getting tired of. Darrell Arthur, why are you playing like such a damn p*ssy? Grab a rebound.
OJ are you shaving points or something? Grab a loose ball. Make some kind of positive contribution. For f*cks sake, DO SOMETHING PLEASE.

mid-post · Post #7 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:17 am

I'm sorry, but just because Warrick is built like a starved ethiopian, that doesn't entitle him to every damn whistle.
edit: That call on Henry is complete bullsh*t. Two guys going for a pass and you arbitrarily give it to the guy on offense? F*ck this mess. Now I'm going to get a max of 4 hours sleep because there's no way I'm falling asleep within the next hour.

mid-post · Post #8 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:24 am

Conley needs to take a page out of Rondo's book and take fewer jumpshots. He should basically only shoot jumpers when he's wide open.
And our 4th quarter "offense" has been a complete joke. Hollins does realize you can use timeouts before there's only a minute left in the game, doesn't he? I mean yeah, they're useful when you're trying to tie the damn game with a bit of time left. But you can also use them to address glaring problems you see with the team's strategy and/or execution.
This one is on Hollins. Period.

mid-post · Post #9 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:38 am

Rudy is ridiculous. And frustrating.

mid-post · Post #10 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:57 am

I'll take the win. But I can't say I enjoyed watching that 4th quarter. And now I can't sleep.
Did everyone go to sleep? Leave or tune out early in frustration?
We won. Is there such a thing as an unsatisfying win? If there is, this was it.

ThreeYearPlan · Post #11 » by **ThreeYearPlan** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 5:04 am

Marc is a nobody so far in the season, can't even dominate the Suns small forwards playing in the frontcourt. Damn, maybe it's the ankle or maybe he just lost too much weight because he is being pushed around quite easily now. Also, Mayo doesn't care anymore. You can tell the guy is salty, he just stands in the corner now and usually passes the ball as soon as he gets it

mid-post · Post #12 » by **mid-post** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 5:09 am

MayoisMemphis wrote:Marc is a nobody so far in the season, can't even dominate the Suns small forwards playing in the frontcourt. Damn, maybe it's the ankle or maybe he just lost too much weight because he is being pushed around quite easily now. Also, Mayo doesn't care anymore. You can tell the guy is salty, he just stands in the corner now and usually passes the ball as soon as he gets it

Can't say I disagree with any of that. OJ looks like he doesn't care at all. Either that or his confidence and game are just all kinds of f*cked up.
There's a decent chance Marc might still be sort of hurt or playing through pain. Not to make excuses for his play, but those kinds of ankle injuries can take a long time to recover from.
I just want to see this team play confident, smart basketball again. You see them play well for really short stretches of time, but then you have something like that abortion of a fourth quarter that ends up ruining everything.

Downtown · Post #13 » by **Downtown** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 5:18 am

This was a bad one. Arthur was outmuscled and outplayed inside by Josh Childress of all people. Not to mean anything negative about Childress but he looked like a power forward against Arthur. And what is with Arthur taking long shots?

I shouldn't put it all on Arthur though. From the middle of the third quarter on this was as sloppy an effort as I've seen this season. Gasol must be bothered by that ankle because he has no elevation anymore. He gets outjumped by shorter guys. Mayo is invisible.

If it wasn't for Randolph this would have been a blowout for Phoenix and it wasn't even one of Nash's better games. I would call this a low point in the season and if Heisley honestly thinks there is a chance that this group can still make the playoffs he's sorely mistaken. Unless there is a total 180 degree turn the playoffs are just a dream.

Sorry guys, it's just the way I see it.

Post #14 » by **jman3134** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 7:13 am

Thank God we won, but man way to eek out a close one.

As bad as Arthur may have played tonight, you have to admit that he is a better option than DeMarre Carroll. I'd trade Carroll for him any day of the week.

OJ Mayo is just awful. I want to wait until his stock picks up again (if it ever does) and then trade him someone far away. Total one trick pony. And he flops at that one trick time and again this season.

Downtown · Post #15 » by **Downtown** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 4:16 pm

Speaking of low points, I'm embarrassed guys. I was so upset that I thought the Grizzlies had lost the game I turned off the TV with the 4 seconds or so that were left. When I wrote my post above I honestly thought they lost. :oops:

You must think I was nuts writing that.

vanjulio · Post #16 » by **vanjulio** » Thu Dec 9, 2010 7:57 pm

Downtown wrote:Speaking of low points, I'm embarrassed guys. I was so upset that I thought the Grizzlies had lost the game I turned off the TV with the 4 seconds or so that were left. When I wrote my post above I honestly thought they lost.

You must think I was nuts writing that.

hey no problem! I did the same thing in the game against Phoenix earlier in November. I announced "GREAT WIN! WE RULE!!!" when we were up 4 points with like 1 second left and I turned it off and went give my lovely wife attention that the Grizzlies steal from her each night of these late West coast games.... I felt like a FOOOL the next day to find they had given up the lead and then lost in 2OT.

It's never over with this damn team