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Even Darren Collison can have a big game every once in awhile.
Posted 1/31 at 11:45 AM
When I get angry, the best thing I can do is take a nap or sleep it off. It helps me gain perspective to let my emotions simmer down and allow me to think a little more calmly and rationally. That’s why I’m posting the day after about the Grizzlies 109-102 overtime loss to the Hornets. Last night, I was a little too dejected and frustrated to write anything of note. Now that the dust has settled, here’s a few things that concern me about last night’s game.
My immediate thoughts after last night’s game were about our playoff standings. Losing to the Hornets not only puts the Grizzlies on the outside looking in right now, but it also could play an important role come April. The Grizzlies have now lost to the Hornets twice with 2 games left to play against them. Memphis has to win both of those games to tie the season series. Every game is important, but games against the following teams are almost twice as important: Portland, Phoenix, New Orleans, Houston and Oklahoma City. Barring unforeseen injury to the top 5 teams in the West, the remaining 3 playoff slots will be filled with one of the above mentioned teams and Memphis. Each loss to one of those teams hurts in the playoff chase and losing a season series to one of these teams could be the difference between playoffs or early vacation.
The disconcerting thing about last night’s loss wasn’t the end result so much as how the Grizzlies got there. With Chris Paul and James Posey on the bench, the Grizzlies were dealt what seemed to be a lucky break. With the game at home and a 19 point halftime lead, this one seemed to be an easy win before a tough upcoming schedule. The Grizzlies didn’t close the door and the Hornets scratched and clawed their way back. Going 11-1 in the past 12 home games is still impressive, but this seemed to be one of the easier chances at a victory (and the Lakers game on Monday is much harder). Elite teams put games like this away. Let’s hope last night’s game was a quickly learned lesson that doesn’t have to be taught again later.
There’s two widely acknowledged weaknesses with this Grizzlies team: 3-point shooting and depth. The Grizzlies currently rank 23rd in 3-point percentage and 27th in 3-pointers made. Last night, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol were dominating. They combined for 50 points on 21-35 shooting to go with 28 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. DOMINANT. But the Hornets adjusted and began to front Z-Bo and double-team Gasol. It led to open perimeter jumpers that the Grizzlies couldn’t nail (3-21 from long range). Gasol and Randolph are one of the premier inside duos in the league. A blueprint seems to be forming for how to beat the Grizz: double-team the big guys in the paint at the expense of 3-pointers. Gay, Mayo and Conley need to make teams pay for this strategy. Last night, they couldn’t and it led to the loss.
It’s easy to look at the box score and say that they bench didn’t provide enough of a lift last night for Memphis, but that didn’t really seem to be the case. Both the Hornets and Grizzlies bench players combined for 15 points per team, so that was a wash. The Grizzlies momentum didn’t swing in the Hornets favor when the bench players entered. But here’s an area where the Grizzlies lack of depth might come into play: minutes. The Grizzlies have 4 players (Mayo, Gay, Randolph and Gasol) in the top 25 in terms of total minutes played to date. Gay has struggled in the last two games. Over an 82 game season, that’s going to happen. However, the heavy minutes that starters have played might be starting to show in their performance. They’re all relatively young guys that have shown the ability to play 40+ minutes so far, but can they keep this up for the long haul?
Lastly, the one other area that seemed to trouble me was the Grizzlies defense of the high-screen and roll. Darren Collison would run the pick and roll near the elbow with either Okafor or West. The Grizzlies big (Randolph or Gasol) would step out on the pick enough to slow Collison down but not enough to allow Conley to get into position. Essentially, Collison used our own big man to continue the pick on Conley as the Hornets big man rolled to the basket. We couldn’t stop it, which explains the majority of Collison’s 18 assists. Either Mayo or Gay is going to have to provide some help from the wings to slow down the point guard or the Grizzlies big is going to have to do a better job of staying out of Conley’s way. Last night, it was too hard to make an adjustment like that. Here’s to hoping the coaching staff figures it out as the screen and roll is one of the most popular plays in the league and run to perfection by a lot of Western Conference teams (D-Will and Boozer/Millsap, Paul and West, Parker and Duncan, etc.)
I don’t want to be one of those people that over-exaggerates a loss. I’m seeing a lot of that today in response to the Tigers loss to SMU and the Grizzlies loss to the CP3-less Hornets. Over the course of a season, there’s always going to be a few games you wish you could have back. Also, the above areas are concerns, but every team has some. I know the Grizzlies trouble areas because I’ve seen 95% of their games this season. I’ve had time to see the areas they struggle in. Luckily, they’ve been able to overcome these weakness so far and have position themselves for an exciting playoff push.
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I know the Grizzlies trouble areas because I’ve seen 95% of their games this season. I’ve had time to see the areas they struggle in. Luckily, they’ve been able to overcome these weakness so far and have position themselves for an exciting playoff push.
It’s easy to look at the box score and say that they bench didn’t provide enough of a lift last night for Memphis, but that didn’t really seem to be the case. Both the Hornets and Grizzlies bench players combined for 15 points per team, so that was a wash.