The Grizzlies were right there with the Suns for a while, but eventually fell 126-111 on the road in Phoenix on Wednesday night. Zach Randolph had 24 points and 13 rebounds and Rudy Gay added 16 points. Game Recap | Box Score | Launch TV Companion
First-half highlights | Rudy Gay highlight | O.J. Mayo highlight | Coaches' Corner
On Tonight’s game
They did make a lot of shots, but we didn't give a lot of resistance. They’re a very good team and they showed us why they’re the number one team in the league. It seemed like in the third quarter they made every open shot they had. They got to the basket at will and we couldn’t execute, like we were in mud. Nash had a great game, Stoudemire had a great game. They just played well. Our defense got us in the hole, it wasn’t going one on one. Early in the game we were able to score on them, and some how we went from 5th gear back to second gear and we couldn’t get back into the top gear anymore.
On Phoenix’s big third quarter
They took it to us in that little span and we couldn’t score. They converted every time so it was really tough for us. I think everybody knows how Phoenix plays, they’ve been playing that way for years. If you miss shots and you don’t get back on defense it’s going to be tough for you to beat them and that’s what happened tonight.
On Phoenix offense
They got off in the third quarter and we couldn’t hang with them. We dropped our head and they just ran out on us. They just started hitting shots and we dropped our heads and they ran out on us.
Another good home win. I thought we played well. I thought we had a really good second quarter where we did a good job. They (Memphis) are so athletic that that bothered us, and I’ve said right from the start they are the No. 1 offensive rebounding team in the league and Zach (Randolph) did a great job. For a guy that’s not a really great jumper he is so smart positioning-wise. I think anytime you play with 10 offensive rebounds is pretty good. I thought for the most part our defense did really good; we just didn’t complete the possessions where we came up with the ball. We gave up too many offensive rebounds, but they shot a 48 percent and a lot of those came on second shots. I thought our defense was pretty good. The one thing we need to improve on is we are giving up too many middle drives to the middle of the floor and when we do that it obviously opens up the whole rest of the floor and they can make plays. So we have to do a better job of keeping the ball out of the middle. Offensively we were really sharp tonight, and I think the starters shot the ball exceptionally well. Amar’e did a good job in the isolation situations of just taking his time and taking what the defense gave him. It was a good win and a get-away team. As I’ve said before they are a dangerous team with a lot of good players. But I thought we did a good job for the most part, but we just have to do a better job of getting the rebounding situation taken care of.
On the game
Memphis came out and was aggressive. Zach Randolph did a great job and Marc Gasol did a great job of just being aggressive and getting in there and getting some rebounds. Amar’e did a great job in the second half along with Channing of just shutting those guys down for the most part and getting the rebounds and keeping it going.
On the team’s rebounding
We’re still not there yet. Amar’e and Channing are doing the best job that they can and guys like me and Grant have to go in and get rebounds – Jared does a good job of that – and we’ve got to help those guys out. They’re a little undersized compared to most fours and fives in the league and we’ve just got to come back in there and help them and keep guys off the boards and get the cleanup boards.
Daily Report
Eric Hasseltine gives insight on the matchup:
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