Grizzlies Opener Breakdown
Yesterday I made the trek to Memphis to see my Memphis Grizzlies in action on opening night. I must say it was a roller coaster ride of emotions. I got to the Forum around 6:20 and was dismayed to see a very empty FEF. I began thinking that this would just be another down year for the Grizz in attendance, team excitement, and playoff wins.
The game started out with the Grizz holding a slight advantage. Mike Miller was draining threes left and right. Hakim Warrick was ripping down offensive boards like crazy and Big Jake was being...terrible. Damon Stoudamire looked really good. He was making nice cuts and playing sold basketball.
Unfortunately, the game began to slip away from the Grizz as we missed free throw after free throw and a lid appeared on the rim. While we couldn't throw it in the ocean, Quentin Richardson couldn't miss and was raining three balls on the Grizz. The Knicks continued controlling the game up through the fourth quarter and held a 19 point lead with nine minutes left to play. The Grizz were running out of answers and time when The Czar decided to shake up the line up. After a timeout, the Grizzlies trotted out Kyle Lowry, Chucky Atkins, Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, and Hakim Warrick. I thought the Grizz had thrown in the towel and were going to let the rookies get some garbage time. Despite the lineup on the floor the Grizz slowly began chipping away at the lead. With about 3 minutes to go they were only down 8 and the fans and the team began to believe they could win this game. By the time the horn sounded the Grizz had come down from 19 points to send the game in overtime. I was in complete shock.
Fratello kept this lineup intact throughout the first overtime. Rudy Gay, Hakim, Chucky, and Kyle Lowry made key play after key play to keep the Grizz in the game. The clock reached double zeroes once again, but the game was still tied. So, the Grizz went on to a second overtime. The Knicks jumped out to an early lead, and the Grizz were forced to play catch up. Rudy Gay lead the comeback with an amazing steal and dribble behind the back for a lay up to tie the game. However, Hakim Warrick fouled out, a player who had kept the Grizz in the game, and Lawrence Roberts replaced him. Even without Hakim, the Grizz stayed with the Knicks through the second overtime and forced OT number three.
The third overtime was different than the first two in that the Grizz got the lead first, not the Knicks. The Grizz were playing good defense and ripping down the offense rebounds, but the officials eventually took control of the game. The first call came when Chucky Atkins was whistled for his fifth foul on a phantom bump on Nate Robinson as he drove down the lane. Robinson faked contact and threw up a shot and the refs bought his acting job. Robinson sucessfully decreased the lead and the Knicks inched closer. The next call came on a Quentin Richardson drive to the basket where he traveled and committed a charge against Mike Miller. However, the refs didn't see the travel or the charge and whistled Mike with a blocking foul. Q-Rich sank both free throws to give the Knicks a one point lead with six seconds to go. Mike Miller got the ball with the clock winding down and his shot danced around the rim before falling off giving the Knicks a 118-117 Triple OT victory.
Now, most years I'd be upset with the Grizzlies for losing to the Knicks, but this game got me as excited as I've ever been for Grizzlies basketball. This team was playing without all-star Pau Gasol and starting center Stromile Swift. This was also a team who did not play Damon or Eddie Jones the entire fourth quarter. This is a team who was led by rookies to an incredible 19 point comeback to force overtime. This is a team for the future.
The game started out with the Grizz holding a slight advantage. Mike Miller was draining threes left and right. Hakim Warrick was ripping down offensive boards like crazy and Big Jake was being...terrible. Damon Stoudamire looked really good. He was making nice cuts and playing sold basketball.
Unfortunately, the game began to slip away from the Grizz as we missed free throw after free throw and a lid appeared on the rim. While we couldn't throw it in the ocean, Quentin Richardson couldn't miss and was raining three balls on the Grizz. The Knicks continued controlling the game up through the fourth quarter and held a 19 point lead with nine minutes left to play. The Grizz were running out of answers and time when The Czar decided to shake up the line up. After a timeout, the Grizzlies trotted out Kyle Lowry, Chucky Atkins, Mike Miller, Rudy Gay, and Hakim Warrick. I thought the Grizz had thrown in the towel and were going to let the rookies get some garbage time. Despite the lineup on the floor the Grizz slowly began chipping away at the lead. With about 3 minutes to go they were only down 8 and the fans and the team began to believe they could win this game. By the time the horn sounded the Grizz had come down from 19 points to send the game in overtime. I was in complete shock.
Fratello kept this lineup intact throughout the first overtime. Rudy Gay, Hakim, Chucky, and Kyle Lowry made key play after key play to keep the Grizz in the game. The clock reached double zeroes once again, but the game was still tied. So, the Grizz went on to a second overtime. The Knicks jumped out to an early lead, and the Grizz were forced to play catch up. Rudy Gay lead the comeback with an amazing steal and dribble behind the back for a lay up to tie the game. However, Hakim Warrick fouled out, a player who had kept the Grizz in the game, and Lawrence Roberts replaced him. Even without Hakim, the Grizz stayed with the Knicks through the second overtime and forced OT number three.
The third overtime was different than the first two in that the Grizz got the lead first, not the Knicks. The Grizz were playing good defense and ripping down the offense rebounds, but the officials eventually took control of the game. The first call came when Chucky Atkins was whistled for his fifth foul on a phantom bump on Nate Robinson as he drove down the lane. Robinson faked contact and threw up a shot and the refs bought his acting job. Robinson sucessfully decreased the lead and the Knicks inched closer. The next call came on a Quentin Richardson drive to the basket where he traveled and committed a charge against Mike Miller. However, the refs didn't see the travel or the charge and whistled Mike with a blocking foul. Q-Rich sank both free throws to give the Knicks a one point lead with six seconds to go. Mike Miller got the ball with the clock winding down and his shot danced around the rim before falling off giving the Knicks a 118-117 Triple OT victory.
Now, most years I'd be upset with the Grizzlies for losing to the Knicks, but this game got me as excited as I've ever been for Grizzlies basketball. This team was playing without all-star Pau Gasol and starting center Stromile Swift. This was also a team who did not play Damon or Eddie Jones the entire fourth quarter. This is a team who was led by rookies to an incredible 19 point comeback to force overtime. This is a team for the future.
posted by Jason Smith at 8:23 PM
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