Grizzlies Sweep Pelicans for the Season
Pelicans 99 vs Grizzlies 101
The New Orleans Pelicans came to town for the 14th Annual Martin Luther King Jr Day Celebration game. The last time the two teams met was back in December when Marc Gasol scored a career high 38 points, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a 113-104 victory.
Gasol did not have another career scoring game against the Pelicans this time, however he did post another double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Grizzlies finish the much anticipate six game home stand 5-1, five games over .500, and tied with Dallas for the 5th seed in the west. Big Spain had the following to say about the home stand. “We still have a lot of room to cover and a lot of things to do better even though we’re winning. We won today , but by any means we didn’t play well. I don’t think that we felt good about how we played. We obviously feel good about the win, but now we played, some stretches were slow. Stagnant offensively. It’s just not what we’re trying to do. Hopefully we’ll get it.”
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The MLK game is Mike Conley’s first game back from injury. Conley also posted a double double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Randolph and Allen have worked their way back into the starting line up. After scoring only two points in the first quarter, Conley opensthe second quarter by knocking down back to back three pointers. We asked Tony Allen how he felt about Conley’s performance and he said : “Mike looked real good today. He didn’t look like anything was bothering him. Obviously they had a minute restriction on him, but he came in and he was phenomenal. He looked like the old Mike to me. I think the rest helped. Mike Conley made a few plays offensively. I was more impressed with his defense (of course you were Tony of course you were). He was calling out coverages in the pick and roll set. Even in the huddle he was big. We’re going to need Mike to just continue to get healthy and just be big for us down the stretch.”
Z-Bo was two points and two rebounds from a double double. Z-Bo has starting five talents but scores more points when he comes off the bench. Most teams reserves aren’t as good as their starters but that isn’t the case for the Grizzlies. When Zach Randolph enters the game he can dominate the paint. He might not have the hops like his veteran teammate Vince Carter. But he does have that sweet fade a way jumpshot, size to impact plays in the paint, and the muscle to war with anyone for rebounds.
Tony Allen isn’t known for lighting up the scoreboard but he is known for filling up the stat sheet and having an immeasurable impact on the game. During last seasons playoff run T.A. was plagued by nagging hamstring. I wonder does have anything to do with him missing fast break lay ups and other shots close to the goal, but I’ve digressed. Tony finished the game with six points, five rebounds, one assist, and two steals. Tony has been dunking would usually be a layup or layup attempt, he accredits this to his dedication to the weight room.
Matt Barnes and Jeff Green combined for 32 points from the bench, 16 a piece. JaMychal Green scored five points in 4:27 of playing time. The Grizzlies are 19-0 when Matt Barnes nets a positive +/- for the game. Barnes was +2 against the Pelicans.
Jrue Holiday led the Pelicans in scoring with 23 points from the bench. Anthony Davis was just short of a double double with 21 points and eight rebounds. Good but not good enough, for the victory that is.
The Memphis Grizzlies shot 8 of 19 from three point range and the Grizzlies are 7-0 this season when winning the three point battle. Grizzlies scored 10 points off of 15 forced turnovers. The Grizzlies are first in the NBA in turnover differential this season and are on a league high 32 game streak with a positive turnover margin.
The Grizzlies are back on the road, playing in Denver Thursday night and Minnesota on Saturday before returning home on Monday the 25th to host the Orlando Magic. To support the Memphis Grizzlies by purchasing tickets to the games click here or dial 901-888-HOOP (4667).
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