Grizzlies News and Features

Grizzlies set out for fourth straight win against Bucks tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:30 GMT

Each time the Grizzlies step on the floor these days they continue to define who they are as a team. They’ve found a way to correct some of the ills that were plaguing them early in the season, as they’ve competed from start to finish on a consistent basis in each of their recent wins and have maintained their poise down the stretch of games to preserve wins that they weren’t able to come away with early in the season. The Grizzlies aren’t a finished product yet, and are still falling into some of the traps they had earlier in the season, as evident by their 23 turnovers last night, but it is inarguable that the team that hits the floor that represents the city of Memphis is much improved from the one that started the season. The fact that the Grizzlies have been able to find themselves as a team after a treacherous stretch at the beginning of the season bespeaks the level of confidence that they have in Lionel Hollins as their leader. The Grizzlies will need to play with the same grittiness they’ve shown over the past three games against a depleted, but thoroughly surprising Milwaukee team. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… Surprise, Surprise!!: The Eastern Conference was supposed to one of haves and have nots. The three superpowers (Boston, Cleveland and Orlando) were supposed to dominate the conference on their way to one of them going to the Finals. Things aren’t working out according to plan so far, as the Bucks have joined the Atlanta Hawks to crash the party at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. At 7-3 the Bucks have to be the surprise team of the 2009-10 season so far, with Brandon Jennings leading the way. One of the most surprising aspects of the Bucks revival is the fact that they are doing it without Michael Redd, who is out with a strained left patella tendon, and now Andrew Bogut, who is also out with a leg injury. Jennings is the talk of the league right now, and if he can keep up his current pace, his impact as a rookie will be similar to an impressive group of players like Tim Duncan whose arrival turned a franchise around. Next item on the list: String together a three straight wins this early since the playoff years. Check. Pick up a road win. Got it. Next up for the Grizzlies will be winning back-to-back contests, which they’ll have a great chance of doing tonight in front of their home crowd. As the Grizzlies grow and improve, they will need to find a recipe for winning on back-to-back nights because back-to-backs are such an important part of the NBA schedule. Coming back home to take on a Milwaukee team that might be playing above themselves could set the table for another Grizzlies win. An interesting pair: Grizzlies fans got a glimpse of what could be a very effective pair when Lionel Hollins paired Marc Gasol and Hasheem Thabeet in the frontcourt last night. The experiment is obviously in its very early stages, but if Gasol and Thabeet can play effective for stretches the Grizzlies will have a size advantage that most teams dream of. The key will be Thabeet, as Gasol has established himself as one of the top ten centers in the NBA this season. Thabeet is looking more and more comfortable on the floor, which will pay huge dividends for the Grizzlies in the future. Matchup of the night: If the Grizzlies hope to pick up their fourth straight win tonight, their strategy seems like it could be fairly simple. Stop Jennings and let the rest of the Bucks beat them. A tall order that will befall on Mike Conley, who struggled with his shot again last night, but led the team in assists. Conley doesn’t have to score a lot of points for the Grizzlies to win, and if he can provide a disruptive defensive presence tonight the Grizzlies should be in a good position for a win. Stat of the night: Typically in this space the Grizzlies most interesting stat of the game is highlighted, but with the Brandon Jennings hype engulfing the league, this one was too good to pass up. If Jennings can keep up his current pace of over 25 points and 5 assists per game he will be one of only three rookies in NBA history to accomplish the feat. The other two? Michael Jordan (28.2 and 5.9 in 1984-85) and Oscar Robertson (30.5 and 9.7 in 1960-61). No wonder he has everyone in the league talking.

Grizzlies announce Holiday Gift Packs

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:15 GMT

The Memphis Grizzlies have announced their all-new Grizzlies Holiday Gift Pack, just in time for the holiday gift-giving season.

Grizzlies look to make it three in a row in Philadelphia, by Matt Tumbleson

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:28 GMT

A win tonight would also mark the Grizzlies first road victory of the season, which would add a huge boost to the confidence of this young team. They were on the cusp of winning multiple games on their five game trip at the beginning of the month, but were unable to finish games down the stretch. Winning a game in the closing minutes right now should come a little easier for a Grizzlies team that has consecutive wins in their pocket. As up and down as the first month has been for the Grizzlies, the most positive thing that the Grizzlies can take away from a sub-.500 record is that they have started to find their identity as a team. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph have provided a steady presence down low throughout the game, and Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo have taken turns electrifying the offense in each of the last two wins when an offensive boost was necessary. They might not be the offensive juggernaut that they appeared to be during their first road trip, but they are better defensively than they showed at the beginning of the season. The Grizzlies are starting to realize that they have to play both sides of the ball efficiently, with the talent on their roster, they will have an opportunity to win games. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… Hit the restart button: After finishing last season on a high note under Lionel Hollins, Mike Conley has struggled out of the gates this season. Under Hollins last season Conley averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 assists on .454 from the field and .413 from behind the arc. This season his scoring average has dropped to 8.0 points, but that is to be understood when you consider the natural progression of scorers like Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol, along with the addition of Zach Randolph. The concern for Conley is that his assists numbers are actually down (5.2 per game) and his shooting, which improved dramatically at the end of last year, has slipped to .371 from the field and .320 from three. Conley was supposed to be able to spread of the floor with the open looks that he was going to get from the Grizzlies other talented offensive players, but it hasn’t worked out like that so far for him. If ever there was a time for Conley to jump start the season it is tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers, who he scored a career-high 31 points against last season on 3/7/09. Conley had the Sixers number last season, averaging 22.0 points in two games, so it might benefit the Grizzlies to run a handful of sets at the start of the game for Conley to get him going and build his confidence. Was it worth it for the Sixers to buy a Brand name?: Last season the acquisition of Elton Brand as a free agent to a talented Sixers lineup was supposed to push them into the top three or four teams in the Eastern Conference. Things have worked out according to plan, as Brand was limited to 29 games last season because of injury and is now averaging career-lows with 10.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Brand’s inside presence was supposed to balance the athleticism and uptempo game the Sixers thrived in, but instead, the Sixers have found that they are more effective when he is not a major part of the offense. If the Sixers hope to make a dent in the Eastern Conference standings they’ll need to get him going to diversify their offense and add a low-post threat that they are missing right now. Stat of the night: If the Grizzlies can come away with their third straight win tonight it will be the first time since the 2005-06 season that the Grizzlies posted a three-game win streak in the first month of the season. The 2005-06 campaign was the last Grizzlies team to make the playoffs. Matchup of the night: O.J. Mayo will have his hands full against Andre Iguodala tonight, who has played well in the Sixers last two contests, averaging 24.5 points on .514 from the field. Iguodala is the Sixers go-to guy, so in his efforts to do whatever is necessary to help the team win, Mayo might have to deflect some of his offensive game to his teammates and focus on locking down Iguodala tonight. Last season Mayo struggled against the Sixers, hitting only .345 of his shots from the field, but he’ll need to shoot a higher percentage tonight if the Grizzlies hope to come away with a win.

Grizzlies players and staff lend a hand with Downtown Cleanup

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:34 GMT

Rudy Gay, O.J. Mayo, Hasheem Thabeet and DeMarre Carroll joined Grizzlies Academy students and Grizzlies employees to get down and dirty for the good of the city of Memphis on Friday, November 13.

All Together Now, by Pete Pranica

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:20 GMT

In the grand scheme of things, a two-game win streak over Minnesota and the Los Angeles Clippers doesn't make the eyebrows crawl off your forehead. Neither team is playoff bound and both have suffered significant injuries early in the season. But, as when a hungry fisherman hooks a fish, there's no throwing these two Ws back. The Grizzlies took a fatigued and sliding opponent in the Clippers and never gave them much reason to believe, leading wire to wire in a 106-91 drubbing at FedExForum Wednesday night. The domination was complete as the Grizzlies won every meaningful statistic with the exception of offensive rebounds (the Clippers enjoyed a 12-9 edge, but the Grizzlies managed ten more second chance points). It was at once a victory to send the Grizzlies back on the road with a measure of confidence and a defeat that may well spell the end of the Mike Dunleavy era in Clipperland. Five losses in the last six outings may be more than owner Donald Sterling can take. I asked if Dunleavy had lost his team already this season. No, I was told, Dunleavy lost his team last season. While Dunleavy may well have lost his team, Lionel Hollins has seemingly found his. With a more favorable schedule and clarity on the Allen Iverson situation, the Grizzlies have been putting in the practice hours and carrying over the lessons learned to the game floor. The Grizzlies came into the game averaging little more than a one-to-one ratio of assists to turnovers; last night, they rang up 23 feeds against just 13 turnovers. The turnover number was the second-fewest by the Grizzlies (they had a 12-miscue night against the Clippers earlier this month). Marc Gasol continued his individual brilliance—16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks—while missing just one field goal try. Rudy Gay rebounded from a silent first half to post a team-high 21 points (honors shared with former Clipper Zach Randolph). The bench also showed promise as DeMarre Carroll rang up a 10-point game and Marcus Williams rode to the rescue after Baron Davis got both Mike Conley and new arrival Jamaal Tinsley in foul trouble. Afterwards, head coach Lionel Hollins talked about “becoming a team again.” And yes, this did look a lot like last April's Grizzlies rather than the group that fumbled away very winnable games in Sacramento, Golden State and Los Angeles. Players credited a no-coaches-allowed film session and a frank airing of grievances. No one mentioned it, but I have to imagine that the resolution of Allen Iverson's leave from the team has been beneficial. The Grizzlies were excited to add a 10-time All Star and former MVP as someone who could show the young Grizz cubs what it takes to be great in the NBA. I can imagine their surprise and likely disappointment in Iverson's “the only way I can help a team is by starting” belief. The late Michigan coach Bo Schembechler once said, “Those who remain will be champions.” The Grizzlies who have stayed true to Lionel Hollins' course so far may not be champions this season, but they are on their way to being winners—as a team.

Grizzlies record second straight win with 106-91 victory over Clippers, by Matt Tumbleson

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:22 GMT

Gasol scored 14 of his 16 points to set the tone in a perfect first half from the field, while Gay scored all 21 of his team-high 21 points to help the Grizzlies preserve a victory. The Grizzlies win gave them consecutive victories for the first time this season, which is a major improvement over last season, considering the fact that they didn’t win two games in a row until December of last season. The Clippers have now lost five of their last six games. Amid all of the drama that surrounded the Grizzlies early in the week with the departure of Allen Iverson, the Grizzlies seemed to have used the turmoil to rally around each other and play inspiring basketball in the first quarter. The Grizzlies took the offensive early, connecting on their first seven attempts from the field. In fact, the Grizzlies did not miss a field goal attempt until midway through the first frame. For the first time since they last faced the Clippers in L.A. on Nov. 7, the Grizzlies played like a team that could finish in the top ten in the league in scoring. Marc Gasol led the way for the Grizzlies, hitting on all five of his attempts from the field during the first quarter en route to 12 points. Jamaal Tinsley also made his Grizzlies debut at the 4:09 mark in the first quarter. Tinsley did a good job of controlling tempo in his first few minutes of action, but picked up a pair of quick fouls. The Clippers were dealt a blow late in the first when Marcus Camby was knocked out of the game with a lower back contusion. Leading 27-23 after one, the Grizzlies continued to shoot at a very high percentage from the field, operating above 50% for the entire quarter. Hasheem Thabeet was effective in his return to the Grizzlies lineup after missing the last two contests with a fractured jaw, notching a strong baseline hook and a block to make his presence felt. Gasol’s streak of perfection continued into the second, where his sixth field goal of the game with just under four minutes remaining in the half, coupled with his perfect 8-of-8 performance against the Timberwolves on Saturday broke the Grizzlies franchise record for consecutive field goals made. The previous mark of 13 was set by Tony Massenburg during the lockout shortened 1998-99 season. With Gasol and Zach Randolph combining for 28 first half points the Grizzlies were able to extend their lead to double digits at 45-35 on an O.J. Mayo jumper at the 4:57 mark in the second. The Grizzlies maintained their advantage the remainder of the quarter and took a 55-45 lead into the break. At the start of the second half the Grizzlies gave further indication that they’ve solved the mystery of the third quarter curse that had plagued them earlier in the season. They outscored the Clippers 27-19 thanks in large part to a huge quarter from Rudy Gay. Gay, who had gone scoreless in the first half, exploded for 14 points in the quarter on 6-of-7 from the field, which included an impressive jumper over Al Thornton that gave the Grizzlies an 80-60 advantage for their first 20 point lead of the contest. The only disappointment in the quarter came when Gasol, who tacked on another field goal to extend his record to 15 early in the quarter, finally missed an attempt from the field at the 3:52 mark in the third, ending his perfect streak. Entering the fourth with an 82-64 lead and under the watchful eye of majority owner Michael Heisley, who was seated courtside beside Hoops LP President Gene Bartow, the Grizzlies knew that their first win streak of the season was in their sights. They weathered an early fourth quarter scare from the Clippers where Los Angeles immediately cut the lead to 13 three minutes in, but were able to push their back to a comfortable margin the rest of the way. View video highlights, photos and more on our Game Coverage page. Gay and Randolph led the Grizzlies with 21 points apiece, while Mayo and Gasol each had 16. Baron Davis led all scorers with 23 points, while Chris Kaman added 17 points to the Clippers effort.

Grizzlies look for first win streak of season against Clippers, by Matt Tumbleson

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:41 GMT

The Allen Iverson saga has been well documented over the past couple of weeks, but now that it has come to a conclusion the Grizzlies can start to focus on their identity as a team. They know which players are going to walking through the door to the locker room each and every day. Rotations will start to be set, and players will be allowed to find a rhythm within the game that was uncertain before. With the addition of Jamaal Tinsley, the Grizzlies can now rally around the fact that their team seems to be set for the forseeable future. Having that security allows the team to gel and create chemistry that was questioned by basketball pundits at the start of the season. The talent is there for this team to dig themselves out of this hole and get back to around .500, and now they have a chance to do so. Its ironic that Iverson left the team when they were preparing to face the Clippers in L.A. on Nov. 7, and now in their first game officially without him they will be taking on the Clippers again, this time at home. With the uncertainty that had been hanging around this team figured out, expect the Grizzlies to play a loose and attacking style of basketball tonight. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s contest… Practice makes perfect: The Grizzlies have not played since Saturday’s win against Minnesota, which was a major break in the scheduling for the team. They had struggled at the start of the season, but some of that can be attributed to the fact that the young team had no time to practice. They hit the road for a jam-packed five game road trip at the beginning of the season that didn’t allow for much practice time. With three practices in the bag this week, the Grizzlies were able to get back to the basics and work on some things that contributed to their slow start. Expect the execution on both sides of the ball to be improved tonight. Thanks for the favor: In addition to the extra practice time and rest the Grizzlies have a couple of other things working in their favor tonight that could add up to a win. Most importantly, their win over the Timberwolves on Saturday broke a seven game losing streak for the team. The pressure that mounts when a team is in the middle of a losing streak cannot be understated. Now that they’ve got that past them they can play loose against a very beatable Clippers team. They should also have the confidence to know that they hung with the Clippers and had a chance to take the game to overtime on the last game of a road trip that was tough both physically and mentally for the team. The Clippers come into tonight on the tail end of a back-to-back, having lost last night to the shorthanded Hornets. Matchup of the night: Two of the biggest surprises of the season will face off at the center position tonight, when Marc Gasol and Chris Kaman go head-to-head. Gasol has arguably been the Grizzlies best player in the early going this season, averaging nearly 15 points per game while leading the club in rebounds at over 11 boards per game. Kaman has had a solid career up to now, but this season looks like a bona-fide All-Star at center. If Gasol can win this matchup the Grizzlies will have a great chance at coming away with a win tonight. Stat of the night: The Grizzlies will need to win tonight to keep their all-time series advantage over the Clippers, which currently stands at 28-27 in favor of Memphis. The Clippers are one of only four teams, including the Bobcats, Raptors and Wizards, that the Grizzlies have an all-time winning record against.

Grizzlies statement re: Allen Iverson

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:10 GMT

Chris Wallace released a statement on Allen Iverson today.

Grizzlies sign Jamaal Tinsley

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:49 GMT

The Grizzlies signed free agent guard Jamaal Tinsley, an original draft pick of the club in 2001, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announce

Grizzlies solve second half problems with 97-87 win over Timberwolves, by Matt Tumbleson

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:07 GMT

The win snapped a seven game losing streak for the Grizzlies and brought their record to 2-8. The loss dropped the Timberwolves to 1-10. As the teams’ starting lineups hit the floor it was hard to believe that the Grizzlies entered the game along with the Timberwolves in the single win club. Without Al Jefferson, who was not with the team because of personal reasons, and Kevin Love, who is out with a fractured hand, on paper the Timberwolves seemed like a team custom delivered to the Grizzlies to help them get off the their current slide. What looked like an ideal matchup on paper didn’t prove to be too fruitful in the early going when the Grizzlies fell behind 15-7 in the first. Matters appeared to get worse when O.J. Mayo picked up two quick fouls, but his replacement, Sam Young, provided the Grizzlies with a spark in his absence. Young notched the first two baskets of an 18-8 run to end the quarter that gave the Grizzlies a 25-23 lead after one. The Grizzlies were unable to carry the momentum over to the second and found themselves locked in a see-saw battle with the Timberwolves in which neither team lead by more than four in the quarter. One of the reasons the Grizzlies were unable to separate themselves from Minnesota was their inability to control the paint in the first half, an area that they had dominated through the first nine games of the year. Marc Gasol played brilliantly in the first half, going 5-of-5 from the field to go along with 10 rebounds, but the Timberwolves still outscored the Grizzlies 28-26 in the paint. A big part of the early difference in the paint was the fact that the Timberwolves held Zach Randolph to two first half points on 0-of-5 from the field. Tied at 45 apiece to start the second half, the Grizzlies knew that the third quarter would tell the tale of the game, much like it had in each of their previous nine contests. Coming into tonight the Grizzlies had been outscored in the third quarter in eight of nine games, three of which were by a double digit margin. Tonight the Grizzlies not only avoided their dreaded third quarter swoon that they fallen trap to this season but excelled. The Grizzlies found a way to maintain their focus in the third, and as a result, forced turnovers, created extra opportunities by hammering the offensive glass and pushed the ball in transition. In the third the Grizzlies forced four turnovers resulting in eight fast break points and hustled their way to five offensive boards in the quarter to take a 68-83 lead into the final stanza. With the third quarter behind them and a five point lead, the Grizzlies played loose and confident to start the fourth. Memphis pushed their lead to double digits for the first time of the game at the 8:22 mark on an old-fashioned three point play from Young that gave the Grizzlies a 79-67 advantage. From there they would maintain a double digit edge for much of the fourth quarter until the Timberwolves made a quick 7-0 run in less than 60 seconds to cut it to 87-80 with just over two minutes remaining. The Grizzlies responded with a confidence and tenacity that had been lacking at times this season when DeMarre Carroll connected on a tough layup and Randolph tipped in another to push the Grizzlies lead back to double digits and secure the win. Gasol finished with 17 points on 8-of-8 from the field to go along with a career-high tying 16 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo each had 19 points to lead the Grizzlies. Sam Young also provided the Grizzlies bench with a nice scoring punch with 15 points of his own. Corey Brewer led the short handed Timberwolves with 16 points, with Ryan Hollins chipping in 15 points of his own.

Grizzlies hope to get on track tonight against Minnesota, by Matt Tumbleson

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:59 GMT

Tonight’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves will give the Grizzlies an opportunity to start correcting the wrongs that have been plaguing them thus far and start moving forward as the team on the rise that everyone expected them to be. How can they do that? Playing with intensity from start to finish on both sides of the floor would be a start for the Grizzlies. As tough as a 1-8 start is to swallow, it is undeniable that this team has shown signs of what may be to come. They can score, as evident by their six straight games at 100 or more points. Take a look at their last couple of contests and one can see that they can keep their opponents scoring down. The thing that they are still trying to figure out is how to put the two together and play with effort for 48 minutes. The talent is there and the opportunity to win games is right in front of this team, they just have to go out and get it. They’ll have an ample opportunity to do just so tonight against the Timberwolves, who are struggling with a handful of problems of their own at 1-8 and without their star player, Al Jefferson, for the next two contests. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s contest… Know your opponent: Last season three of the Timberwolves 24 wins came against the Grizzlies, giving them a season sweep of the gang from 191 Beale Street. At this point in the Grizzlies’ team development, getting swept in a season series against the likes of a Boston, San Antonio or Los Angeles Lakers is understandable, but to drop every contest to the likes of a team that is in a similar building phase is something that the Grizzlies can’t allow if they hope to improve. On paper the Grizzlies are the better team right now, and need to prove it tonight against the Timberwolves. Field Day: It isn’t hard to argue that the strength of the Grizzlies this year has been the combined play of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph on the block. Tonight Timberwolves starters Kevin Love and Al Jefferson will both be out, leaving the frontcourt duties to Ryan Hollins and Nathan Jawai. Should be a big night for the Grizzlies bigs. Matchup of the night: Mike Conley’s matchup with Jonny Flynn tonight could be the key to the game. Flynn has proven to be more than just insurance for the Ricky Rubio situation for Minnesota. He’s third amongst rookies in scoring at nearly 15 points per game, and with his combination of athleticism and power despite his small stature, is a foundation piece for the Timberwolves. Conley has struggled lately and needs to prove that he is more of the player who came on at the end of last season under Lionel Hollins’ tutelage than the one who has struggled through the first nine games of this season. Conley isn’t going to be quicker than Flynn, but he can take the opportunity to set up Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol against the Timberwolves depleted from line. Stat of the Night: At 1-8, the Grizzlies are looking to avoid tying the club’s worst start through ten games since the 2002-03 season, when the team lost its first 13 games.

Live twittering from November 14 Grizzlies-Timberwolves game, by Chris Avis

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:12 GMT

I’ll be doing live tweets from tonight’s Grizz-Timberwolves game at FedExForum. You can follow me on twitter at the following link, or you can see my most recent tweet on the right side of this page.

Grizz Growls: A day in the life of Grizz

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:20 GMT

Grizz Growls: A day in the life of Grizz

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:20 GMT

Mayo, Iverson and Gay selected for inclusion on All-Star Ballot

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:31 GMT

The NBA announced that Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, center Marc Gasol and guards O.J. Mayo and Allen Iverson will appear on the ballot for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. The annual event will take place Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington,

Grizzlies and NBA.com launch TV Companion

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:31 GMT

Anheuser-Busch Bud Light Watch Parties

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:31 GMT

When the Grizzlies are on the road, don`t sit at home. Gather your friends and meet Grizzlies fans for a night of fun at a Bud Light Watch Party! Watch top-notch NBA action and win some great priz

Grizzlies waive Trey Gilder

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:31 GMT

Grizzlies exercise options on Conley, Mayo and Arthur

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:31 GMT

Grizzlies look to take step forward in Houston tonight, by Matt Tumbleson

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:49 GMT

The Grizzlies didn’t get to enjoy the comforts of home for too long, as they are back on the road tonight for a date with the Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies will be charged with the task of snapping their current six game losing streak, which is no small order against a balanced Houston team. The Rockets suffered a disappointing loss to the Mavericks last night, so the Grizzlies can expect a refocused group who is looking to get back on track themselves. Tonight’s game represents the Grizzlies first contest against a Southwest Division opponent. Last season the Grizzlies finished 5-11 against Southwest Division foes, but 2-2 against the Rockets. Here are a few things to watch for in tonight’s game… Defense makes an appearance: Despite last night’s frustrating loss, the Grizzlies showed marked improvement on the defensive side of the ball, which was a glaring weakness on their five game road swing. The Grizzlies held the Blazers to 93 points last night, marking the first time since opening night that Grizzlies had held their opponent under 100 points. Now if the Grizzlies could have just reproduced the same offensive efficiency that they had in the previous six games, scoring 100 or more points in at least six consecutive games for only the third time in franchise history, they would have been in business. Even though it doesn’t show it in the win-loss column, the Grizzlies have proved early in the season that they are very talented on offense, and also have the ability to be a productive defensive team. If the Grizzlies can figure out a way to bring the same effort on both sides of the floor they’ll give themselves an opportunity to string together some wins. Stepping stone: The Rockets were a team that coming into the season the Grizzlies realistically had their sights set on surpassing in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. The Grizzlies came into the year with the buzz of a young team on the rise and key additions that were to shore up holes from previous seasons. The Rockets were a team of solid, if unspectacular role players who were missing their two top players in Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady because of injury. Sure the Rockets had quality players, but the Grizzlies roster is filled with dynamic players who can seemingly win a game by themselves. Passing the Rockets to get out of the bottom of a stacked division would have been seen as a major step in the building process for the Grizzlies. The mighty Spurs and revamped Mavericks might have still been a year or so away for the Grizzlies, but the Rockets, well, the Grizzlies seemed to be approaching their league. Unfortunately, with the Grizzlies at 1-7 and the Rockets at 4-3, early indications are that the Grizzlies aren’t quite to the Rockets level yet. It is still very early in the 2009-10 campaign to define a season, but the Grizzlies are going to have to show improvements if they hope to get out of the bottom of the division. Facing off against the Rockets tonight will give the Grizzlies a great opportunity to prove that they have the talent to make moves in the division. Skeleton Group: The Grizzlies are not even to the ten-game mark on the season, and they’re already dealing with a decimated roster. Their front line that was already missing Darrell Arthur took another hit last night with the loss of Hasheem Thabeet. With Allen Iverson away from the team the Grizzlies are also lacking another one of their myriad of offensive weapons. The remaining Grizzlies will need to rally together and play efficient basketball on both ends of the floor because they will likely have to play extended minutes. Matchup of the night: This will actually be more like the matchups of the night, as the Grizzlies front line pair of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph should be able to have a heyday tonight against the Rockets starting frontcourt of Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes. Scola and Hayes are quality players, but are undersized and don’t possess the same gifts on the offensive end as Gasol and Randolph, which should be a huge advantage for the Grizzlies tonight.