The Grizzlies are starting to make ‘some noise’
http://tri-statedefenderonline.com/articlelive/articles/4434/1/The-Grizzlies-are-starting-to-make-some-noise/Page1.html
By Corey Green
Published on 12/10/2009
Maybe it was the type of win the Grizzlies needed to get more fans in the seats, the team on a winning streak, and – even more so – the players believing they can win.
Maybe it was the type of win the Grizzlies needed to get more fans in the seats, the team on a winning streak, and – even more so – the players believing they can win.
Tuesday night at the FedEx Forum in front a home crowd of more than 16,000 the Grizzlies took LeBron James and his Cavaliers to overtime and won 111-109.
Yes, I said won!
“It’s a long NBA season. Some nights our energy is down from travel, but there’s nothing like coming home and getting some home cooking,” said shooting guard O.J. Mayo.
With 14.9 seconds left in overtime coach Lionel Hollins seemed to draw up the perfect play; a play that may have given this franchise hope after several years of losing and the Allen Iverson debacle. Hollins put Mayo in the slot, Zach Randolph in one corner, and Rudy Gay in the other corner, leaving Marc Gasol in the middle setting a pick on Shaquille O’Neal and Mike Conley rolling to the basket for the game winning lay-up.
The Grizzlies had lost their last five overtime games before Tuesday night.
“To win against a good team like Cleveland is a big statement for our team,” said Conley, who finished with 12-points and five assists. “I think this is a building block for us and a big step for us. We’re trying to improve and keep this going.”
James finished the game with a season high 43 points, going 14-29 from the field. With seconds remaining on the clock after Conley’s lay-up, James made an attempt to be the hero again as he took a long three, but it grazed the front of the rim.
“I’m proud of our group,” said Hollins. “I’m proud of the way we bounced back from the start of the season until now, and we keep growing as a team. You can feel the confidence growing as a team.”
The Grizzlies (9-12) won their third-straight game, and snapped a seven game losing streak against the Cavaliers (15-6). The Griz’s last win versus Cleveland was back on Nov. 5, 2005 in a 113-106 victory.
Defeating the Cavs, who had won nine of the previous 10 games before Tuesday night, was big for the team’s confidence, but more importantly, the Grizzlies could have won over the fan base.
The FedExForum is near the bottom of the league in attendance. Maybe, just maybe, a few more signature wins and people will began to believe.
“I was thinking on the bench…if we get this win the fans won’t be cheering for the other teams, they’ll be cheering for us,” Hollins said. “We beat Dallas, we beat Portland on the road, and now Cleveland. So we are proving to ourselves, and fans that we can compete. We can be in games. We’re growing as a team. Hopefully the fans are excited and saw that. They should come out and support us.
“We’re making some noise around the NBA. That’s always fun. I told our players when you’re playing these teams, and you play well, you earn the respect of the referees, fans and media.”
The entire starting line up was in double figures for the Grizzlies. Randolph led the way with 32 points and 14 rebounds. With Oklahoma coming to town Friday, the Grizzlies will need to keep the sense of urgency. Oklahoma in many facets of the game is similar to the Grizzlies.
Both teams are young and are at the top in the NBA in scoring. Last season Memphis lost the season series (3-1).
“What we practice everyday is starting to come out on the court,” said Gay.
“I think the reason we’re winning is because we trust each other now. We’re not too high or too low right now,” he said. “We have Oklahoma City next, and hopefully we get another big win.”
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Maybe it was the type of win the Grizzlies needed to get more fans in the seats, the team on a winning streak, and – even more so – the players believing they can win.
The Grizzlies are starting to make ‘some noise’
 |
Corey Green |
Tuesday night at the FedEx Forum in front a home crowd of more than 16,000 the Grizzlies took LeBron James and his Cavaliers to overtime and won 111-109.
Yes, I said won!
“It’s a long NBA season. Some nights our energy is down from travel, but there’s nothing like coming home and getting some home cooking,” said shooting guard O.J. Mayo.
 |
| Cleveland’s LeBron “King” James walks off the FedExForum court on the losing end after his attempt at a winning 3-point shot grazed the front of the rim at the buzzer in overtime. (Photos by Warren Roseborough) |
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| Mike Conley lays in the winning basket as the Grizzlies upset the Cleveland Cavaliers 111-109 in a victory heard around the NBA. |
The Grizzlies had lost their last five overtime games before Tuesday night.
“To win against a good team like Cleveland is a big statement for our team,” said Conley, who finished with 12-points and five assists. “I think this is a building block for us and a big step for us. We’re trying to improve and keep this going.”
James finished the game with a season high 43 points, going 14-29 from the field. With seconds remaining on the clock after Conley’s lay-up, James made an attempt to be the hero again as he took a long three, but it grazed the front of the rim.
“I’m proud of our group,” said Hollins. “I’m proud of the way we bounced back from the start of the season until now, and we keep growing as a team. You can feel the confidence growing as a team.”
The Grizzlies (9-12) won their third-straight game, and snapped a seven game losing streak against the Cavaliers (15-6). The Griz’s last win versus Cleveland was back on Nov. 5, 2005 in a 113-106 victory.
Defeating the Cavs, who had won nine of the previous 10 games before Tuesday night, was big for the team’s confidence, but more importantly, the Grizzlies could have won over the fan base.
The FedExForum is near the bottom of the league in attendance. Maybe, just maybe, a few more signature wins and people will began to believe.
“I was thinking on the bench…if we get this win the fans won’t be cheering for the other teams, they’ll be cheering for us,” Hollins said. “We beat Dallas, we beat Portland on the road, and now Cleveland. So we are proving to ourselves, and fans that we can compete. We can be in games. We’re growing as a team. Hopefully the fans are excited and saw that. They should come out and support us.
“We’re making some noise around the NBA. That’s always fun. I told our players when you’re playing these teams, and you play well, you earn the respect of the referees, fans and media.”
The entire starting line up was in double figures for the Grizzlies. Randolph led the way with 32 points and 14 rebounds. With Oklahoma coming to town Friday, the Grizzlies will need to keep the sense of urgency. Oklahoma in many facets of the game is similar to the Grizzlies.
Both teams are young and are at the top in the NBA in scoring. Last season Memphis lost the season series (3-1).
“What we practice everyday is starting to come out on the court,” said Gay.
“I think the reason we’re winning is because we trust each other now. We’re not too high or too low right now,” he said. “We have Oklahoma City next, and hopefully we get another big win.”