Kevin Lipe wraps up Friday’s win over Houston and previews Saturday’s game with Houston.
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Month: January 2014
- Larry Kuzniewski
- Might be time to break out the #Feed50 hashtags down the stretch again tonight.
Last night the Grizzlies played the Houston Rockets.
Tonight, the Grizzlies play the Houston Rockets.
It’s only happened one other time since the Grizzlies moved to Memphis (a 2006 home-and-home against the Dallas Mavericks) but the Griz find themselves in the midst of a divisional home-and-home matchup, and it came at a point where the Grizzlies were 0-10 against Southwest Division opponents, including a fart-worthy performance on MLK Day against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Grizzlies are now 1-10 (21-20 overall), with an opportunity to improve to 2-10 and 2 games over .500 tonight, after defeating the Rockets in Houston last night 88-87.
Here are some things the Grizzlies will have to do tonight if they want to beat the Rockets twice in a row:
Game Notes:
• Defend the three point shot better. The Rockets attempted 34 threes last night, and the Grizzlies were fortunate that they couldn’t hit the broad side of Jake Tsakalidis in the first half. In the second half, Chandler Parsons heated up (like, really heated up) and made ten threes in a row—almost enough for Houston to steal the game away. If they’d connected on more wide open threes in the first half, the Grizzlies would’ve been playing from behind instead of from ahead. They have to do a better job of not helping off three-point shooters. (Haven’t I been saying that since last year’s Conference Finals?)
• Play solid basketball for 48 minutes. The Grizzlies had some stretches last night—especially the beginning of the third quarter, and a couple of spots in the early fourth where everyone forgot what the plays were—where they just weren’t executing. It’s the same thing we’ve said all year, but last night, in a critical spot, it almost cost them the game—several possessions ended in shot clock violations or other turnovers, and others ended in jacked-up threes with a second or two on the clock. Not smart basketball, and something they’re going to have to watch out for tonight.
• I know Dave Joerger is trying to figure out the rotations still, but… I think I’m done with the “James Johnson and Tayshaun Prince as the 2 and 3” lineups. Last night saw Calathes-Prince-Johnson-Davis-Gasol together in the first quarter, and… needless to say, they didn’t know what to do with each other. They haven’t played much together this season, which explains the unfamiliarity, but maybe there’s a reason they haven’t played together (beyond the Gasol injury). I get that Johnson and Prince are tall. That doesn’t mean they’re secret weapons to be deployed in bizarre anti-smallball lineups when those lineups cause what little offensive flow the Grizzlies have to evaporate like spilled lighter fluid.
• Keep taking the ball inside. Late in last night’s game, Zach Randolph got going and got Dwight Howard into foul trouble. That worked. When the Grizzlies got away from that attack down the stretch, the Rockets started closing the gap (and Brevin Knight got really frustrated on the broadcast). When the inside game is working late in a game like that, it has to remain the Grizzlies’ first option. Why go away from something that’s clearly working with such an important game on the line?
Bottom line is this: it’s going to be hard for the Grizzlies to beat the Rockets two nights in a row. The Rockets are a good team. The upside is that tonight, both teams are on the second night of a back to back and the Grizzlies are at home. I expect tonight to be another close one, but if the Grizzlies can contain the Rockets’ outside shooting (and keep James Harden from shooting 25 free throws) I think they can pull off the home-and-home sweep.
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More Patriot Games
Greg Akers reviews Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit.
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Easy Way Co-Owner’s Death Ruled a Suicide
Memphis Police announced Friday afternoon that David Carter committed suicide on Monday morning. It was originally believed that Carter was killed during a robbery. Bianca Phillips has the story.
Although previous reports alluded that Easy Way co-owner David Carter was killed during a robbery, the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office has now ruled Carter’s death as a suicide.
Memphis Police director Toney Armstrong announced the new findings in a press conference Friday afternoon.
Carter was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the chest at the Easy Way Distribution Center on Mendenhall on Monday morning around 6 a.m. He was inside an office area. Files were overturned, and two safes were open. Carter’s truck was parked in the lot, and the passenger door was left open. His jacket was found on the ground.
Police originally believed that Carter encountered someone outside the facility who forced him inside. They believed Carter was shot during a robbery.
But surveillance footage from inside the business shows Carter entering the facility alone and deactivating the alarm system. Police were unable to find any evidence that Carter was coerced or threatened by another person, and surveillance video does not show anyone else entering or exiting the office where his body was found.
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Remembering Lisa McNeil
Earlier this month, long-time bartender Lisa McNeil, who most recently worked the bar at Dru’s Place, passed away. McNeil’s partner Tami Montgomery owns Dru’s Place.
On Sunday, January 26th, Dru’s Place is holding a celebration of McNeil’s life. “Celebrating Lisa McNeil” starts at noon and runs through 5 p.m. with performances by Tiffany Shae (1-2 p.m.) and Ashley Mcbryde (3-5 p.m.). There will also be a raffle, games, and food.
All proceeds from the event will go toward McNeil’s funeral costs.
- Loskarn (right) with Sen. Alexander before his arrest
Ryan Loskarn, the former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) who was arrested in December for on federal charges of possession and distribution of child pornography, has been found dead, an apparent suicide, at the Maryland home of his parents, where he had been confined since his arrest.
Alexander, who fired Loskarn upon getting news of his arrest in December, responded to his former aide’s death with this statement: “For everyone involved, this is a sad and tragic story from beginning to end,”
Here’s the official announcement of Loskarn’s death, from unidentified law-enforcement sources, in an Associated Press account:
“At approximately 12pm yesterday, Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a private residence in the 6400 block of Kenmar Lane for a report of an unconscious male, believed to be deceased,” the Carroll County, Md. sheriff’s office said in a statement on Friday. “Family members reported finding 35 year old Jesse Ryan Loskarn unresponsive in his basement where he’d been residing with family since this past December. The preliminary investigation indicates that Loskarn may have taken his own life, and his body has since been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for Autopsy. The investigation continues…”
Loskarn had been a rising star in the D.C. firmament, having served in staff roles of increasing prominence for the last decade. He had worked in the offices of various Republican members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-7th, TN), whom he served as press secretary from 2003 to 2007.
In this role, he had been a frequent contact person for the Flyer and other local and state news media.
Local tattoo artists seeking national exposure should consider attending an upcoming open casting call in Nashville for Spike TV’s tattoo competition series “Ink Master.”
The casting call will take place at Aloft Nashville West End (1719 West End Avenue) on January 31st. It will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Essentially, we are in search of those who have artistic and creative tattoo skills with an outgoing, dynamic personality,” said Ashley Rose Folino, casting assistant for “Ink Master.” “In this exciting series, highly skilled tattoo artists from around the country will compete in a high stakes competition for the chance to win $100,000 and the coveted title of Ink Master.”
Before attending the casting call, people are encouraged to submit a completed Tattoo Artist participant application along with two recent photographs of their self, a minimum of 20 digital photos of their work, and a photocopy of either their passport, driver’s license, or state ID to CastingInkMaster5@gmail.com. On the day of the casting, participating individuals should bring two photos of their self and 10 photos of their best tattoo work.
Those who are unable to attend the open casting can submit a three-minute home video along with the aforementioned documents to the highlighted email. More information on how to do so can be found here.
The casting call will be for the fifth season of the reality tattoo competition series. “Ink Master” entails sixteen tattoo artists from around the country competing for a $100,000 cash prize, an editorial feature in Inked Magazine and being labeled an official “Ink Master.” The show is hosted by legendary rock artist Dave Navarro. Along with reputable tattoo artists Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck, Navarro also judges the show.
For more information on the show or upcoming open casting calls, visit inkmastercasting.com
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Newby’s Bar Manager Gets Flyer Tattoos
Brian “Skinny” McCabe wears his Best of Memphis awards on his leg — permanently. Bianca Phillips has the story.
Newby’s bar manager/bartender/booking agent Brian “Skinny” McCabe will never forget the times he’s won “Best Bartender” (or the times his Highland strip employer has won “Best College Bar”) in the annual Memphis Flyer “Best of Memphis” reader’s poll. That’s because his BOM awards are tattooed on his body.
McCabe recently had the finishing touches put on his latest Memphis Flyer tat, which pays homage to this year’s Mike McCarthy-designed comic book-style cover. McCabe took a few minutes to tell us about his Flyer ink.
Flyer: How many years has Newby’s received BOM awards?
McCabe: From what I was told, we’ve been winning ever since The Memphis Flyer started it. I’ve been there for almost nine years, and I can only think of once when we didn’t win Best College Bar.
You have two BOM tattoos. When did you get your first one?
The first was shortly after I won in 2012.
And what made you think, “I should get a tattoo commemorating this!”?
I want my co-workers to see it on a nightly basis so they know who is the “Boss Applesauce.”
Where on your body are the tattoos?
Right (massive) calf muscle
Who was your tattoo artist?
Super Dave at No Regrets. He’s done mostly all of my work since I turned 18. I’m 32 1/2 now.
Any regrets?
Sometimes I wish it would glow in the dark.
Will you continue this trend for any BOM awards in the future?
I have officially retired from the rat race, but just in that category. But, to answer the question, yes! I still have plenty of room.