It’s an opening-night preview tonight at FedExForum as the Grizzlies host the Detroit Pistons, who will return October 28th for the regular-season opener.
This is the last home preseason game. Since I have post-game plans, I won’t be doing a standard “three pointer” but will instead provide occasional commentary in this space throughout tonight’s game.
We’re about 30 minutes from the tip, so check back then.
Let’s do this.
First Quarter:
Well, this has been promising. Griz jump out 20-7 with 5 assists on 8 made baskets and 12 fast-break points. Pistons are helping a lot obvious, but the aggression and execution is still a good sign. Balanced scoring among all five starters (2-6 points from each) with Mayo (2) and Conley (3) sharing assists.
DeMarre Carroll hit a Shane Battier Memorial Baseline Jumper but missed an elbow three at the buzzer. If he can extend the range on his jumper a little bit, he could be like Battier with more flair. Carroll is backing up the four tonight with Darrell Arthur out. He can play both forward spots and can potentially defend there as well as the two depending on the match-ups. I’ll be surprised is he doesn’t log major minutes this season.
Griz close the quarter up 33-14. They’ve shot 13-23 from the floor with 9 assists. Hard to expect much better. One key to the offense this year, to risk stating the obvious, is for Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph to defer to teammates more and limit forced shots against double teams. Unselfishness doesn’t just manifest itself in terms of assists. Much more on that subject to come.
