Griz fans.

[PBRME]

Tonight was the effort you expect. The missed points in the paint and giving up too many 2nd chance points is concerning though.

 

[Drebin]

It was nice to see Nick Calathes not getting meaningful minutes.

My bigger concern is long-term health. Conley and Allen aren't 100% (you could definitely tell in person), and they are going to be needed for the long haul. As for this series, anything can happen, but Portland has a lot to overcome; Memphis is a terrible matchup for them.

 

[hatfieldms]

Luckily the grizzlies have caught a break with the schedule....

...as far as resting up and getting healthy. Hopefully it helps

 

[RebelBruiser]

...as far as resting up and getting healthy. Hopefully it helps

Vernon made that point in the postgame. He noted how a lot of their troubles on the back half of the schedule came on back to backs or tight turn arounds with travel.

His point was that yes, they're a veteran team, but that also means they aren't built for the quick turns. They're built more for the playoffs where you get time between games. It was good to win big last night and only play Conley 24 minutes. Now he gets 2 more days off at home, another home game, and 2 more off days after that before playing Saturday in Portland.

The injury he's dealing with is the type that will go away with time. Plantar fasciitis will take you off your feet, but if you have time, it'll heal, and you'll be back to 100%. The worry is that playing through the pain will cause Conley to overcompensate and possibly create a stress reaction somewhere else. Ideally he'll be able to play limited minutes this series, the Grizzlies will win comfortably, and the amount of rest he will get will have him back to 100% before the Golden State series.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

It's a horrific matchup especially with Afflalo and Matthews hurt. I'm thinking that Afflalo will try to go for Game 2 but if he doesn't they are in trouble because he helps space the floor and gives them another outside threat. Beno was on fire and really stepped up allowing Conley to play less minutes. First player to score 20/7/7 since Nick Van Exel in 2003 as a bench player in the playoffs. There's no way that Lillard plays that bad again for Portland. He looked totally out of it and it showed with his poor shooting and defense.

 

[Drebin]

If you read the Portland sites, they are really down on Lillard. Selfish, hero ball, etc. The theme is that he's been playing this way since the all star break. I admit that I haven't been following them that closely. But I do know he is a terrible defensive player and that's going to be Portland's downfall more than anything else - they are going to have to outscore to win. Their only true defensive presence on the front line is Chris Kaman, and he can't guard both of the Grizzlies bigs. Robin Lopez can't guard his own shadow and isn't an offensive threat. Aldridge is soft and gets pushed around easily. I wouldn't be surprised to see them play the Leonard guy at the 4 more and force the Grizzlies to have a big guard him on the perimeter or go small with Green at the 4.

It was a thing of beauty the way Randolph pushed Aldridge away from the basket and funneled him to the baseline. They got a lot of offensive rebounds and second chance points, but I'm not too worried about that....that's going to happen when you hoist 90+ shots and shoot less than 40%. I think Portland is in big trouble and they already know it.