The Grizzlies beat the SuperSonics

Grizzlies 125, SuperSonics 108

When was the last time the Grizzlies lost to the Seattle SuperSonics?

Answer: Draft Lottery Night

HAHAHHA

Tonight’s Attendance:  10,863

Number of Rudy Gay dunks: 1

Rudy's best dunk on a scale 1 to 10: 9.8 

Number of Juan Carlos Navarro three-pointers made: 0

National Anthem performance on a scale 1 to 10: 8.5

What we learned tonight, if we didn’t know already: This Grizzlies team really is better than their record (3-7).

Random fact of the night: Three former number two draft picks were in attendance, two played (Swift and Durant) and one was on the bench with an injured thumb (Darko).

Random thought of the night: Apparently,the writers strike is not affecting new episodes of the Stro Show (Swift had a season high 24pts and a few hand signal worthy dunks).

Home games played: 5

Home games Mike Conley (out this game with an injury) has played in: 0

Grizzlies take Hornets to overtime while Tigers battle UConn

Hornets 120, Grizzlies 118 (OT)

When the Grizzlies have a home game the same night the Tigers play on TV, attendance is usually down at the Forum. Tonight was no exception. But, was it because fans could watch the Tigers for free on TV, or was it because fans could watch the Tigers AND Grizzlies at home for free? Why pay to miss one game and see another, when you can watch both for free at home? Maybe the Grizz should think about not televising the home games that fall on the same night as a potential televised Tigers game…

Those who did go to the Forum witnessed another fun basketball game (that is 3 of 4 really good home games so far this season) Juan Carlos Navarro was the story of the game for the Grizz with his career high 28pts. 

Tonight’s Attendance:  13,271

Number of Rudy Gay dunks: 1

Rudy's best dunk on a scale 1 to 10: 6   

Number of Juan Carlos Navarro three-pointers made: 8

National Anthem performance on a scale 1 to 10: 8

What we learned tonight, if we didn’t know it already: Rudy should be taking the clutch shots for the Grizz, not Pau.

Random fact of the night: This is the first Grizzlies/Hornets game in two years that did not feature the match up of CP3 vs. CA3.

Random thought of the night: The 2001 theme song was played as the Kings of the Court came out before the fourth quarter to try trampoline dunks. There are only two times that song should be played in FedExForum:  (1) When the Tiger basketball team is introduced  (2) When Ric Flair makes his way to the ring

In the crowd: Last game, there was a group of DECA students in the lower level performing organized dances before the game. This game, a group of fans from Cajun country made their way to the lower level of the Forum and could be heard chanting “Let’s Go Hornets” all night. And when Stro was at the foul line, we were treated to some “LSU” chants as well.

The streak continues: The Grizzlies have scored 100 or more every home game. Which means this is the fourth consecutive game fans have left the game with a coupon for free Hooters wings (which has changed from "with the purchase of a drink" to "with the purchase 10 wings").

Kyle Lowry’s top 5 pregame music picks: (1) Rocafella Billionaires- Freeway feat Jay-Z (2) My Drink and My Two Step- Cassidy feat Swiss Beatz (3) Blue Magic- Jay-Z (4) Rock Boys- Jay-Z (5) I Think It’s a Game- Beanie Sigel

Number of home games Mike Conley has played in:  0

Shane who? Rudy and the new #31 help lead Grizz to win over Rockets

Grizzlies 105, Rockets 99

The Grizzlies beat one of the Western Conference elite to get the team’s first home win of the season.

This game may be remembered as the game where Memphis fans officially got over losing Shane Battier. No, Memphis will never stop loving Battier, but tonight the exclamation point was put on the sentence “It was a good trade!”

The player who was traded for Battier and the player who now wears Battier’s old number both played a key role in the Grizzlies second victory of the season.

Battier played 5 seconds more than Rudy … Rudy had 15 points including three raise to your feet dunks. Battier did not score.

While Battier got one of the loudest crowd reactions during team intros, the applause he received did not come close to the cheers that resulted from any of Rudy’s three dunks.

And then there was Darko. He picked Battier’s old #31 when he signed with the Grizz over the summer, and he took care of the Rockets #11 tonight.

Milicic, Lowry and Gay all continue to impress and improve every game.

Tonight’s Attendance:  12,368

Number of Rudy Gay dunks:  3

Rudy's best dunk on a scale 1 to 10: 10    

Rudy's best dunk on ESPN’s Top 10 plays:  #9 (he was robbed)

National Anthem performance on a scale 1 to 10: 8.5

Random fact of the night: This game was the second of a “McGrady back-to-back” at FedExForum. On Monday, Chance McGrady played in the final minutes of the Tigers 55 point win against CBU. On Tuesday, his half-brother Tracey McGrady put up 41 points (6 more than the whole CBU team) against the Grizz. This season, the schedule has an unprecedented possibility of two McGrady back-to-backs at FedExForum. Your next chance to see a different McGrady on back-to-back nights at the Forum will be Dec 28 (Grizz vs Rockets) and Dec 29 (Tigers vs. Arizona).

Random thought of the night: Why can’t Darko wear his first name on the back of his jersey like Yao and Yi?

Almost Surprise of the Night:  Casey Jacobson did not play in the whole second half… until the final minute.

Continuing storyline: When will Conley make his home debut? Friday vs. New Orleans? Maybe.

Rudy Gay dunks, Mike Conley sits, Grizzlies lose

Pacers 121, Grizzlies 111

If you are going to lose, why not lose with your top draft pick in the game?

That is the question the coaching staff needs to be asking themselves as they head on a three game road trip.  The Grizzlies do not need to be playing Kerry Collins when they have Vince Young on the bench... or something like that. 

Fans did not see the debut of Mike Conley against the Pacers, but did get to see Conley’s five favorite songs posted on Grizz Vision before the game (A cool new addition to the game night experience. Hopefully, before every game we get to take a look at a different player’s five favorites).

Iavaroni one-upped Hubie Brown by playing 11 men in the first quarter.  How is it that the only active player on the roster not to get any playing time was the player you picked fourth in the draft?

Tonight’s Attendance:  14,878

Number of Rudy Gay dunks:  2   (his first dunks of the year, both in the fourth quarter) 

Rudy's dunks on a scale 1 to 10:   9.5

National Anthem performance (by the Navy band) on a scale 1 to 10:  8.5

Random trend:  Hakim Warrick made a three pointer.  In the first game of the season, Pau Gasol sunk one from behind the three-point line.  Will Stro be next?

Surprise of the Night:  Casey Jacobson was not one of the five players featured on the schedule magnets given to fans tonight.  For a reason yet known, Jacobson has been Iavaroni’s favorite bench player in the first two games. 

Order of players off the bench: Swift, Lowry, Jacobsen, Andre Brown, Warrik, Navarro

Mike Conley’s top five songs:  (1) I'm So Hood- Ludacris Remix (2) The Good Life- Kanye West (3) Pop Bottles- Little Wayne/Birdman  (4) Duffle Bag Boy- Playaz Club feat. Lil Wayne (5) Champion- Kanye West   

Other Notes:

Former Tiger Shawne Williams sat out the game because of team suspicion...

It was Military appreciation night at the Forum.  Keeping with the theme, the new t-shirt gun was described as one of Grizz's "Weapons of Mass Entertainment."

 

Grizzlies lose opener, but start winning back fans

Spurs 104, Grizzlies 101

It was once again Halloween night and opening night at the same time at FedExForum. Grizz was dressed as Superman, PA announcer Rick Trotter was dressed as The Hulk, and Darius Washington Jr. came dressed as a San Antonio Spur.

With a final score of 104-101 in favor of the defending World Champions, the Grizzlies remain unsuccessful at winning an opening night game in the Bluff City, but start a two game streak of exciting opening nights (last year’s triple overtime game against the Knicks was one of the best home game last year).

Famous ring announcer Michael “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble” Buffer doing the Grizzlies player intros was a hit.  But, the team could have saved a bunch of money and had an even bigger crowd reaction if they had brought in local legend Lance Russell.

Fans did not see the debut of Mike Conley, but did see the debut of the T-Machine and Bensinger's Fine Cleaners Ball Blaster

Darko had an impressive outing in the starting lineup with his first quarter performance being better than his entire preseason.  His emphatic dunk with 7:14 left in the first quarter brought the crowd to their feet, and made people take notice that things may really be different this season.

The free tickets Pau gave away were really nice seats. Many fans got to enjoy the game for free from lower level and club level seating.  Say what you want about Gasol, but apparently he is not cheap.

Tonight’s Attendance:  17,538

Number of Rudy Gay dunks:  0

National Anthem performance on a scale 1 to 10:  8

Coach Iavaroni post-game Quote of the Night:  “I can’t think of a better way to start… well maybe one better way.”

Surprise of the Night:  Casey Jacobson was the first Grizzlies player off the bench, before leading favorites Kyle Lowry and Juan Carlos Navarro.  The second player off the bench was Jack Eaton’s favorite player- Stromile Swift.

Other Notes: 

Marc Iavaroni is on the cover of the first Grizz Time game program of the season.  New sponsor promotions include 10 free wings at Hooters (with the purchase of a drink) if the Grizzlies score 100 points or more... like they did against the Spurs...

For the first time in Memphis Grizzlies history, Sports 56 does not have a pre and post game radio show... However, there was an upgrade over at the official (and now only) Grizzlies post-game program with Shawn Arnell taking over as the new host.  The radio show is already better that it has been in two years, and the broadcast sounds more Memphis than ever before.