Celtics vs. Grizzlies: Post-Game Reactions
By Jeromy Smith
Gasol Matches Career High; Grizzlies Dominate 117-100
The young Boston Celtics looked to steal a win. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies would have none of it. Dominating early and never relinquishing the lead, Memphis cruised to a double-digit victory Friday night in Memphis. Despite looking active in the opening minutes, Boston was cold early, missing 3-12 shots during an early stretch, falling behind early. While Boston struggled to score, Memphis started the game off with high efficiency, imposing their will on a team without a rim protector. The Grizzlies team-ball concept didn’t hurt either as the Grizzlies scored on 7 of 10 early FGs with 6 of those being assisted. Memphis simply looked more active right from the opening bell. When Kelly Olynyk botched an early lay-up while under the basket all alone followed by having his rebound put-back blocked by Gasol, one could sense it could be a long night. For the Celtics to win, they need to capitalize on all their easy shots and push the pace to accumulate as many shots (hopefully easy) as they can.
Jeff Green looked out of sync early and struggled throughout the night. Green had a listless lane attempt easily denied by Gasol after a possession where Green was called for a foul on a Gasol score. Green likely was pulling for a charge call, but he seemed to simply fold, which is indicative of the offense tonight. Boston settled for long-range shots from bigs and rarely created easy shots. Green shot 3-11 from the field and the Boston interior bigs struggled outside an effective third quarter by Olynyk.
Memphis dominated the opening quarter scoring 25 points and adding 12 rebounds. A combination of sloppy play and occasional Boston D did create 5 first-quarter TOs. Still, Memphis led by as many as 11 as Boston tallied on 16.
Boston’s bench contributed very solid minutes in the second quarter. A unit consisting of Bass, KO, Turner, Thornton, and Pressey played the Grizzlies tough, cutting the margin to as few as five. Turner and Thornton were providing offensive threats while Brandon Bass remained active and stayed within the offense well. Olynyk was abused on a few second quarter plays and generally looked unfocused on defense. For Kelly to continue to get the minutes he needs to be effective offensively, he needs to tighten his defensive game at least to the position where he’s not a liability. With Marcus Thornton not once hesitating and often hitting along with Brandon Bass playing solid minutes (went 3-5 FGs in 8 minutes), Boston remained in the game, but never quite in a position to threaten.
Much of the reason for not quite pushing to a workable margin was Jon Leuer. The former Wisconsin Badger had a solid 19 for the game, but his play during a ten minute span in the second quarter was dizzying. Leuer threw together 2 steals, 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 10 points to dominate the game between a few sets of commercial breaks. His hustle and activity also led to additional passing on the Boston end and helped to suffocate Boston penetration. On the offensive end, Leuer continued to be active on his team’s set and took open shots. Leuer added 9 points and 5 assists over the rest of the game to finish with 19 and 7 on 9-13 from the floor.
Z-Bo was a killer on the board and in the block tonight, as he is many nights. 16 and 16 from Randolph provided another interior boost for the Grizz. But the man who could not be stopped was Marc Gasol. Gasol matched his career high of 32, set earlier this year against Minnesota, by hitting on 13-22 adding 8 boards. While Gasol dropped in 13 during the first half, after Leuer’s superman showing, his contribution seemed almost invisible. However, in the third quarter, Gasol directed all the attention back on him by scoring 13 in the third alone.
During the third, Memphis withstood an early Boston push to maintain a double-digit lead with 8 minutes left. Boston began the quarter on a 10-2 run, scoring the first five of the quarter, and looked to have a bit of spark back. Memphis roared back as good teams do and continued to play well pushing the lead to nearly 20 with just over four minutes left in the third. At this point, the team looked tired and were playing without energy. Memphis was controlling the game very effectively. Boston was not getting defensive stops and were not running and pushing game pace. It was showing on the offensive end as they lacked the sharpness to compete with a talented defensive team. Boston fell in love with the 3-pt shot again and Memphis was content with letting Boston shoot themselves out of it.
Kelly Olynyk was the exception to the rule of this strategy working as KO poured in 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the 3rd, pacing himself with Gasol. KO added a 3 with 1:37 left in the fourth to cap a strong quarter. After looking decimated in the first half, Olynyk was at least willing to fight.
However, the Celtics couldn’t quite get close enough to make things interesting. When a sequence stretched between a Evan Turner short-armed shot and a Vince Carter 3, stretching the lead to 90-78, most of the starch was gone. The Grizzlies were simply too suffocating on the defensive end, stifling the interior and allowing the bigs to shoot and induce single possessions. Offensively, passing by the Grizzlies was too much for the Celtics to defend. Conley contributed four assists with Carter, Randolph, and Leuer all adding four. As a team, Memphis ended the night with a season high 31 assists (on 48 baskets).
Boston ended with six players in double figured, led by Olynyk’s 18. Rajon Rondo ended the game with only four assists, seven below his season average.
Tonight’s outcome will make more sense as the season unravels, but Memphis choking a team out by 17 might be a typical day at the office for an Western power. Boston needs to have Rondo play well to win; when he doesn’t, offense doesn’t fire as it should and the half-court game becomes one easy to defend. A good lesson from what looks to be a championship contender.