Quick hits: Memphis Grizzlies 110, Oklahoma City Thunder 94

The Memphis Grizzlies improved to 3-1 in the preseason, riding a 41-point second quarter en route to a 110-94 victory over the host Oklahoma City Thunder in Tulsa, O.K.

The Memphis Grizzlies are 3-1 in the NBA preseason and have scored 231 points points over their past two games. While the record means nothing, there was a lot to take away from Thursday night’s 110-94 win in Tulsa.

Quick hits

• Mike Conley struggled hard to get around screens and was exposed by Russell Westbrook in the first quarter. When Westbrook was sat after halftime, Conley played with a lot more swagger and aggressiveness, knowing he was the best guard on the court.

• Wade Baldwin IV played well, but unlike Conley, struggles as the ball handler in the pick-and-roll offense. In the first half, Zach Randolph set a screen almost every time Baldwin had the ball and it was like the duo moved in slow motion. Baldwin has an extremely quick first step, and needs to use that to cut around the screen harder.
• Zach Randolph looked like Carmelo Anthony, but with a lot more missed shots. The jab steps, the fadeaways, they were all there for Randolph who was coming off a 4-for-6 3-point shooting night against Philadelphia. The only difference this time around was the 3s and mid-range shots weren’t dropping–at all. Randolph as a sixth man is a good idea, but I don’t think anybody should let him know he’s the best offensive player on the second unit.
• Conley-to-Gasol pick-and-pops near the top of the key might be the new break ‘n’ butter to the Grizzlies’ offense. No, I’m not kidding.

• D.J. Stephens on the highlight reel…again.

By the numbers

• 3: 3-pointers hit by Gasol on five attempts.
• 27.3: Percent Randolph shot to start the game (3-for-11), the majority of those attempts were jump shots. He finished 6-for-17.
• 1: Quarter that the newly signed Vince Hunter came into the game after being featured late in the second half against the 76ers. Hunter scored 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field.
• 14: 3-pointers hit by the Thunder on 21 attempts, most of which were open looks.

What worked? Spacing

It’s no secret the spacing is a key to a modern NBA team’s offense. With the newfound shooting confidence from Gasol and Randolph, it opens up a lot of different looks for the new-look Memphis Grizzlies offense. No longer is the duo exclusively rolling off picks, but they can now pop out as well. Outside of the frontcourt, having capable shooters should allow the Memphis Grizzlies to make the most out of Gasol’s passing ability from inside, especially when he’s receiving the ball in the paint in a Draymond Green-esque kind of way as the roll-man.

Needs work: Off-ball defending on the perimeter

Particularly in the first half, the Memphis Grizzlies’ defense collapsed all too quickly when Russell Westbrook drove the lane, allowing for wide-open looks from Kyle Singler (ugh, I know) and Alex Abrines. The duo combined to shoot 10-for-12 from behind the arc.

Notable

• Gasol and Westbrook were given technicals for a scuffle in the first half. It’s just the preseason, fellas.

• We learned what this saying means:

Next: Mike Conley and Kyrie Irving are the exact same analytically, but what does that mean?