Memphis Grizzlies collect win number 13 against New Orleans

The Memphis Grizzlies push their way through the mud and collect win number 13 against a beaten New Orleans Pelicans team.

First Quarter:

It seemed that everyone, including myself, expected the Memphis Grizzlies to come storming out of the gates after four days off. The first possession on offense was a well-executed Tyreke Evans layup, but following that was a lack of effort.

Two offensive rebounds led to a Rajon Rondo 3-point bucket and a quick J.B. Bickerstaff timeout. The Grizzlies still showed huge signs of inconsistency throughout the first quarter. It could be from the four days off, or maybe the team is just in two different directions right now. New Orleans was hot from the start dropping 38 in the first quarter. Rondo kept up his “re-birth” game scoring 12 in quarter one.

Second Quarter:

The Grizzlies fought their way back into the game with 6:16 remaining in the second quarter. Memphis out scored the Pelicans 15-6 in the first six minutes of the second quarter, but that was without Cousins and Rondo on the floor. With 3:11 remaining in the second quarter, the Grizzlies were up five, and Gasol collected his third foul. Andrew Harrison had a beautiful chase-down block that could’ve resulted in a momentum shift — but didn’t.

At the end of the first half, the Grizzlies salted the lead away. Memphis trailed New Orleans 61-60 at the the end of the first two quarters of play.

Third Quarter:

The Grizzlies followed up a less than average end to the first half with a strong start in the third quarter.

JaMychal Green played a huge role in the Grizzlies first run getting four quick points in the first four minutes. It seemed that the Grizzlies didn’t have the lead, although they did. They were stuck in the mud, worst than mud, perhaps quicksand.

The third quarter wasn’t bad for the Grizzlies, but it was good. Memphis finished the third quarter with the lead. However, the Pelicans only scored nine points and the Grizzlies should have capitalized offensively. The Grizzlies led the Pelicans 77-70 after three quarters.

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Fourth Quarter:

The fourth quarter was similar to a funeral session. The Grizzlies had a double-digit lead, and it seemed like we were looking back at the good times. Then, the mood slowly changed once everyone saw the shell that was the Grizzlies. It’s like seeing that person, but knowing it’s not them anymore.

Then, the sad moment you know they are never coming back occurred when the Grizzlies lost lead it seemed it was the case at the five minute mark. Then came the drive to the burial, and the last four minutes seemed to be the drive that was going to send the Grizzlies below. Then, when Mario Chalmers is looking over the casket in the final minutes, Gasol and Evans come flying out of the casket and save the game.

In conclusion, the Grizzlies barely scraped by the bruised Pelicans 105-102.