Memphis Grizzlies Bounce Back Against the Atlanta Hawks

The Memphis Grizzlies bounced back at FedEx Forum Friday night against the Atlanta Hawks after a loss in their preseason opener against the Houston Rockets.

Memphis Grizzlies Starting Five:

Mike Conley:

Dillon Brooks:

Chandler Parsons:

JaMychal Green:

Marc Gasol:

First Quarter:

The game started off really rugged for both the Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Gasol started the Grizzlies of with 10 of their first 13 points. Gasol looked aggressive after a performance on Tuesday night in Birmingham where he shot 1-7 from the field. Memphis led 15-13 at the 6:41 mark. Memphis went to the bench earlier than Tuesday night, I would think with the back-to-back tomorrow night against the Pacers.

Memphis led the Hawks 22-21 at the 2:48 mark of the first quarter, and brought back JaMychal Green back in to pair with Jackson Jr., in the post. Adding in MarShon to the wing with Temple and Harrison at the guard spot. Memphis looked really solid defensively for a bench unit. Memphis’ MarShon Brooks lit up the Hawks the moment he entered the game. In five minutes of play, Brooks had seven points on 3/3 shooting and an assist to Green in the corner to end the Grizzlies first quarter strong. Memphis led the Hawks 34-26 after one quarter.

Grizzlies Rotations:

Jaren Jackson Jr., and Garrett Temple entered for the Memphis Grizzlies at the 6:41 mark of the first quarter. Andrew Harrison would take Mike Conley’s spot at the 5:10 mark in the first quarter. MarShon Brooks and JaMychal Green entered at 4:05 mark of the first quarter.

Second Quarter:

The Memphis Grizzlies opened the second quarter with our first look at Grizzlies second year center Ivan Rabb. Rabb, who has been in the NBA concussion protocol for the last few weeks.

Memphis started the started the second quarter sloppy letting the Hawks go on a seven to zero one, letting the Hawks cut the Memphis lead to one at 33-34.

Memphis had seven turnovers in the second quarter, but found themselves after giving up the lead in that second quarter to the Hawks. The Grizzlies started pushing the pace, but after pushing the pace after Hawks missed shots, found the open shot and didn’t force any shots on the offensive end.

Memphis closed the first half leading the Hawks by nine, and cleaning their mistake on the offensive end by stepping up defensively, and going back to their roots.

Third Quarter:

The Grizzlies corrected on the majority of their mistakes from that second quarter, and played as close to perfect basketball as possible in the third quarter as possible. At least the first unit did. Memphis pushed the lead to as much as 24. MarShon Brooks absolutely stole the show for the Grizzlies in that third quarter. Brooks literally ran circles around the Hawks defense, and showed that he will be the ace off the Grizzlies bench when this season starts.

Brooks ended the third quarter with 15 points and 6/6 from the field and Memphis leads the Hawks 98-74.

Fourth Quarter:

The fourth quarter started the way the third quarter ended for MarShon Brooks. Kid was hot, and hadn’t missed a shot after a hot third quarter.

Memphis’ backups gave up a lot of the Grizzlies lead, but Memphis ended the game winning by 10, and picking up their first win of the preseason.

Memphis will have a quick turn around with their second game of of a back-to-back tomorrow night against the Indiana Pacers at FedEx Forum tomorrow night.