Beale Street Bears
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Memphis Grizzlies Fall on the Road in Season-Opener Versus Indiana

By Chris Kern

Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley NBA Trade Rumors (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Memphis Grizzlies Mike Conley NBA Trade Rumors (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 17: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 17, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – OCTOBER 17: Kyle Anderson #1 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 17, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

First Half

Both teams struggled early on. Neither could hit shots and they were just very sloppy. It was expected that it was just a funk and both teams would get out of it.

That was the case for the Indiana Pacers, but for the Memphis Grizzlies, the struggles continued for most of the night.

Indiana dominated inside on both ends of the floor. They were getting easy buckets inside on offense while Memphis could not seem to finish anything at the rim.

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There were very few bright spots to take away from the first half. The Grizzlies displayed very little effort on defense as the Pacers were doing whatever they wanted.

Many defensive miscues by Memphis really let the game get away from them. They could not stop the ball as they let countless Indiana guards drive to the rim for easy finishes.

The pick-‘n’-roll was nearly unstoppable it seemed like. They got countless open jumpers off of it, and if that was not open, the Pacers had cutters getting wide-open finishes at the rim.

Garrett Temple’s three shots from downtown late in the half became the only positive. They were all from essentially the same spot on the left wing. It was nice seeing that he will be a guy that can knock down outside shots as long as those opportunities are created.

The Pacers took a 56-39 halftime lead into the locker room. They were shooting 20% better from the field and outrebounded the Grizzlies 29-11. They also outscored the Grizzlies in the paint by a 36-10 margin.

It was a terrible start to a season that was filled with hope and optimism for a team that was finally getting back to full health.

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