MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Recap Rewind: Memphis had played the 4th toughest schedule of any team in the NBA according to the Sagarin ratings. That happens when you play in the toughest division, in the toughest conference and you are one of the weaker teams in the league. Memphis going 2-2 over 7 days is therefore a very good week. The Grizzlies opened against Seattle and took advantage of the tired Sonics who were playing their 5th straight road game. The final score of 125-108 didn’t describe how complete the victory was. The Grizzlies shot 55.8% from the field and 53.3% from the arc in the win. Unfortunately Memphis wasn’t able to build on that victory as Toronto stole a game 89-95 thanks to two 3 pt shots by Andrea Bargnani down the stretch. Memphis couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn in this game shooting 40.5% from the field and 20.8% from the arc, both season lows. Traveling to San Antonio after Thanksgiving wasn’t good for the Grizzlies who appeared to have a touch of the turkey hangover in the 88-101 loss. Memphis ended the week on a high note against Washington as the home team took advantage of Gilbert Arenas’ injury to run up the score in the 124-118 win.
Notable News: Juan Carlos Navarro thrust himself into the conversation for Western Conference Rookie of the Month with some sensational play. The 27 yr old former Spanish League MVP started three games and shot 61% from the field and 44% from the arc in those starts. Navarro has now raised his scoring average to just a hair under 10 pts a game while hitting 47.4% of his field goals and 45.3 of his 3 pt attempts while showing surprising guile on defense and a flair for the exotic in the passing game. Navarro was a pre-season sign and trade by the Grizzlies from the Wizards so Navarro had a little extra incentive to make a good showing in the game.
Navarro was best known around Memphis for his friendship with Pau Gasol but has become a crowd favorite with his signature ‘La Bomba’ push shot in the lane as well as his flair for the dramatic. After missing two possible game tying 3 pt attempts in Dallas, Navarro has shown has continued to show his incredible range and ability to beat bigger players into the lane while adjusting to the differences in NBA game from Europe. The main adjustment has been grasping the different ways that the two leagues call palming the ball and traveling.
Fast Forward: Memphis hits the road for a back to back with New Jersey and Toronto to end the month. With the team sitting at 4-9 on the season the Grizzlies only need one more win to surpass last season’s disappointing 4-11 start. The end of the week starts to favor the Grizzlies as Minnesota with the worst record in the league comes to town.