In Game 3, the Memphis Grizzlies dealt the Minnesota Timberwolves a pair of quite big haymakers. The Timberwolves completely outplayed Memphis in the first quarter, building a 39-21 advantage. However, the Grizzlies rallied in the second quarter and cut the deficit to seven at halftime. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves struck again in the third quarter, and the Grizzlies were unable to recover, as Minnesota had a 16-point advantage heading into the final stanza.
Then came the fourth quarter.
The Grizzlies proceeded to scratch and claw their way back into the game, closing the gap to three points with 9 minutes remaining on an 18-0 run. Later in possessions, the team wrapped things up, demonstrating an extraordinary unwillingness to lay down and take it when confronted with those body hits. In every combat, the individual prepared to keep swinging and refusing to settle for anything less than pushing the opponent to the edge has the greatest chance of winning.
The Memphis Grizzlies are basketball’s equivalent of that warrior. And they won largely as a result of that.
Several lessons from a historic night in Grizzlies basket
ball history.
He had several standout performances for Memphis in this contest. Here’s a critical steal, and there’s a great switch. However, he continually lost his rhythm in the game, both on and off the court, as a result of foul problems. He picked up two fouls totally off the court – one on an offensive screen under the basket on a Ja Morant drive, and the other wrestling for position on the perimeter with Karl-Anthony Towns. There is a significant difference between fouling out as a result of bad officiating/attempting to create winning plays and losing sight of your importance to the Grizzlies, particularly defensively. He made a tremendous block late in the game that resulted in points on the opposite end…if he had fouled out, which obviously never happens.
His knowledge of game circumstances and his positioning on the court must improve significantly if the Grizzlies are to attain their full potential in this series and beyond.
