The “Grit ‘N Grind” identity that the Memphis Grizzlies have embodied for nearly a decade has faded to black.
The ‘Grit ‘N Grind’ Grizzlies are over. Here were your favorite moments
First it was Zach Randolph. Then it was Tony Allen. Now, Grit ‘N Grind is done. Let’s look back.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
First, it was Zach Randolph — the heart and soul of the Grizzlies for years — who signed a two-year deal this summer to join to Sacramento Kings. Then on Monday, after a standstill with Memphis management, Tony Allen — “The Grindfather” himself — inked a one-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Mike Conley and Marc Gasol remain core pieces of a Grizzlies team still hoping to compete in the toughened Western Conference, and both were integral to forming Grit ‘N Grind in Memphis. But as the Grizzlies trend toward youth, athleticism, and perimeter shooting, their identity will change.
In honor of what Memphis was and, in all likelihood, will no longer be, we asked you for some of your top Grit ‘N Grind moments over the years. Here’s what you came up with:
Zach Randolph vs. Blake Griffin Pts. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Here’s a different angle of Randolph choke-slamming Griffin
Here’s a close-up of the choke-slam
Tony Allen: “First Team All-Defense”
This was the same game he didn’t need help guarding Stephen Curry
When Tony Allen got a bucket and stared down Michael Jordan, sending everyone into tears
Tony Allen really moves his feet defensively
When Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol came together to destroy the Clippers in the paint
When Tony Allen gave not one care about the Warriors’ kids dancers
When Z-Bo got suspended Game 7 for punching Steven Adams
Marc Gasol’s flailing arms
Ryan Hollins tipped this inbound pass, but Courtney Lee finished for the win anyway
When the Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the 2011 playoffs
Even Spurs fans had to give it up
When Tony Allen hit O.J. Mayo, who owed him money
Nah, this is hilarious:
From Adrian Wojnarowski
Mayo owed Allen money from a card game, “Boo-Ray” and sources said Mayo became increasingly belligerent and antagonistic toward Allen when asked to settle the debt. Sources said Allen walked away from Mayo to go the restroom and returned to find Mayo continuing to berate him. Eventually, Mayo inched close to Allen, and sources said Allen hit Mayo.
“Tony warned [Mayo] to watch his mouth, and [Mayo] wouldn’t do it and just kept going off on him,” a source with knowledge of the incident told Yahoo! Sports.
From Gary Parrish:
Grizzlies teammates O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen were involved in a fight with each other that stemmed from a gambling dispute during a card game on the flight home from Los Angeles after Sunday night’s win over the Lakers, three different sources have told CBSSports.com. Two of those sources said the altercation left Mayo with a noticeably “swollen” face.
The Grizzlies will never be the same without Zach Randolph and Tony Allen. Now, it’s up to Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to carry the torch.
The “Grit ‘N Grind” era is done. We’ll miss it.
See More:
