Friday night's bout between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers was interesting for a number of reasons. It was a clash of styles, as the three-point happy Blazers took on a Grizzlies team that avoids the long ball. The battle inside promised to be fun, as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph faced LaMarcus Aldridge and Robin Lopez. But, obviously, the biggest draw was the chance to see how two of the best teams in the West matched up against each other. We got a pretty conclusive answer on that front.
The Grizzlies make a statement with win over Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Blazers in Portland decisively and are proving they should be included in any conversation about the league’s elite teams.
Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
The Blazers started out hot and led by 12 midway through the first quarter, but the Grizzlies tightened things up on defense and clawed their way back into the game. Memphis only trailed by two as the first period ended. After that, the Grizzlies outscored the Blazers, 89-74, the rest of the way. That might not seem like a huge differential, but it’s remarkable for a Memphis team which has traditionally won with a grind-it-out style that often leads to low scoring.
As always, it all starts out on the defensive end for the Grizzlies. A terrible night from outside by the Blazers contributed, as no one other than Wesley Matthews (7-12 from beyond the arc) could hit even wide open three-pointers. But the Grizzlies closed off the paint, allowing only a stellar 45.2 percent inside and forcing the Blazers to beat them from long range. Nothing illustrates that point better than LaMarcus Aldridge's shot chart:
Aldridge couldn’t get anything going close to the rim. His only make came on a dunk after a three-on-two fastbreak. Most of his point-blank misses were on tip-ins and he even airballed two runners. The Grizzlies’ interior defense was so good that despite allowing the Blazers 15 offensive rebounds to their eight, both teams had the same amount of second-chance points.
That the Grizzlies can play defense is not surprising. It has been their calling card for years. It’s their offense which has exceeded expectations so far and what sets this team apart from previous incarnations. After averaging just 103.3 points per 100 possessions in 2013-14, good for No. 16 in the league, this year Memphis boasts a top-10 offense scoring over three more points per 100 possessions in comparison.
There are many reasons for the offensive improvement, like Mike Conley and Courtney Lee shooting well over their career averages from outside and Tayshaun Prince receiving fewer minutes. But the biggest impact has been caused by Marc Gasol's new-found aggressiveness. Gasol is averaging 14.1 field goal attempts per game, by far the largest number of his career. He's also getting to the line at an unprecedented rate for his standards. Whether his assertiveness is fueled by his impending free agency or has simply come from realizing how talented a scorer he is remains unclear. But all that matters to Memphis is whether or not he can sustain it.
Against the Blazers, Gasol scored 26 points on 15 shots and dished out nine assists. He killed Portland from mid-range when left open and used his touch and body control to convert on rolls to the basket off Conley assists. We have never seen this version of Gasol and if he can continue having games like this one, the offensive droughts which mired the Grizzlies at times in the past might not be a concern anymore.
Aside from stats and individual performances, there is a collective poise the Grizzlies are showing that is hard to find. They had no problem coming from behind after a slow start. And once they pulled ahead, they never let the Blazers back in the game. Midway through the fourth quarter, Portland made its push, but Memphis withstood it and got their lead back to double digits to cruise to a win in one of the toughest arenas in the league.
Of course, it’s only one game. And the season is young enough that it’s hard to extrapolate much just yet. But after years of incrementally getting better before seemingly reaching a plateau, it looks like the Grizzlies have found another gear. If Gasol can keep propping up their offense while their defense remains as stout as ever, the West will have a new bona fide contender.
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