Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is all about the will to compete. He understands other teams might be more talented, may be bigger, may be stronger, may be faster. But that doesn't and shouldn't negate effort. "We're proving to ourselves, the fans and (the media) as well, that we can compete," Hollins said. "We won't always win, but we can compete and be in the games. There will be nights when we'll have clunkers and we'll get blown out. But we're growing as a team." One area in which the Grizzlies have dramatically improved is on defense. In their last four games, the Grizzlies have allowed more than 20 points in the third or fourth quarters just three times during that span.
"We all trust in each other," center Marc Gasol said. "Everyone is talking, pointing, and helping each other and we can see the results."
Hollins said his team is understanding the value of applying practice to the games.
"The more we work in practice, the better we'll be in games," Hollins said. "In the past, they've done the drills half-heartedly and then got in the game and played it how they wanted to. We're getting into working at practice hard and come and follow up in the game."
THUNDER 102, GRIZZLIES 94: One good quarter by the Grizzlies -- a 28-10 third quarter -- couldn't hold up in the end in a loss that snapped the Grizzlies' three-game streak. The Grizzlies seemed a tad uninterested early, Oklahoma cut off Memphis' inside game and forced the Grizzlies to dial from long distance. Even though a 28-10 third quarter got Memphis a 70-66 lead at the end of three quarters, Memphis was too tired to close the deal in the fourth quarter. Zach Randolph had 19 points and 20 rebounds for Memphis.
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