Critics scoffed at the summertime move when the Grizzlies signed free agent forward Zach Randolph. While most teams passed on Randolph, who has had his share of off-the-court baggage, the Grizzlies thought the risk was worth taking. Why? Because the Grizzlies needed a consistent inside scorer and rebounder to take some burden off second-year center Marc Gasol. And it didn't take Grizzlies' management very long to target Randolph, who had a history of abusing the Grizzlies almost every time they've played.
So far, the acquisition has been golden for the Grizzlies. Randolph is averaging 18.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, with 12 double-doubles, second in the NBA. He's on pace to become only the second Grizzly player to average a double-double for a season. Shareef Abdur-Rahim posted 20.3 points and 10.1 rebounds for the 1999-00 season.
In Friday's loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Randolph established franchise records for offensive rebounds in a game (11), offensive rebounds in a half (10), offensive rebounds in a quarter (seven), total rebounds in a half (16) and total rebounds in a quarter (13). He finished with a career-high 21 rebounds.
Don't expect him to let up. Because Randolph's name was left off the All-Star ballot, he's playing to impress so he can chosen as a reserve by the Western Conference All-Star coach.
"It's crazy," Randolph said of not being on the ballot. "A lot of people noticed that I wasn't on the ballot. My whole career I haven't been getting a lot of recognition. I think the fans here appreciate me. I just have to keep on pushing and keep playing."
GRIZZLIES 118, HEAT 90: A 37-point first quarter got the Grizzlies rolling and they never looked back in establishing their largest victory margin of the year at Miami. Rudy Gay scored a career-high 41 points, but he and the rest of the Grizzlies were playing at a different speed than the Heat. As much as anything, the Grizzlies' overwhelming 31-6 advantage in fast-break points told the story of this game. Time and again, Memphis ran past flat-footed Heat defenders who never quite got enthusiastic about playing on a Sunday afternoon. The Grizzlies put this one away so early that Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins was able to rest all his starters (except Gay, who played 38:13) since Memphis plays Boston in FedExForum on Monday.
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