It's already noticeable in just two games under new Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins. Second-year point guard Mike Conley is playing considerably more relaxed, which was obvious in his performance in Wednesday's overtime loss at Oklahoma City.
He had 15 points, nine assists, five rebounds, two turnovers and a steal. And there was a lot of constant reinforcement from Hollins during the game. That kind of coaching, plus the fact that Conley now had the freedom to fly up and down the court without having to stop and look at the bench for a play (which is what previous coach Marc Iavaroni preferred) has made Conley a new man. "Coach wants me to put the jets on and push the ball," Conley said. "There's more pressure when you don't have that opportunity. When you don't have that opportunity you're worried about messing up too much."
Hollins said he's going to give Conley every opportunity to prove that he should be the guy that runs the team.
"I want to see if Mike Conley is a basketball player on a high level," Hollins said, referring to Conley being the fourth overall draft pick last season. "I understand the pressure of being a high pick, of being the first guard picked. I was the No. 6 (overall) pick. But I want to see what he can do."
THUNDER 114, GRIZZLIES 102 (OT): The Grizzlies shot 74 percent in the first quarter and still lost their 11th straight game, the second under Hollins. There were bright spots, such as more sustained hustle and determination, such as the Grizzlies scoring the last six points of regulation to force overtime.
Rudy Gay's follow basket got the Grizzlies into overtime and they scored the first basket of the extra period. Then the Thunder scored 14 straight points, the Grizzlies couldn't make a shot and Memphis had fallen to 0-4 in overtime games this season.
