--Even though the Grizzlies shot an awful 0-of-13 from three-point range against the Rockets, veteran three-point bomber Antoine Walker never took off his warm-ups. He wasn't even dressed out.
Why? Walker, in his 13th NBA season after coming to the Grizzlies in a trade from Minnesota, has been told he won't play because of the Grizzlies' youth movement.
So Walker, 32, will get paid $9.32 million this year to be a good solider, since the Grizzlies have no plans to waive him.
"I would have liked the opportunity to play but I understand the state that they're in," Walker said. "I still feel like I've got a lot of basketball left in me. It's unfortunate that it's not working out here. But you have to respect the decision. This team has some good young talent."
--The Grizzlies are now 0-8 on opening night since they moved to Memphis from Vancouver. Also, the Grizzlies' 71 points were the fewest points ever on opening night in franchise history, as the team's previous low in a season opener was 78 in 2005.
--Memphis wore its home white jerseys on the road. The Grizzlies didn't mind cooperating with the Rockets "Red Out" promotion in which the team wore red jerseys and all fans were asked to wear red.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're living in the right now. We don't want to live three years from now or four years from now. We're trying to figure it out today." -- Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, on speeding up the Grizzlies' three-year rebuilding plan.
