[08]Grizzlies(18-5) -- Grizz win nail-biter!

[Cool Cat]

Great Recaps...

[OrlMagic]

nice recap and Dynasty

keep it up

[Clutch]

only time to read teh last recap and the monthly atm but looking forward to starting from the 1st page and reading in its entirety; well done so far! definitely a dynasty-in-the-make worthy of attention will be interesting to see if you can hold that spot in the league's fiercest division

[almightyx]

Memphis involved in blockbuster trade, pick up All-Star PG
November 30, 2008


Gilbert Arenas and Michael Redd are 2 stars with different zip codes now.

Memphis, TN -- The Grizzlies front office sent November out with a bang, getting involved in a 3 team trade with Milwaukee and Washington. Memphis sent C Darko Milicic, SG Marko Jaric, and PG Kyle Lowry to Milwaukee and PG Mike Conley to Washington. Milwaukee sent SG Michael Redd to the Wizards and PG Ramon Sessions to Memphis, while Washington ships PG Gilbert Arenas to the Grizzlies. At the press conference announcing the trade, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace talked about the trade. "We're extremely excited to have Gilbert Arenas and Ramon Sessions be a part of our team. I honestly wasn't expecting to make any deals throughout the year, but when we finished November in first I saw our chance. Its almost required to have an elite point guard to compete in our division. Having to face Paul, Parker, and Kidd several times throughout the year, I felt that was the one piece we were lacking. I made a couple calls, we worked out a deal, and here we are. Everyone got what they wanted. I hate to see our guys go, but I'm excited at the same time. I used this as a message to the teams in our division, letting them know we're not backing down."

Gilbert Arenas comes in to Memphis averaging 32.1 PPG, which is good for 3rd in the league. The notoriously clutch Arenas brings in years of Playoff experience, which is clearly what Wallace has been searching for. During the offseason, Arenas had opted out of the final year of his contract, proving he wasn't too happy in Washington. He re-signed with the Wizards because they were the only team willing to give him the contract he wanted, settling for roughly $18.5 million a year for 4 years. Arenas talked about his move after the deal became final, "I'm excited to play in Memphis. They're a great young team and they brought me in to lead them to the Playoffs. I love the direction they're going in. It's going to be fun playing with all these guys."

Michael Redd, technically traded to Memphis before being shipped to Washington, clearly wanted out of Milwaukee. Unhappy with the direction the Bucks were headed, rumors started to swirl around the Bucks' star. When Milwaukee sent C Andrew Bogut to Golden State for SG Steven Jackson, it was clear the Bucks were willing to deal Redd. There was talk of him heading to Washington for Arenas, but the Bucks didn't want Arenas' salary, almost $4.5 million more a year than Redd. That's when Memphis got involved, as they were willing to give up what Milwaukee was asking for. Milwaukee was in bad need of a center, picking up the underachieving Milicic, along with Marko Jaric and Kyle Lowry. Jaric replaces Jackson on the bench, allowing him to move into Redd's original spot in the lineup. Lowry provides a replacement for Sessions of the bench as well.

In another separate deal, Memphis traded rarely used PG Javaris Crittenton to Orlando for backup C Adonis Foyle. Foyle replaces the traded Darko Milicic, bring in a veteran defensive and rebounding presence to the Grizzlies. Memphis GM Chris Wallace talked about the deal afterwards, "When we traded Darko, it left us a bit thin in the frontcourt, but I figured I could use our deep backcourt to make another deal to restore the depth on the bench. When Orlando was willing to let Foyle go and all they were asking for was Crittenton, I was more than happy to oblige. Javaris is a good young PG but we just couldn't find enough minutes for him. I hate to see him go but I'm very happy with what we got in return." Memphis returns to action December 1 on the road against Miami.

[almightyx]

*I still can't seem to get everything corrected with my Live. It hates Miami for some reason, so I had to simulate this game.

Memphis uses big 3rd quarter to beat Miami, 93-81
December 1, 2008

Miami, FL -- Miami hosted the new look Memphis Grizzlies at the American Airlines Arena tonight. Memphis should have had Gilbert Arenas, but due to a paperwork error with his physical, he had to remain with Washington. Since the deal technically sent Michael Redd to Memphis, then Washington, Redd suited up for Memphis tonight due to the error. He made sure his one and only game was a good one. After a tie ballgame at the half, Redd scored 10 of his game-high 33 points in the 3rd to help the Grizzlies outscore the Heat in the 3rd, 29-15. Redd shot a blistering 14-21 from the field, with 8 assists, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. SG OJ Mayo, playing the PG for the majority of the game, was the only other Grizzly in double digits, scoring 16 on 5-12 shooting. Memphis as a team shot 50% from the field. Heat star Dwayne Wade had a poor shooting night, hitting only 9 of his 25 shots, but led Miami with 23 points, including 2 rebounds, 7 assists, and 5 steals. SF Shawn Marion added 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists. 2nd overall pick Michael Beasley was held to 9 points and 6 boards. Memphis moved to 11-5 on the year, while Miami dropped to 7-10. The Grizzlies continue their road trip, heading up to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers on December 3rd.

Next Game: Dec. 3 @ Philadelphia

[Chabalaba]

Wow that was a good trade. How long do you have to wait until you can get Arenas? Haha, Michael Redd for one game.

[OrlMagic]

good Trade and Nice win

[Lamrock]

Trade recap could use some player pics, but good trade, even though at 10-5, you don't exactly need a revamp. This gives you the most perennially explosive backcourt in the NBA though. Bucks got raped (like in my dynasty trade!), but you should have a pretty fun lineup now.

[almightyx]

Arenas stars for Memphis, hold off 76ers, 89-84
December 3, 2008
Box Scores: Memphis 89 Philadelphia 84


New addition Gilbert Arenas takes a jumper in the 3rd quarter.

Philadelphia, PA -- Memphis continued their road trip, heading to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers. With the paperwork all cleared up, PG Gilbert Arenas suited up for Memphis tonight, much to the distaste of Philly fans. Arenas made his presence known early, scoring 11 and dishing 4 assists. 76ers SG Andre Iguodala did his best to counter Arenas, also scoring 11 in the 1st frame. It wasn't enough though, as Arenas continuously drove the lane, spearheading an 8-0 run with 2 minutes left in the quarter to push the Grizzlies lead to 10. Both teams shot 52% in the quarter, with Memphis taking a 6 point lead into the 2nd.

The 2nd quarter became completely the opposite of the first. Philadelphia was the one going on the run this time, using an 11-0 run, capitalizing on PG Louis Williams's stellar play to gain a 3 point lead halfway through the quarter. 76ers PG Andre Miller made room for Williams, picking up his 3rd foul early in the quarter. Williams finished the half with 8 points on 4-8 shooting, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. After his spectacular 1st Q, Arenas seemed intent to involve his new teammates more in the 2nd. The plan backfired though, as the Grizzlies turned the ball over again and again to spur on the 76ers rally. Memphis did do something right though, holding PF Elton Brand to 2 points and 3 rebounds in the first half and only allowing Iguodala to take one shot in the 2nd, which he missed. On top of all the turnovers, Memphis shot 40% in the 2nd, allowing Philly to take a 1 point lead into the break.

Coming out of the break, both teams played evenly throughout the 3rd, trading spurts until there were 4 minutes left in the quarter. Memphis went on a 10-2 run, taking a 1 point lead and they never gave it back. Arenas scored another 8 points in the quarter, giving him 23 for the game. SF Rudy Gay became Memphis' do it all man, running his totals up to 10 points, 10 boards, and 4 assists. Philly C Samuel Dalembert scored 8 of his 12 in the 3rd to keep it close, as Brand continued to struggle, only scoring another 2 points on 1-6 shooting. The Grizzlies picked up their percentage, shooting 55% in the quarter.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the 4th quarter, but the 76ers could never regain the lead. Miller was placed back in the game to start the 4th, but promptly picked up his 5th foul on an Arenas drive to the hoop. Despite Williams's terrific play early in the game, Sixers Head Coach Maurice Cheeks inserted PG Kevin Ollie in place of Miller. It probably cost Philly the game though, as Ollie wasn't able to drive the lane and dish like Williams had done earlier. The 76ers were able to keep it close though, down by 3 with 20.2 seconds left and inbounding the ball. Iguodala walked the ball up the court, held until 5 seconds left, and then watched as his 3 bounced off the rim and into Grizzly C Adonal Foyle's hands. Foyle was promply fouled, but to add to the drama, he missed both of his free throws. Gay grabbed the 2nd miss though, and was fouled with 1.6 seconds left. He sunk both of his free throws to preserve the win, 89-84. Arenas had a game-high 28 points, with 8 assists. SG OJ Mayo had another poor shooting night but still added 12 points on 5-17 shooting. Gay had probably the best line of the night, adding 16 points, 13 boards, 4 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. Iguodala led Philly with 24 points on 11-23 shooting. Brand picked up his play in the 4th, finishing with 12 points, 8 boards, and 3 assists. SF Thaddeus Young had an absolutely terrible shooting night, finishing with 7 points, going 3-15 from the field. He did add 7 boards and 8 assists in the loss though. After the game, Memphis Head Coach Mark Iavaroni talked about his new PG, "You guys just watched why we traded for him. He's a premiere point guard. He's gonna take some of the load off OJ and Rudy. I was pleased with A.D. (Foyle) as well, he did exactly what we brought him in to do. I was pleased with our performance tonight, although I coulda done without the second quarter. *chuckles* I just wanna tell all our fans to get used to this though." Memphis continues their road trip, heading to the Big Apple to take on the sruggling New York Knicks.

Next Game: Dec. 5 @ New York

Around the League:
December 2, 2008
Tracy McGrady and Chris Bosh decided to play a game of "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" tonight. Bosh had 39 points on 17-25 shooting, with 10 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 blocks. Not to be outdone, McGrady scored 52 on 20-38 shooting, with 11 assists, 4 boards, 3 steals, and 6 blocks. Houston walked away with the win, 108-97.

[dansensei]

i wonder how it feels to play for a team for just one game, its just so unusual for a superstar to do that...
anyways, good trade, and nice win against miami and philly...

whoah... t-mac w/ 52 points....

[SoukpBulldzers03]

Nice wins. This is definately a dynasty i will start following...

Question: How come you have a number 0 and 00? just a little odd.

[almightyx]

Chabalaba thanks, I had to wait only one game for Arenas. I hate that Live waits a day or two before agreeing. I understand it though.

OrlMagic thanks, and thanks for following as well

Iamrock pics added for your pleasure. I'm surprised you actually didn't tear me down for making the move. thanks for the props too, I appreciate it

dansensei it must be a bit strange, especially when you're the only proven star. but since Live waits between trades I had no choice. I had the same reaction when I read about McGrady too. thanks for the comments and keep following!!

SoukpBulldzers03 thanks for the comments! I'm glad you're following now. As far as the numbers, that's just the numbers they are. it is a bit strange, but I'm too lazy to try and edit it.

[almightyx]

Grizzlies win 3rd straight, beat New York, 96-83
December 5, 2008
Box Scores: Memphis 96 New York 83


Hakim Warrick shows off against the Knicks.

New York, NY -- Memphis continued their road trip against the struggling New York Knicks earlier tonight. The Grizzlies decided to have a fashion show, wearing their road-alternate yellow jerseys for the game. While the yellow got a rise out of most of the media there, their play wasn't quite as thrilling. Memphis actually came out on fire, jumping out on New York early, 10-4. The Knicks, led by 1st round pick Danillo Gallinari, stormed back, playing the way their front office had always wanted. NY actually held a 6 point lead at the midway mark, but let the Grizzlies back into it by the end of the quarter, only leading by 1. After tearing Philly apart in the 1st in his last game, Grizzlies PG Gilbert Arenas didn't come out quite as hot, scoring only 4 points. Rookie SG OJ Mayo found his touch, scoring 7 points in the 1st. Gallinari led the Knicks with 5 on 2-8 shooting.

The 2nd showed off the Grizzlies talent, as they came storming out, going on an 8-0 run to take a 6 point lead with 6:00 minutes left. They eventually got the lead up to 9, and headed into the break 8 up. Mayo continued his stroke, running his half totals to 15 points, 5-7 from the field, and 4-6 from the line. Arenas picked up his play as well, scoring 10, grabbing 3 rebounds, and dishing 4 assists. Grizzly SF Rudy Gay continued his strong all-around play, posting a line of 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in the half. New York, in a fit of amnesia, forgot they were the Knicks and actually spread the ball and the scoring around. They couldn't sink many of their shots though, shooting only 33% in the 2nd.

The 3rd played out fairly evenly, as Memphis couldn't put the New York away, despite their best effort. Memphis' lead actually sunk down to 4, as Quinton Richardson buried a 3 at the buzzer. That 3 was his only points of the game. Gallinari led the Knicks with 15 points, and NY PG Stephon Marbury played like the Starbury of old, pushing his totals to 11 points, 5 boards, and 7 assists. Arenas continued his strong play, scoring 8 3rd Q points to keep New York at bay. The only reason to believe Memphis might actually lose this game? Turnovers. In the 1st half, the Grizzlies had only 3 turnovers. They played a lot sloppier in the 3rd, coughing up the ball 6 times.

The Grizz weren't about to let New York steal a game from them though, pushing their lead up to 11 with 5:03 left in the game. The Knicks wouldn't get much closer than that. New York had been in foul trouble all night, and got into the penalty early in the 4th, letting Memphis hold their lead through the rest of the game. The free throw disparity was a big reason Memphis won, as they hit 18 of their 26 foul shots, while New York took only 8, hitting 7 of them. The Grizzlies hit most of their free throws in the end, winning by 13, 96-83. Arenas led all scorers with 26, adding 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Mayo finished the game with 19 points on 7-12 shooting including 4-6 from the charity stripe. Rookie C Marc Gasol posted a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Gallinari had a team-high 17 points on 8-18 shooting. Jamal Crawford had a poor shooting night as well, scoring 15 on 6-18 shooting before he fouled out. Marbury finished his game with 13 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds. After the game, Memphis PG Gilbert Arenas talked out his team's win, "I'm glad we got the win, but we had way too many turnovers in the second half. That's not how I play, man. Several of them were my fault. I'm just glad they didn't cost us. Against a better team, they probably would have. We won't win many more games if we keep that up." Grizzlies Head Coach Mark Iavaroni agreed with his new PG, adding, "Gilbert was right, we had too many turnovers tonight. I was pleased with the way we played, for the most part, but we definitely need to limit our turnovers. I think it's just because they've only played a couple games together. Gilbert needs time to figure the other guys out, and they need time to figure him out. Once that happens we'll be fine."

Next Game: *coming soon

Around the League:
December 5, 2008
Kevin Martin continued his MVP push, playing a monster game against Chicago, scoring 37 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 blocks. Martin's Kings won the game, 89-84.
Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand combined for 75 of Philadelphia's 112 points in a 112-83 win over Houston. The star combo shot 29-52 from the field and added 16 rebounds and 8 assists.
December 6, 2008
Jason Richardson had a great game against Minnesota, leading the Bobcats to the win, 93-82. J-Rich scored 31, grabbed 4 rebounds, gave 3 assists, and had 4 steals and 3 blocks.
Joe Johnson dropped 40 points on 15-24 shooting in a 93-78 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe had 17 in the loss.
Chris Bosh had another stellar night, scoring 37 on 15-23 shooting, and adding 10 boards and 6 assists in a 20 point win over Phoenix, 99-79. Former NBA MVP Steve Nash had 40 points in the loss.
The Detroit Pistons traded verteran PF Theo Ratliff to Milwaukee for backup PG Royal Ivey.

[Chaser7]

You know what the 3-team trade reminds me of? When Rasheed Wallace played one game for the Hawks and then was traded to the Pistons? Anyways its too bad the PC version of Live doesn't have instant trades like they do in the Xbox 360 version.

[Skills]

Nice job acquiring Arenas! As long as your team isn't the Warriors, you'll be alright on these forums. Though IMO, I would've kept Conley. He's a play making, stealing beast in Live. But having Arenas on your team gives you arguably the strongest backcourt in the league. So I can't fault you on that move.

[homicide1550]

You have a strong starting line-up especially the backcourt tandem of Arenas and Mayo but the bench kinda needs some help.. Keep up the good work!

[almightyx]

Grizzlies down Milwaukee, win 4th straight, 98-82
December 7, 2008
Box Scores: Memphis 98 Milwaukee 82


2008 1st round pick OJ Mayo flys for a dunk in the second quarter against Milwaukee.

Milwaukee, WI -- Memphis headed to Milwaukee on the last game of their road trip to take on the last place Bucks earlier this evening. Struggling to bring in fans because of their 6-12 record, Milwaukee had a 70's Night, honoring the members of their 1971 NBA Championship team. Both teams participated as well, with Milwaukee wearing throwback jerseys from that championship year. The Grizzlies wore jerseys bearing the Pros name, harkening back to the ABA franchise that beared the name from 1970-1972. Trying to channel some of the energy from the greats that had stepped on the court before the game, Milwaukee looked like a completely different team in the 1st quarter. The play was dead even throughout the 1st, with Memphis holding a 2 point edge at the break. How they both got there was a different story though. Memphis played their traditional game, an up-tempo pace led by PG Gilbert Arenas that would be completely ruthless if SG OJ Mayo could make a basket. Milwaukee was the team that was playing above its limit, dominating the boards, especially on offense. It didn't matter that the Bucks only shot 42% in the 1st, they grabbed 5 offensive rebounds, 4 by PF Chris Wilcox, to keep it close. Wilcox was a beast in the 1st, scoring 7, grabbing 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. PG Mo Williams also had a good start, dropping 6 with 2 assists. Coming over in the 3 team trade, PG Kyle Lowry and SG Marko Jaric played their first game against the Grizzlies since being traded. They both struggled early, shooting a combined 0-5 with 1 rebound and 1 assist. Arenas led Memphis with his all-around game, scoring 5, grabbing 3 boards, and 4 assists.

The 2nd quarter played out pretty much the same as the 1st, both teams trading baskets back and forth for a few minutes, until Memphis went on an 8-0 run at the 4:40 mark to take a 6 point lead. They held pat there, heading into the break up by 7. Arenas continued his strong play for the Grizz, scoring 9 2nd quarter points and adding 4 more assists and 2 steals. Despite his struggles, Mayo kept attempting shot after shot, hitting 4 of the 12 taken in the 1st half, going into the break with 8 points. PF Darrell Arthur was doing his part, at least on the offensive end, scoring 12 but he had only 1 rebound in the half, letting Wilcox push him around on both ends. Speaking of him, Wilcox also continued his terrific play, pushing his totals to 15 points on 7-8 shooting, adding 7 boards. Milwaukee's 2 stars, Richard Jefferson and Steven Jackson, had a quiet 1st half, combining for 14 points on 4-14 shooting and 5-6 from the free throw line.

The 2nd half continued to play the same as the first, until about 3 minutes left. It quickly became all Memphis after that, as the Grizz took off on an 11-0 run to push their lead to 15. Up by 10, Arenas drove the lane and kicked it out to SF Rudy Gay in the corner as the double team came. Gay buried the wide open 3 that became the true turning point in the game. After the game, Gay talked about his 3, "They left me wide open to double Gilbert. He found me and I just took the shot. We'd been having trouble putting them away, and we got some momentum from the run, so yeah, it helped. *chuckles* Teams get so caught up in trying to stop him, and he does such a great job getting the ball to us when we're wide open, it's hard to defend us, especially if we make shots like I did." Gay's 3 gave him 9 3rd quarter points to help lead the charge. Arenas had his double-double by the end of the 3rd, as he had 20 points and 11 assists. One of the big reasons Milwaukee fell hard in the 3rd was the fact that Wilcox rode the pine for the majority of the quarter, despite his strong 1st half play. It didn't help the Bucks' cause that Jefferson couldn't hit many shots either, as his totals at the end of the 3rd were 14 points, 5-16 shooting including 1-6 from behind the arc. Williams was doing his best Arenas impression, but he couldn't keep up, as he had 13 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds at the end of the quarter. Memphis held the Bucks to 39% shooting, while making 52% of their own shots, to take an 11 point lead into the final quarter.

The 4th played out almost exactly the same as the 3rd, with both teams trading baskets until a 9-0 Memphis run around the 3 minute mark, pushing their lead to 17. They coasted from there, walking out of the Bradley Center with a 16 point win, 98-82. Arenas finished with a game-high 27 points on 12-21 shooting, adding 12 assists and 7 rebounds. Gay also outscored every Bucks player, throwing in 19 points with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Mayo continued his horrible shooting, going 6-21 from the field, but scoring 12 points to go along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Memphis' starting frountcourt had a good game as well, as C Marc Gasol and PF Darrell Arthur each had 14 points on 7-10 shooting and 8 rebounds a piece. Jefferson led Milwaukee with a team-high 18 points. Williams was right behind him with 17 points, 8 assists, and 4 boards. After the game, Grizzlies Head Coach Mark Iavaroni spoke about his team and his struggling young SG, "We're obviously playing great right now. They just kept hanging around, but we did what we do best and we finally put them away. Our next game is going to be tough though, I'm just glad we get Sacramento at home tomorrow. As far as OJ is concerned, I haven't even thought about benching him. He does a lot more for this team that ya'll realize. I keep trying to tell him to quit forcing things, sometimes he listens, but sometimes, like tonight, he doesn't. He's a rookie, he'll get the hang of it. I'm sure he'll have another night like his first game, he's too talented not to." The win was Memphis' 4th straight. They head back home to face Kevin Martin and the league-leading 15-5 Sacramento Kings tomorrow night.

Next Game: Dec. 8 vs. Sacramento (15-5)

Around the League:
December 7, 2008
07-08 ROY Kevin Durant led the Sonics to a 106-64 beatdown of Chicago tonight. Durant had 33 points on 15-26 shooting, with 7 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks.
LeBron James had 40 points in a 93-69 win over the New Orleans Hornets. James also added 12 rebounds and 6 assists.

[Lamrock]

Damn, you really built Memphis into a contender quick. You have a great team right now. 50+ wins and a bright future.

Keep going with this. It is one of my favorite active dynasties.

[hova-]

I like what Im reading. Really nice Dynasty. I may pass by every now and then.
Keep it going with ya Grizzs !

[almightyx]

Grizzlies blowout Kings, 106-76, win 5th straight
December 8, 2008
Box Scores: Memphis 106 Sacramento 76


Rudy Gay flys for a dunk in the second quarter against the Kings.

Memphis, TN -- The Grizzlies played host to the Sacramento Kings tonight, in a matchup of 2 of the most surprising teams in the NBA this year. Both teams have been fighting for supremacy at the top of the Western Conference early this season. Sacramento, 15-5, has been led by the MVP-calibur play of SG Kevin Martin. Memphis, 14-5, has done it with team play all year, and they haven't lost a game in December yet, after pulling off the first blockbuster trade of the year, dealing for PG Gilbert Arenas. With two of the heavyweights going at it, the game was supposed to be a dogfight, right? It couldn't have been any more of the exact opposite. The Grizzlies were playing their second game in as many days, but fatigue had zero effect on their play. In fact, Sacramento were the ones that looked tired, despite having yesterday off. Memphis jumped out 7-0 in the first minute of the game. The Kings never got any closer. The Grizzlies used amazing 1st quarter performances from Arenas and SF Rudy Gay to lead a 12-4 run with 2 minutes left in the quarter to push their lead to 10. Gay didn't miss a shot, scoring 11 on 5-5 shooting, including a 3 pointer. Arenas had 10 points on 5-6 shooting. It seemed as if Sacramento had no idea how to play defense, letting Memphis drive the lane with considerable ease. In fact, the Grizzlies had 20 shots in the first frame, with only 4 of them taken outside the paint. The Grizz shot 65% from the floor in the 1st. Sacramento, meanwhile, shot a respectable 47%, but they had few open shots, as Memphis always had a hand up. Martin had only 6 points on 3-8 shooting. Kings PG Beno Udrih led his team with 7 points to end the 1st quarter. Memphis took a 10 point lead into the 2nd, holding Sacramento to only 17 points.

The 2nd quarter was all Memphis as well, as they held pushed their lead up to 17 at one point, before taking a 15 point lead into halftime. The Kings fell behind even further because they had no answer for PF Hakim Warrick's offense or Gay's defense. Warrick, taking back his starting spot from 1st round draftee Darrell Arthur, had 11 of his 13 points in the 2nd. He, like Gay in the 1st, didn't miss any of his shots, going 5-5 from the field and 3-4 from the charity stripe. Gay, on the other hand, scored only 2 points in the quarter, but added 3 steals that all lead to fast breaks and easy points for the Grizzlies. Arenas led Memphis into the break with 16 points and 4 assists. Martin and Udrih continued to lead Sacramento, combining for 29 of their team's 37 1st half points, and adding 6 ssists, 5 of them from Udrih. The Kings trailed at the break, 52-37.

Halftime did no good for Sacramento, as they let Memphis come out and push them around yet again, this time allowing the Grizzlies a 10-2 run to push their lead up to 21 at the 6:37 mark in the 3rd. Arenas had another 6 points with 3 assists. Warrick had another 6, as well as Gay. Kings SF Ron Artest decided to start helping in the 3rd, scoring 8 of his 17 points in the 3rd, but it was too little too late. Udrih had a double-double by the end of the 3rd, pushing his totals to 19 points and 10 assists, while Martin kept trying to shoot his team back into the game. It failed miserably though, as he had only 4 points on 2-7 shooting. Memphis held the Kings to only 40% shooting in the 3rd, while shooting 54% themselves. The Grizzlies took a 20 point lead into the 4th.

If Sacramento thought Memphis was going to let up in the 4th, they were dead wrong. The 4th quarter became the OJ Mayo show, as he scored 10 of his 16 points in the final frame to put Sacramento away. Struggling for much of the game, Mayo had only 6 points on 3-12 shooting ending the 3rd. He figured out how to turn his touch back on though, as he shot 4-5 from the field, including 2-2 from the stripe. Ironically, Mayo's missed shot was 1 of only 2 misses in the 4th, as Memphis shot 85% from the floor in the 4th, going 12-14. PF Antoine Walker had the other miss, as he missed a layup after a baseline drive. There was plenty of contact but no call, much to the chagrin of the home crowd. Memphis outscored Sacramento 29-19 in the 4th to take the 30-point win, 106-76. Gilbert Arenas led all scorers with 27 points on 13-16 shooting, adding 8 assists. Rudy Gay had 24 points on 11-14 shooting, and grabbing 5 of Memphis' 8 steals. Warrick also scored more than 20, adding in 21 on 9-9 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Udrih led Sacramento with 26 points, 13 assists, and 2 steals. Kevin Martin added 22 on 11-21 from the floor. Artest was the only other King in double digits, with 17. Sacramento's frontcourt was completely non-existent for the game. Miller, Moore, Thomas, Wright, and Thompson combined for 6 points on 3-17 shooting. After the game, Grizzlies Head Coach Mark Iavaroni discussed his team's blowout of the Kings, "I was amazed, to be honest with you. I thought we might come out a bit sluggish, like we have in the other games we've played back to back. You woulda thought they had a week's rest though, looking at the way they played. Our guys just couldn't miss. We've had a lot of people doubting us so far this year, so I told the guys to use this as a statement game. I'm just glad to see they listened." The win pushed Memphis to 15-5 and 1st in the West, .5 games above Sacramento for the conference lead, which fell to 15-6. It was also the Grizzlies' 5th straight win. They remain at home for their next game, hosting Seattle (9-13) on December 10th.

Next Game: December 10 vs. Seattle (9-13)

Around the League:
December 8, 2008
Kobe Bryant led his Lakers to a 111-69 destruction of Minnesota tonight. Bryant scored 41 on 15-26 shooting, including 3-5 from behind the arc, adding 3 boards, 6 assists, 7 steals, and 3 blocks.

[Chabalaba]

Wow i havent read this in a while. Is Sessions a good addition to your team, I always thought that he could be a starter but he would probably come off the bench on the Bucks.
Arenas 13-16

[dansensei]

5 straight, man your rolling!!!

[clippersfan4lyfe]

wow. nice dynasty, i haven't commented before but im following.

[almightyx]

lamrock I'm surprised I'm doing so well. Live has become kind of easy for me now, even on superstar. Guess I need to lower my FG sliders. At the rate I'm going now though, looks like 60+ is a very real possibility. Thanks a ton for your comments too! Everyone's comments are why I keep writing.

hova- Thanks for the comments. Keep checking in!

Chabalaba The main reason I picked up Sessions is because he's such a great passer. I've got plenty of scorers on my team so I don't need him to do much. You are right, he's coming off my bench, just like he was in Milwaukee, playing behind Mo Williams. He's playing behind a much, much better PG now though, so he's not getting many minutes at all.

dansensei Thanks for the comment!

clippersfan4lyfe Thanks for commenting! And welcome to the forums! Glad to see you're following as well.

[almightyx]

Memphis blows out Seattle again, 109-79
December 10, 2008
Box Scores: Memphis 109 Seattle 79


Gilbert Arenas buries an open 3 in the second quarter against Seattle.

Memphis, TN -- Continuing their homestand against Seattle this evening, Memphis had everything working for them in a rout of the Sonics, 109-79. These two teams faced off in Seattle on November 17, the Grizzlies coasted to an easy 19 point win that was never in doubt. Tonight's game played out similar to the previous one, only this time the deficit got a bit larger. Led by their stars, SF Rudy Gay and PG Gilbert Arenas, Memphis jumped out on Seattle early and never looked back. With 2 minutes gone by in the 1st quarter, Memphis led 10-0 and eventually pushed their lead all the way up to 20, 28-8. Arenas and Gay were both in double digits for points by the end of the quarter, continuing their hot shooting over from the Sacramento game. Gay had 10 points on 4-6 shooting, and Arenas was even better, scoring 10 on 4-4 shooting. The Sonics frontcourt of SG Kevin Durant and PG Luke Ridnour started the night off on a sour note, going a combined 1-10, with the only bucket by Ridnour. After cooling off a bit near the end, Memphis led by 14 starting the 2nd quarter.

The break between quarters took any momentum Seattle might have built at the end of the 1st, as they had absolutely no answer for Memphis in the 2nd. Arenas's only 3 of the game (pictured above) spurred on a 13-2 run that built the lead to 25. Memphis wasn't done yet though, taking a 30 point lead into halftime. Arenas finished the half with 15 points on 6-6 shooting, adding 3 assists. Gay only took one shot in the 2nd quarter, but it was a good one, as he buried a 3 from the right wing to put the Grizzlies up by 27 at that point. #3 overall pick OJ Mayo had a good first half also, as he posted 9 points, 4-9 from the floor, 3 boards, and 7 assists. Durant continued to struggle, making only 1 of his 8 shots in the first half, adding 2 free throws for 4 points. Ridnour did his best to make up for Seattle's young gun, as he scored 16 points on a terrible 6-15 shooting, including 2-5 from behind the arc. Memphis outscored Seattle 36-20 in the 2nd, posting a ridiculous 76% from the floor, next to Seattle's 47%. After the game, Seattle Head Coach PJ Carlesimo talked about his team's quarter, "It was terrible, we couldn't stop them. They have so many options, you can't focus on just one guy. They'll tear you apart like they showed tonight. This team is too good."

The 2nd half didn't treat Seattle much better until the Grizzlies pulled their starters, except for Mayo, off the floor near the end of the 3rd quarter. Down by 35 at this point, Seattle tried to claw their way back against the reserves, pulling within 25, but it was too late. Led by their 2 first round picks, the Grizzlies put it on cruise control and coasted to the 30 point win. Arenas led the Grizzlies with 23 points on a perfect 10-10 from the floor, including 4 assists. PF Darrell Arthur, in mop-up duty, was next on the team with 16 points, adding 5 boards. Gay finished with 15 points and 2 steals, while Mayo added 14 points, 9 assists, and 3 rebounds. Ridnour led all scorers with 32 points on 13-25 shooting before fouling out with 2 minutes left. Durant finished with 8 points, going 3-11 from the floor, adding 4 assists and 3 blocks. The win was Memphis' 6th in a row, pushing their record to 16-5. Seattle dropped to 9-14. The Grizzlies remain at home, hosting the 15-8 Utah Jazz in two nights.

Next Game: Dec. 12 vs. Utah (15-8)

Around the League:
December 9, 2008
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December 10, 2008
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