They've shown some signs over their recent stretch of wins but are still 24th overall in defensive efficiency. While the Grizzlies have an identity, the Raptors are searching for theirs. Gritty, grab, aggressive, defensive-minded. But their style of play is still the same, inside out. Inserting Tayshaun Prince into the starting lineup has actually improved their efficiency, and the win against the Raptors was their fifth in a row.
With that role and more than $37 million owed to him over the next two seasons, Gay and the salary cap-conscious Grizzlies had reason to part ways. Alongside those two, Gay didn't have much space with which to operate on offense and often found himself having to hoist up jumpers late in the shot clock. What he does wasn't as essential in Memphis this season, with Grizzlies playing through Gasol and Randolph in the post. Every time I look at a box score he has his 20-plus shots and 20-plus points and so many rebounds, so many assists, so many steals. He's a guy that can go get his shot and he fills the stat sheet. "I think they've solidified their rotation a little bit and obviously Rudy is a big part of that. "They've been playing well and they're coming together," Hollins said. And when other teams are making runs, things get stagnant, you don't have to call a lot to get a shot. DeMar was on his way, he's still in that process but Rudy's an established scorer in our league and he makes a difference. "Our other guys, we're developing, we're building these guys. " gives us a bonafide scorer, a guy that gives us an opportunity to create on his own, create his own shots, who is established," Casey said. Against Indiana and against Denver, he hit nearly identical game-winning shots, the latter at home with the crowd chanting his name. They'd won five straight coming into the game against the Grizzlies, and though Gay shot only 35.6 percent in that stretch, the team scored 110 points per 100 possessions with him on the court and 98.8 with him on the bench. 1 option in Toronto and the team has been reliant on him since his arrival. I felt for him because I knew he wanted to do well, but every time they were just rotating bodies against him and if he went into a pick and roll, here comes a crowd, here comes a blitz." "They were double teaming him on pick and rolls, they were sending help quickly, they made it tough on him. "They weren't going to let Rudy get going," said Toronto coach Dwane Casey. MORE: RAPTORS HQ: Toronto outworked GRIZZLY BEAR BLUES: Another ugly win It was the first of two three-pointers he hit off the glass on a night where he shot 5-for-15 and turned the ball over five times. His first made basket was a desperate three-point attempt at the end of the shot clock more than halfway through the second quarter. It was really like a playoff game."įor Gay, it was "emotional, a little bit" to play against the team with which he spent the first six and a half seasons of his career. "There was a lot of emotion, there was a lot of intensity from both sides. "It was an exciting basketball game," Hollins said of the contest in which both sides shot under 37 percent and combined for 13 fast break points. The Raptors put a run together in the second half and tied the game with four minutes remaining, but Memphis got some stops and held on for an 88-82 win. They have the West's fourth-best record despite a below-average offense that plays at a snail's pace. The Grizzlies play aggressive, physical one-on-one defense - their "bread and butter," as guard Tony Allen put it more than once postgame - and are second in the league in defensive efficiency.
"The first half was unbelievable," said Memphis coach Lionel Hollins. Toronto shot 4-for-20 in the first, 5-for-15 in the second and the Grizzlies held a 43-32 halftime lead with their top three offensive options - Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley - shooting a combined 4-for-21. The score was tied 4-4 more than halfway through the opening quarter. Neither team scored for the frenetic first three minutes Wednesday. TORONTO - About three weeks after the Memphis Grizzlies sent Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors to kick off trade season, they met at the Air Canada Centre.