Marc Gasol is the only Grizzly not getting any rest this weekend, but he's not complaining. He's happy to fly to Orlando as a first–time All-Star game participant after playing in the sophomores-versus-rookies game a few years ago.
"It's time to enjoy this," Gasol said. "I'm representing this franchise, this city and if you go on the other side (of the Atlantic Ocean) I'm representing my country (Spain). I don't know how many times I'll be in this game, so I'm going to make sure I have fun."
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins is extremely proud of Gasol, who has stepped out of the shadow of older brother Pau in the last two seasons.
"I'm happy for him," Hollins said. "He's earned it; he deserves to be on the team. I know he's a little tired. I told him just go and drink a couple of mojitos and enjoy himself. But you know Marc. He's going to compete."
Grizzlies rookie G Josh Selby, who is in the midst of playing five games in the NBDL with the Reno Bighorns, will be added back to the roster after the All-Star game break.
"I'm going to sit down with Josh, go over the film of all five of his (NBDL) games, point out the positives and show him the negatives he needs to eliminate," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "He really hasn't had any point of reference, because he hasn't played much for us and we don't have a lot of film for him. That's why we sent him to the NBDL."
Through Selby's first three NBDL games, he's averaging 21 points on 50 percent shooting, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1 steals and 5 turnovers.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I want to see 'Big Spain' get in there and get a couple of jams. I know he has been working on his handle, so I want to see him crossover somebody." -- Grizzlies G Tony Allen, on teammate Marc Gasol's upcoming All-Star game appearance.
ROSTER REPORT
Grizzlies F Marreese Speights, acquired from the 76ers in a Jan. 4 trade, scored six early points and finished with 12 points in 21 minutes against his former team.
Speights said he made it a point to approach the game like he would any other.
"I didn't want to get too hyped for this game," Speights said. "If I played too emotional, I couldn't have played the way I wanted to."
Speights said after the Grizzlies took a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter, he knew the 76ers would come back.
"With the shooters they have, they are never out of a game," Speights said.
While Speights was classy talking about his former team, 76ers coach Doug Collins took a thinly-veiled shot at Speights when describing his team's lack of first-quarter energy.
"We dug ourselves a huge hole and fought out, but we were still on our heels the whole first quarter," Collins said. "Marreese Speights scored three baskets to start the game and maybe jumped an inch off the floor each time. We offered no resistance."
Grizzlies F Rudy Gay appeared to be in a coma most of the night, missing 7-of-10 field goal attempts. But he still finished with 14 points, because when it counted, he was huge.
After Philadelphia cut the Grizzlies' lead to six points at 66-62, Gay scored eight of his game-total in a 3:32 span, including a pair of three-pointers that re-established a double-digit lead with 2:09 left to play.
"Up until then, I was kind of missing, I really wasn't doing anything," Gay said. "I had to pull out something to help the team."
Grizzlies G Tony Allen, who made but 2-of-9 shots for six points, said he's only taking a couple of days off.
"I'm going to be back in the gym shooting jumpers and lay-ups," Allen said.
