By Pete Pranica
Grizzlies Play-by-Play Announcer, March 18, 2010
If the Grizzlies do not end up making the playoffs this season, Aaron Brooks' fingerprints will be all over the case and we won't need NCIS to figure it out.
With the Grizzlies riding a seven-game road win streak, Aaron Brooks backed up Monday's 31-point performance against Denver with another one to take down the Grizzlies 107-94. Brooks was a stunning seven-for-seven from beyond the arc. This from a guy who had shot just 36% against the Grizzlies in the first two meetings.
Memphis, lacking Marc Gasol due to a strained neck muscle, simply did not have enough firepower to match Brooks. Throw in the 18 points of Grizz-slayer Kevin Martin and the Rockets' starting backcourt -- the highest scoring duo in the NBA in the month of March -- outdid Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo 49-15. Even Zach Randolph's 30-point, 15-rebound effort was not enough.
In fact, Randolph was the only one of the Grizzlies' "big three" to actually show in a significant way Wednesday night. Rudy Gay continued a disturbing trend of second-half fades over the last three games and O.J. Mayo went an unfathomable 1-for-6 and counted just four points on the night.
The game went a long way toward pointing out the unmistakeable fact that, although the Grizzlies do have one of the more potent starting fives in the league, they can't afford an off night because there simply isn't enough scoring depth on this team. Take away Marc Gasol's
15 points per game, and with Hasheem Thabeet and Hamed Haddadi adding just 11 you see how deficits can grow.
A word (or several) on Hasheem Thabeet:
The Grizzlies knew that they were drafting more on potential than immediate impact when they took Thabeet. The Grizzlies felt that it would be very difficult to pass on a 7-3 center with agility and shot- blocking skills. Remember, the Grizzlies had trouble defending the paint last season. If the Grizzlies hadn't had Marc Gasol, I'm not sure that they would have taken Thabeet. He's not ready to start in the NBA, but he can be an above-average to very good NBA center. But it will take time -- court time.
Sitting behind Marc Gasol isn't a recipe for getting plenty of court time. So, the Grizzlies absolutely did the right thing, sending Thabeet to the NBDL's Dakota Wizards. Since Thabeet's return, you can see a greater level of confidence and slight refining of his ability.
