The Grizzlies escaped with a victory over the Rockets Wednesday night. Memphis came out on fire early, bombing threes en route to a 38 point first quarter. Coming off the first two game stretch in franchise history in which they allowed 130 points in consecutive games, it was refreshing to see the Grizzlies experiencing the offensive explosion.

Even as Houston improved their own play, Memphis was able to hold a distance. The Grizzlies headed into the locker room at halftime up 10. They actually increased their lead to 19 points after three quarters. Then it all came crashing down.

The Rockets dropped 37 points in the 4th quarter, bludgeoning the Grizzlies 37-18 in the period. The lopsided 4th quarter forced the game to go into overtime. It was a three headed effort in overtime, from Mike Conley, Jonas Valanciunas, and Chandler Parsons, to come away with a 1 point victory.

Observations

1. James Harden is unguardable

You already knew this. The point really is that Harden has demolished the Grizzlies all season. Entering the game last night, Harden was averaging 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists per game in the three prior meetings this season against Memphis. In his season finale against the team, Harden dropped 57 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists. Good lord.

One play in particular needs to be pointed out.

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The clip looks absolutely run of the mill, but that’s the point. It’s not the play itself, it’s what the play represents. Conley just gives Harden a drive to his right. Earlier in Harden’s career that was the scouting report, make him go right.

After this play the Grizzlies’ broadcast team pointed out how that option no longer exists. You can’t force him right because he is going to score anyway. In fact, there really isn’t anything you can do, because there isn’t anything Harden can’t do.

Again, you already knew this, but nothing defines Harden’s dominance this season more than his four games against Memphis. If for whatever reason you haven’t been tuning into the Rockets coverage on our site, I’ll leave you with Harden’s grades from this year. (By the way, our grades recently got a shoutout on ESPN)

2. Memphis Hustle

The Grizzlies’ G-League team is aptly named The Hustle. Last night, against one of the best teams in the NBA, in the middle of a forgettable season in which they traded away a franchise icon, the big club from Memphis was still hustling. Random Grizzlies, like Tyler Dorsey and Joakim Noah, still put in extra effort for loose balls near the boundaries, in a game that basically didn’t matter.

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Once Houston exploded in the 4th to force overtime after facing a 19 point deficit, Memphis easily could have packed it in. Instead they fought and hustled, and pulled out the victory during the doldrums of March.

3. The Grizzlies did blow a double digit lead

Ok, they blew a double digit lead, but they actually held on to win the game. On the season, Memphis has lost 13 games in which they at one point held a double digit lead. That total is 3rd most in the NBA. It would have been easy to rack up instance number 14 of said situation by giving up as the game headed to overtime. Instead the Grit n’ Grind pride secured a victory over one of the best team’s in the league.

Questions

1. Did you know?

That this is the best scoring month of Conley’s career? His previous best month is March of 2017. I guess the guy just likes the month of March.

Through 7 games in March 2019, Conley is averaging 27 points per game. He had 35 against the Rockets Wednesday. In total, Conley is averaging 27 points and 7.4 assists with 48.8% shooting from beyond the arc this month.

2. Did you also know?

That Valanciunas is shooting 60% on hook shots this season, which is the highest percentage on hook shots in the league?

Prediction

The upcoming matchup of Valanciunas versus Steven Adams will end up being can’t miss TV.