November 14, 2011- The Season That Wasn't

After a weekend off, "The Season That Wasn't" returns as the Sacramento Kings visit the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies were off to a so-so start to the "season" showing some of the same potential for greatness and disaster they showed during the previous season followed by an exciting playoff run. The Kings were building around their young, mercurial talent of DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans. A draft day trade also got them JJ Hickson from the Cavaliers along with drafting BYU star Jimmer Fredette. The Grizzlies returned everyone from their team last year. Coach Lionel Hollins is using the beginning parts to reincorporate Rudy Gay back into the mix after missing the last two months of season with a shoulder injury.


Despite being a Monday night in November, the FedEx crowd was raucous as ever and the Grizzlies ran out to a 23-7 lead by doing what they do best; pound the ball into Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. The dynamic inside duo scored 19 of the first 23 for the Grizzlies combining for 7 of 9 field goals and 5 of 5 free throws. Mike Conley played disruptive defense on the perimeter on Pooh Jeter, slowing the Kings ability to get into halfcourt. The Kings cut the lead to 10 by the end of the first at  30-20.

The second quarter saw the Kings continue to chip away at the lead behind the veteran John Salmons and the rookie Fredette bombing away from the perimeter. Salmons and Fredette would combine to make five three-point field goals in the first six minutes as the kings cut the lead to two. Gasol and Randolph asserted themselves again, getting the Kings' bigs into foul trouble as Cousins and Jason Thompson both had to sit with a third foul. The Grizzlies took a nine point lead at the half  54-45.  Gasol and Randolph each with 15 points at the break. The Kings were led by Salmons's 14 points off the bench.

Things got fiesty in the third quarter between the two teams as the Kings began to get more physical trying to establish their own paint presence. Cousins and Randolph exchanged words after each scored on the other. Following the exchange, Cousins picked up his fourth on an intentional foul when we knocked Tony Allen down on a drive to the hoop. A small skirmish broke out but was quickly broken up. The Grizzlies continued to build on their lead as Gay showed flashes of his getting back to his old form, hitting nine points of his 15 points in the third quarter as the Grizzlies led by 16 at the end of three,  79-63.

The fourth quarter saw the Kings rally briefly behind Salmons. Salmons would lead the Kings with a team high 24 points and Sacramento got as close as eight but never was able to rally. Gasol and Randolph would prove too much as both men recorded double doubles;  27-12 for Gasol, 23-10 for Randolph.  The frustration finally spilled over with five minutes left and the Kings up 18.  Xavier Henry drove to the basket for a dunk and was taken out by Cousins which earned Cousins an ejection. Darrell Arthur shoved cousins into the basket. Cousins tackled Arthur to the ground igniting a pileup. Cooler heads prevailed eventually but not before  Cousins, Arthur , Allen,  Jeter, and Franciso Garcia were all thrown out of the game for their roles.  The Grizzlies would finish the deal 107-88 and I'm sure all the players involved would be hearing from the league soon

Unhappy homecoming
Ex-Memphis star Tyreke Evans returned to his old stomping grounds but it was not a good night as he scored just 9 points on 3 for 12 shooting with 5 turnovers and only played 10 minutes in second half due to poor play

Other Scores
Oklahoma City  94,  Charlotte  95
Golden State  91, Dallas  99
New York  102, Utah 89
Philadelphia  100, Portland  96