How do you lose a game to Milwaukee when the Bucks are without Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva? That question was asked by Kenny Smith on the NBA TV wrap up show. Do you want to know Kenny?

How about giving up 19 pts and 17 boards to Richard Mbah A Moute. 10 of those boards on the offensive end! How about allowing Andrew Bogut to chip in with 12 pts and 15 rebounds. Where the heck were Gasol, Arthur, Milicic and Warrick?

All season our interior play has been stronger than expected. Last night they looked like a rookie, a rookie, a bust and a disappointment (in order in case you were wondering). Still the Grizzlies played the way the Grizzlies have played all but one game this season. Gritty.  

Down 8 points with 2:21 remaining (yes I looked at the clock) the Grizzlies staged one heck of a comeback. The outscored the Bucks 11-0 I think to take a 3 pt lead with 10 seconds remaining. However a defensive lapse left Ramon Sessions (who is exactly the type of PG Memphis fans want right now) wide open for a game tying three point shot. Why does Memphis always seem to get killed at the end of regulation by a three point shot?

In overtime the Grizzlies continued to fight. The game turned in OT on a highly controversial foul call on Hakim Warrick. Warrick appeared to cleanly block - two handed no less - a drive by Sessions. The referee behind the play called a phantom foul and instead of the Grizzlies having the ball with a  one point lead late in OT Sessions made both shots from the charity stripe (aptly named in this instance) and the Grizzlies were on their heals. That play seemed to really throw the Grizzlies off their game and when a desperation three by O J failed to fall the game was over.

And the crowd really got behind that effort. The fans who were there (and there were a lot more than expected which is a good sign) were loud and supportive down the stretch and really provided a lift for the team at the end of regulation and in OT. Unlike previous seasons this team rarely quits. The Knicks game appears to be the exception not the rule. Anyone leaving this team's games early is missing seeing a great comeback on almost any night.

Memphis held a 12 point lead at halftime as the Grizzlies played tough defense and worked the ball well on offense but another weak 3rd quarter got Milwaukee back into the game. That was when the Grizzlies seemed unable to grab a single rebound. How bad was it? Try Marc Gasol not getting a single rebound after the 3:37 mark of the 3rd quarter. Not one in the 4th quarter or OT. How about 3 rebounds total in the 4th quarter with Conley getting one of them. How about Mike Conley being second on the team in total rebounds for the game.

People may focus on the call in OT. It was horrible but if the team had hit to defensive boards it never would have been an issue.  Rebounding was always supposed to be an issue for the Grizzlies and last night it was a huge one. The Grizzlies lost a game they should have won last night simply by failing to combine excellent defensive effort (Milwaukee only shot 38% from the field) with a solid effort on the boards.

Now Memphis needs to rebound from two disappointing losses to avenge an earlier loss to Sacramento on Tuesday night.

Comments

The Boss

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Thats a very tough loss. The Bucks are underrated though, and I think they will be playoff bound this year.

Sunday 16 November 2008, 14:03

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new_skool91

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Bad loss - no loss is a "good" loss, but I hope that the team and coach are both learning how to better manage the game. Even though OJ has been phenomenal, I think that we can't forget who won the first game for us and that we need to be more intentional about going to Rudy down the stretch.

Sunday 16 November 2008, 17:59

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AussieG

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Yeah was heartbreaking, first letting them back into the game, second getting outrebounded so badly and then finally that phantom call which was just a frikken joke. That call was the type you expect on the road, not at home. And no it wasn't Kobe getting a superstar call it was Ramon Sessions! Gargh. Good summary though.

Monday 17 November 2008, 17:43

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