The Grizzlies Had the Runs...

On Wednesday night I got the privilege of watching the worst Raptors’ performances of my young reporting career. As a fan, I’d seen many ugly games, but this one I had to hold back my emotions. Nobody came to play.

Even the Grizzlies had one of their weaker efforts, but still managed to pound the Raptors.

Grizzlies 92, Raptors 66

The Raptors capped off their worst November in franchise history with that stinker. It was the fewest points they’ve scored in a game since April 2nd, 2004; and it was also their biggest margin of defeat this season (26 points, 1 more than the brutal game against the Warriors on Saturday).

Spoke to “The Czar” after the game. Grizzlies’ Coach Mike Fratello, who’s actually much shorter than he looks on TV, was a great interview. Of course, I always find it easier when I get the first question in. I asked him if the 3rd quarter was one he’d like to forget (the teams combined for 29 points; Toronto shot 30%, which was actually better than Memphis’ 27.8% - that’s Rosanne Arnold-Ugly).
His response to the question was more of a general speech than an actual response… but here it is. More pity:

“[Toronto] has played hard in a lot of games, and lost a lot of heartbreakers. Sometimes this happens to you, it happens to all teams… when you lose a real tough one, like they did to a terrific team, Dallas, the other night… sometimes it takes a lot of air out of you… It happens to you every once in a while. They taste it, they’re so close to a win, and then the last second it gets snatched from you… sometimes it’s hard to bounce back. You have to understand that overall, they’ve played very hard, and very tough, and they’re catching some tough breaks here… I think they’re going to get it together, and put together a little roll. I really do.”

There it is. It’s getting to be the same swan song from opposing coaches, and I’d start to get offended if I was a Raptor. They simply deserved no praise on Wednesday. They went on scoring droughts, one lasting 5 minutes, from when they were still in the game in the 1st. Memphis broke it open with an Eddie Jones “and-1,” which was followed by a 3-ball from Jones… and another 2 from Shane Battier and Bobby Jackson. That closed the first quarter with a 12-0 Grizzlies run. By the time the Raptors scored their first bucket in the 2nd (10:24), that had turned into a 16-0 run. Three minutes later, Memphis went on another 10-0 run, which turned into a 17-6 streak to close the half. There was a third 10-0 run before the game was done.

Spoke to Damon Stoudamire afterwards, along with Eddie Jones (who is a real-life quiet-talker) and Pau Gasol who let it rip on the Raptors.

He was drafted by Atlanta, and then traded to the Grizzlies on draft-night. A team that went 1-11 to start ‘01-‘02 (they were 4-12 through the first 16 games, as opposed to the Raps’ 1-15). He knows all about a teams’ suffering… and finally, someone who held back the pity:

“I don’t see the veterans… The veterans have to step up, and have to take leadership. They have to lead and guide the young players. They have so many talented young players, but it’s got to come from the veterans first… The thing about them, you know, is that they settle too much… and they kind of gave up too early. When we made our run, and got a big lead, they kind of dropped their intensity and everything. They have to keep playing hard, and work for wins.”

That was refreshing. A player actually just speaking about what he felt, as opposed to the media-friendly jargon I’m getting all too used to.

==

Before the game, during Sam Mitchell’s pre-game talk, it was surprisingly loose. I asked him if he’d spoken to Jose about the importance of this game in his hometown. The game was being broadcast live all across Spain (1am their time), because for the first time ever in the NBA, there were two Spanish starters (Gasol and Jose Calderon).

“I didn’t realize there was all this Spanish media here... If it doesn’t have to do with Memphis, what they’re trying to do and trying to accomplish… no.”

All right, so that was pretty stiff… but it got loose. So much so, that he used me as an example in one of his demonstrations. He was fielding a question about why Calderon had been covering Dirk Nowitzki on Monday so much. He was going through some plays, and asked me my name. I reluctantly told him, with the sneaking suspicion that he’d use it for the powers of evil somehow. So far so good. He said… “OK, so say Zack’s covering me… and then you come over and set this pick…” The rest is unimportant. The point is… if something bad happens, and it’s in my name; chances are it was Coach.

==

At practice today, I wanted to ask how a team doing as poorly as the Raptors’ are, can manage to avoid the sideshows that plagued the team last year. I didn’t ask it. In fact, I don’t think I even asked one question. It was a pretty boring shoot-around for the most-part, other than the fact that before we were allowed in, I got to speak to Joey Graham’s father for a good 10 minutes.

I was standing outside the RBK Court, chatting it up with the security guard, who’s always been a stand-up guy. A man holding two plastic bags stuffed with what appeared to be clothing walked over to us. I can’t remember how it became clear to me that they were family, but they certainly look alike. He said someone had joked with him that his son had slipped on the ice and broke his leg in three places. Mr. Graham (Joe) was obviously relieved when he found out his son was safe and sound. He was worried about the called-for snow and ice, so the security guard and I proceeded to tell him various things he could do to prevent slippage (as Seinfeld would say). I told him he could try buying some hard-soled boots, and sticking some ice-salt in the grooves to give him a little traction.

He then said that Joey’s brother, Stephen, had just been 12 inches of snow dumped on him in South Dakota, where he’s playing for the CBA. Stephen, a shorter, but identical looking Graham, had played preseason ball with the Spurs. That’s obviously a pretty tough roster to crack. I didn’t record the conversation for obvious reasons, but Joe went on to tell me that Stephen’s actually the better basketball player.

He said at Oklahoma State, where they both attended University, the guard rotation was already set; whereas there was more opportunity at the forward slots. He said once OSU gave Joey the opportunity to get in the game, he grabbed boards like a monster. When they realized he could shoot, he was an instant plug. Got all the playing time, garnered NBA attention, and well… you know the rest.

Joe told me that Stephen’s quicker, stronger, and a better shooter… but was simply not given the same chance to shine. I asked him why he chose the CBA, as opposed to the NBDL… and that’s when he asked if I was a reporter.

Maybe I’m starting to play the part.

==

The Raptors are in Atlanta on Friday, New Jersey on Saturday, and Washington on Tuesday. The Lakeshow’s here on Wednesday. Chances are, we’ll talk after that.