Grizzlies @ Suns Game Thread 12-12-12

[AzStevenCal]

Scola is back in the starting lineup.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I just don't see why giving Scola more minutes makes better sense than trying to continue developing the one young player we have that might actually become a starting caliber player.

Steve

 

[95pro]

whats the starting lineup looking like?

 

[Superbone]

I just don't see why giving Scola more minutes makes better sense than trying to continue developing the one young player we have that might actually become a starting caliber player.

Steve

It may just be a one game match up deal. Morris had no luck against Z-Bo last time.

 

[AzStevenCal]

whats the starting lineup looking like?

Who is starting or how are they playing?

If you mean who, it's Dragic, Brown, Dudley, Scola and Gortat. If you mean, how, we're down 19 - 11 and we can't keep them out of the paint or off the backboard.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

It may just be a one game match up deal. Morris had no luck against Z-Bo last time.

I know he ate us up last game but he's going to do the same with Scola and I just don't see how you build up a young player's confidence doing this to him. Now, if Morris isn't working during practice or something like that I have no problem with benching him but if it's simply a case of pulling out stops to win one game, I think that's a bad decision.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Beasley is now out there, apparently as our 4. If he shuts down Randolph???

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

I just don't see why giving Scola more minutes makes better sense than trying to continue developing the one young player we have that might actually become a starting caliber player.

Steve

i remember people ripping me for voice that exact opinion when we signed him. just pointless move after pointless move from this team.

 

[AzStevenCal]

i remember people ripping me for voice that exact opinion when we signed him. just pointless move after pointless move from this team.

For some reason there are a lot of people that are high on Scola and what he brings to the team. That group of cheerleaders includes everybody involved in the broadcast side of things but best case scenario we win a couple more games because of him and once again fail to develop the young guy. We're still going to be bad, with or without him.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

It may just be a one game match up deal. Morris had no luck against Z-Bo last time.

This.

Let Morris play off the bench rather than accumulate too many fouls early and have to sit.

 

[AzStevenCal]

This.

Let Morris play off the bench rather than accumulate too many fouls early and have to sit.

Has that really been a problem this season? I can only remember one game where he picked up more than 4 fouls and I'll bet his average per game is no more than 3. He'll pick up a dumb foul every now and then but I was surprised when the announcer offered that as an excuse for him not starting because it doesn't match what I've seen so far this season. He picks up dumb fouls every now and then but he's no Mark West.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Dudley is playing tonight like days of old.

 

[AzStevenCal]

More nonsense from the announcers. Dudley clearly shoved Gasol and gained an advantage, obvious foul. And this BS from Eddie Johnson about not wanting a foul called if he was pushed by a little guy is absurd - he cried for every foul on ever possession.

Steve

 

[Ronin]

Beasley 2-11...
Yeah this guy needs more time to develop.

 

[Mainstreet]

Has that really been a problem this season? I can only remember one game where he picked up more than 4 fouls and I'll bet his average per game is no more than 3. He'll pick up a dumb foul every now and then but I was surprised when the announcer offered that as an excuse for him not starting because it doesn't match what I've seen so far this season. He picks up dumb fouls every now and then but he's no Mark West.

Steve

Morris cannot guard Randolph, not that anyone can. Tonight Morris seems to be giving Randolph some room rather than challenging him on every play. Without looking it up for the stats, it seemed like Morris gave up too many fouls early to Randolph the last time they played.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Morris cannot guard Randolph, not that anyone can. Tonight Morris seems to be giving Randolph some room rather than challenging him on every play. Without looking it up for the stats, it seemed like Morris gave up too many fouls early to Randolph the last time they played.

Randolph is the most physical player in the game and someone like Morris is not going to get any calls if he tries to match that physicality but what's our option? It's not like Scola can guard him, Randolph ate him up tonight in the first half. BTW, I just looked it up and Scola has 66 fouls going into tonight and Morris has 60. MM fouls at a slightly higher rate (fewer minutes) but the difference isn't sufficient to warrant the idiot announcers throwing that out as the reason for the change in the starting lineup. Neither guy can contain Zach so I'd give Morris the minutes he needs to develop.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

Randolph is the most physical player in the game and someone like Morris is not going to get any calls if he tries to match that physicality but what's our option? It's not like Scola can guard him, Randolph ate him up tonight in the first half. BTW, I just looked it up and Scola has 66 fouls going into tonight and Morris has 60. MM fouls at a slightly higher rate (fewer minutes) but the difference isn't sufficient to warrant the idiot announcers throwing that out as the reason for the change in the starting lineup. Neither guy can contain Zach so I'd give Morris the minutes he needs to develop.

Steve

I think Morris gets a better match-up coming off the bench. Scola seems to get away more with being physical against Randolph... not that it is doing any good.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Flop by Scola. He's too slow to set up for the legit charge, he needs to accept that fact and just play it straight. Defend!

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Again, Scola, trying to draw a charge instead of playing defense. And it's catching, Dudley did the same thing a play or so earlier. The refs almost always give that call to the offense, it's just not worth it. Play defense!

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Brown was clearly fouled by 3 separate players on that drive to the hoop and not a one was called.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Inside of a minute to go in the 3rd and we're down 63 - 60. It would be nice to close this quarter strong.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Nice job drawing the charge by Morris. He's quick enough that he can establish position and draw the call. With the no flopping rules, the slower footed forwards need to stop trying to do it. They have to get there so early that the offensive guy can avoid them giving them an easy path to the hoop or they'll call the block when our guy leans in to try and create the contact.

4th quarter starts with a 63-63 tie.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Big 3 bailout by Morris.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think we've run with Brown about as long as we can, he's missing badly and making dumb decisions. Time to bring in anyone not named Beasley.

Steve

 

[AfroSuns]

Nice hook by Gortat