Lineup shuffle fails as Memphis drops third straight
Grizzlies coach David Fizdale talked about shuffling his lineups about a week ago. He put those words into action Monday night with the hapless Brooklyn Nets in town. Rookie guard Andrew Harrison and forward/center Brandan Wright replaced Tony Allen and JaMychal Green in the starting lineup alongside Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol.
The changeup didn’t lead to inspired defense and the Grizzlies were handed a third straight loss when the Nets left FedExForum with a 122-109 victory.
Memphis faltered midway through the fourth quarter.
The score was knotted at 102 with 5:34 left when Brooklyn created a cushion behind a 14-4 run. Jeremy Lin scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer that gave the Nets a 114-104 lead with 1:43 remaining.
Brooklyn ran consecutive plays that forced Green to switch on Lin and Lin took advantage.
Fizdale called for time and the Grizzlies were promptly tagged with a fivesecond violation when Toney Douglas failed to inbound the basketball in time. Who: Memphis vs. Los Angeles Clippers When, where: 7 p.m., Thursday, FedExForum TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM The loss, filled with a lack of execution, arguably represented a low point for the Grizzlies’ this season.
Memphis entered the final period with a 91-88 advantage.
The Grizzlies’ lead was as large as 12 points but they could never demoralize the Nets. Brooklyn knotted the score at 91 with a 3-pointer on its first possession of the fourth quarter. The Nets finished with 14 baskets from beyond the arc.
Not only did the Nets get comfortable, rhythm shots from three-point range but they routinely beat Griz defenders on the dribble on the perimeter. Memphis trailed 96-95 with eight minutes left after Isaiah Whitehead blew past Harrison for a layup.
The Nets hardly looked weary in the midst of what is an eight-game, 16-day, road trip for them with the circus in their home building. They were poised to make it a long night for the Grizzlies when the Nets trailed just 57-56 at halftime.
Fizdale emphasized a need for change before the game, citing the Grizzlies’ 1413 record since January 1.
Fizdale’s changes were designed mostly to turn Conley into his primary shooting guard. Douglas routinely entered in place of Harrison, whose size and defensive ability allows Conley to play of the ball.
Conley’s been the Grizzlies driving force offensively over the past two months. His 32 points and six assists led the Grizzlies. And while Gasol’s shooting woes continued (18 points on 4-of-11 shooting) for a third straight game, Parsons scoring funk ended if only for a night. Parsons chipped in 12 points on 3of-6 shooting, which include two 3pointers. Parsons also collected three assists and appeared more confident, decisive and aggressive than he has this season.
Parsons remains on a minutes restriction so he didn’t see action in the fourth quarter after logging 23 minutes.
Reach Tillery at Ronald.Tillery@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @CAGrizBeat