The Grizzlies ran the Raptors right out of the gym in the 4th quarter outscoring them 39-28. The Grizzlies shot 51.2% from the floor and they outrebounded the Raptors 45-36 which were two of the key factors in this victory last night. Zach Randolph showed why the Grizzlies wanted him in this game as he led the way with 30 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Marc Gasol had another really good game last night with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in only 25 minutes. O.J. Mayo (18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals) and Rudy Gay (17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals) also had solid games for the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are now 1-1 on the season.

The Grizzlies really laid an egg in the home opener. They only shot 36.1% from the floor while the Pistons shot 61.4% and it’s impossible to win a game that way. Marc Gasol was the lone Grizzlies’ player who really wanted to battle the Pistons tonight as he finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. Rudy Gay had a so-so game finishing with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Zach Randolph’s debut with the Grizzlies was a line of 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. The Grizzlies did outrebound the Pistons 49-39 but that wasn’t enough to even play a close game. The Grizzlies are now 0-1 on the season.

This is such a low number that I think I’ll be running to the sportsbook to make a bet on it. The Grizzlies have a good young basketball team and they added offensive firepower in the off-season with the additions of Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson. The draft also brought in a lot of talent in Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young. The Grizzlies are a team on the rise and I’m thinking they will be around .500 this season so take the over and then take the money to the bank.

The Grizzlies have lost backup power forward Darrell Arthur for at least the next 4 months due to surgery to repair a partially torn pectoral muscle. This will hurt the depth of the Grizzlies at power forward. The Grizzlies will likely turn to rookies Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and DeMarre Carroll when Zach Randolph needs a break. This is a bigger loss than most people think as Arthur played allright last season for the Grizzlies.

Lionel Hollins took a test run for the Grizzlies as head coach last season and he was only 13-26 (33.3%). Apparently that was enough to convince the front office of the Grizzlies that he was the right guy for the job. In parts of two years for the Grizzlies, Hollins led the team to a 13-30 record (30.2%). Hollins now has a career record as a NBA head coach of 31-72 (30.1%). The Grizzlies should have picked someone better to lead this team especially with veterans on the team now like Zach Randolph and Allen Iverson.