The Grizzlies knew they had to play at their best to have a shot at upsetting the New Orleans Hornets on their home floor, but after an early blitz by the Hornets they never had a chance.
The big three of New Orleans, Chris Paul, Peja Stojakovic and David West, combined for one of their best collective performances, tallying 60 points on 21-of-30 shooting to put the pressure on the Grizz offense to find an answer.
The Hornets (11-6) shot 87 percent in the first quarter to take a 37-16 lead and won going away, 106-87. For the Grizzlies, their opponent's performance was a showcase of the energy and offensive firepower they hope to develop as a team.
The Grizzlies (5-15) don't fare well when they have to play from behind, particularly when they are put in that position only a few minutes into the game. Unlike their win on Friday, the Grizzlies did few things right. They reverted to the same old mistakes they have been making all season, unable to carry over their success from the night before. That is just the sign of a young team. After they dominated Golden State in a game last month, they hit a rough patch in which they dropped a string of games they had chances to win before fading down the stretch.
One night after playing their best game of the season against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Grizzlies came out flat, perhaps weary from the trip. With the loss they are only 1-10 away from FedEx Forum this season. They are going to have to figure out a way to stay on top of their execution in road games. It's a tough concept for young players to grasp, but that is the main reason they are in their current position. They need to find a way to be consistent.
Keywords: Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets
