22.10.2002

MEMPHIS (74) AT MAGIC (82)
Stats

    Encouraged but not content, Griz coach Sidney Lowe wanted his team to
focus on a few things in its final exhibition game. He wanted the young
Grizzlies to limit turnovers, continue their offensive efficiency and show
vigor in defending a smaller lineup.

    They accomplished all of that. But satisfying each of Lowe's wishes only
came in spurts Tuesday night as the Griz dropped an 82-74 decision to the
Orlando Magic.

    There were times early on when the Griz shot the ball well yet turned it
over too much. And when the Grizzlies found a way to take care of the ball
late, their offense faded. Perhaps the only constant - at least for three quarters
- was the Grizzlies' defense before 13,285 fans in TD Waterhouse Centre. And so the
Grizzlies step back into the gym today as indifferent as their performance in the
preseason finale.

    "We were a lot better than we were last year," point guard Jason Williams said.
"But we've got a long way to go. The more practice we get the better."

    Beginning today, the Griz have seven days until the regular-season opener Oct.
30 against the Dallas Mavericks. If there is one kink left to iron out, it was
amplified in the second quarter when the Grizzlies lost focus on offense.

    They led 37-31 with 6:26 left in the second period. The Griz also had turned the
ball over just four times. But they lost the basketball on eight of the next 13
possessions. The period of carelessness enabled the Magic to run out for easy scores,
and take a 52-47 lead at halftime.

    "That changed the game," Lowe said. "They were more aggressive and we didn't respond.
We didn't keep our composure. We played into it. All in all, I feel we didn't do too bad.
If we had made a few more shots, it would have been different."

    Lowe watched the Griz take 12 turnovers into intermission. Although they finished
with just 16 for the game, the Grizzlies compounded their problems with a horrid shooting
second half. They scored just 13 points in the third and 14 in the fourth. The Griz went
from shooting 50 percent in the first two quarters to misfiring on 36 percent for the game.

    "We have to continue to be unselfish," said Lowe, whose team made just 8 of 25 shots
in the second half. ". . . In the first half, we kept getting a wide open shot in the
corner by our bench. But we missed like four in a row wide open with our shooters."

    Only three Grizzlies scored in double figures. Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 14
points and six rebounds. Shane Battier added 11 points and rookie Drew Gooden chipped in
10 off the bench.

    "When things start to go a little rough on teams without experience, everyone loses
a little bit of confidence," Battier said. "It's not always going to be free-flowing (like
in the Chicago win last Saturday). You have to learn how to grind it out."

    The Grizzlies trailed by as many as 17 points in the fourth quarter.

    Lowe also wanted to see different combinations and started a group that could open the
regular season. Gasol, Battier and Williams were paired with Stromile Swift and Michael
Dickerson for the game's opening tip. Lowe, however, cautioned that the starting group is
not set in stone.

   "I can't feel strong about it because of Mike D.," Lowe said. "Mike plays four or five
minutes and he's tired, or his back starts bothering him. We have to wait to see."