[外電] Fourth quarter flurry
Fourth quarter flurry
14,568 see Griz scrappy playat FedExForum
Grizzlies 102, Cavaliers 94
By Ronald Tillery
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October 15, 2004
James Posey made his preseason debut with his play serving as a billboard for
coach Hubie Brown's message to his players for the upcoming season.
Got better?
Using the Grizzlies' 102-94 preseason against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday
night as an early example, Posey made clear he at least maintained the standard
set for himself last season.
The swingman, entering his sixth NBA season, still is playing as though this
may be his last.
And don't tell him these are just exhibition games.
He picked up floor burns, many deflections and sank two clutch 3-pointers in 24
minutes before an announced crowd of 14,568 in FedExForum. Posey didn't play in
the team's preseason opener Tuesday at Orlando because of a left foot injury.
But he didn't seem hampered as the Grizzlies improved to 2-0 in the exhibition
season.
"And he's upset with himself," Brown said. "That's why you have to love him to
death. He's a real pro. I never worry about Posey or (Shane) Battier. When we
throw it up on Nov. 3, they're going to be there whether they're hurt or not."
Posey helped put the Cavs away early in the fourth quarter.
His 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down capped a 14-4 run that put the
Griz ahead 89-79 with five minutes left. Moments earlier, Posey buried his
first three as the Grizzlies began to pull away.
Posey also amassed five rebounds, two assists and a steal to go with 10 points.
Coming off his best NBA season, Posey insisted that he's nowhere near content
with his game.
"Every summer I try to become a better player than I was before," he said. "I
take pride in that. I don't want to let myself down or my team down. I do have
confidence in my game now more so than I did earlier in my career. That comes
from understanding the game and the system I'm in."
Center Lorenzen Wright said he wasn't surprised by Posey's effort.
"That's the characteristic of this team," Wright said after leading the Griz
with 15 points along with Dahntay Jones. "We have a lot of guys that go hard.
When you go hard you don't know any other way. We've got to get those engines
tuned up and get ready for the season."
Trailing 75-73 to start the fourth quarter, the Griz finally caught and passed
when Earl Watson started the period with two free throws followed by a Pau
Gasol 3-pointer.
Cleveland had erased the Grizzlies' 10-point advantage in the third mainly due
to LeBron James's smooth production. Now an NBA sophomore, last year's Rookie
of the Year tossed in 25 points and grabbed six rebounds in 30 minutes.
James didn't play in the final frame.
"He's so much more aware of what he needs to do on the court this season," Cavs
coach Paul Silas said. "There is no substitute for experience in this league."
It seems that patience is a virtue, too. Especially during the exhibition
season.
If the preseason allows teams to work out kinks in their system, then the
officials must be tuning their whistles like saxophones.
An amazing 77 fouls were called and the teams each attempted 44 free throws.
Referees have been instructed to call fouls on defenders who extend their
forearms to impede the progress of offensive players.
"I was really pleased as a coach to come into this building and see 14,500
people for an exhibition game," Brown said before sounding apologetic about the
choppy flow of the game. "There was no way we could form any continuity for the
fans. It wasn't pretty."
Officiating aside, what bugged Posey so much?
"Missed free throws and missed layups, and a couple of defensive assignments,
" he said. "I just wasn't happy with it. That's on my mind more than anything."
The reasons why, even in October, the Griz never question Posey's desire and
heart.
-- Ronald Tillery: 529-2353
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