{"id":419019,"date":"2011-05-06T20:38:14","date_gmt":"2011-05-06T20:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/"},"modified":"2011-05-06T20:38:14","modified_gmt":"2011-05-06T20:38:14","slug":"rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/","title":{"rendered":"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)\u2014Zach Randolph<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> has never played this deep into the postseason, and he\u2019s quickly learned a crucial lesson on the importance of rest.<\/p>\n

He scored a franchise playoff-best 31 points in ousting the San Antonio Spurs<\/a> a week ago, and went for 34 as the Grizzlies opened their Western Conference semifinal series with a win in Oklahoma City. His shooting touch faltered just over 48 hours later, though, when Randolph hit 2 of 13 from the floor and finished with 15 points against the Thunder.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City won that game 111-102 to even the series at 1-1.<\/p>\n

Randolph said Friday after practice that he thinks a three-day break before Saturday\u2019s game will help the Grizzlies\u2019 shooting. Marc Gasol<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> was 3 of 9 for 13 points in Game 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we got a rhythm. We came out today, ran through our plays, ran through their plays pretty good. Guys look like they have their legs up under them,\u201d Randolph said. \u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll be in rhythm. We\u2019ll be able to make some shots.\u201d<\/p>\n

Memphis coach Lionel Hollins isn\u2019t worried about any carry over for Randolph or Gasol.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t struggle the last game really. They shot the ball a little bit poorly,\u201d Hollins said. \u201cBut they played their game. I don\u2019t worry about that stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to increase our aggressiveness and our pace to attacking.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Thunder had plenty to do with holding the NBA\u2019s best scoring team in the paint in the regular season to just 34 points, well below the 52 the Grizzlies scored inside in winning the series opener. They even triple-teamed Randolph early, and the constant attention wore him down.<\/p>\n

Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said he thought his Thunder did a good job defensively to help force Randolph into missing shots he normally makes. Oklahoma City worked on pushing him 2 or 3 feet away from the areas he prefers to catch the ball, and when he tried to dribble, the Thunder simply swarmed him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just executed it much better in the second game,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cZach is a terrific player. I\u2019m sure he\u2019s going to come back with a different mindset. We just have to stay consistent in what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

That means the game plan isn\u2019t changing for the Thunder, who practiced Friday in Oklahoma City before flying to Memphis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still going to continue to do what we do,\u201d forward Nick Collision said. \u201cPack the paint regardless if they\u2019re spreading them out. We\u2019ve just got to continue to do what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Thunder will have power forward Serge Ibaka<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> on Saturday after the NBA\u2019s best shot blocker nursed injuries to his right knee and left ankle the past three days.<\/p>\n

Hollins isn\u2019t concerned about who is on the court for the Thunder. He has spent the time since Tuesday night\u2019s loss giving his Grizzlies a day off Wednesday with a focus Thursday and Friday on what they need to fix. The Grizzlies left 3-point shooters too wide open, and the Thunder hit 8 of 14. Memphis turned the Thunder over 16 times but also matched that number.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting turnovers and turning it back over to them doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d Hollins said. \u201cWe turn them over, we\u2019ve got to get good shots, whether it\u2019s a fast break or we execute in our half court.\u201d<\/p>\n

Guard Tony Allen<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> is confident the Grizzlies will get back to scoring inside and playing their stingy defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cCoach has got a huge playbook, and I\u2019m pretty sure he\u2019s going to exercise that,\u201d Allen said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to draw up a lot of sets today to get those guys in the post a little easier to where they can\u2019t come down and ball up that paint.\u201d<\/p>\n

As loud as Oklahoma City has been, the volume may be even higher in the FedExForum. The Grizzlies sold out only four time in the regular season despite winning 30 games in Memphis, yet their first five postseason games have sold out. They have won their first three on home court.<\/p>\n

Fans lined up Friday for free headbands to support this team, and Grizzlies veteran Shane Battier<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> said he and his teammates are being thanked by people all around town. He was here when the Grizzlies lost their first 12 playoff games between 2004 and 2006. It may sound corny, but Battier said these fans are vested differently than any other NBA arena he\u2019s seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cPart disbelief, part shock, part proud parent. It\u2019s a strange, great mix of a lot of different emotions, which makes it really electric,\u201d Battier said.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s helps makes Saturday so crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt would be a great win for us,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cWe have to go in there and compete. It\u2019s not going to be easy. We know what their team is about. Their crowd is going to be very good. We have to get one win.\u201d<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writer Jeff Latzke in Oklahoma City, Okla., contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Follow Teresa M. Walker at http:\/\/twitter.com\/TeresaMWalker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

See the original post:
\nRested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP)<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)\u2014 Zach Randolph (notes) has never played this deep into the postseason, and he\u2019s quickly learned a crucial lesson on the importance of rest. He scored a franchise playoff-best 31 points in ousting the San Antonio Spurs a week ago, and went for 34 as the Grizzlies opened their Western Conference semifinal series with a win in Oklahoma City<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-419019","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"yoast_head":"\nRested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)\u2014 Zach Randolph (notes) has never played this deep into the postseason, and he\u2019s quickly learned a crucial lesson on the importance of rest. He scored a franchise playoff-best 31 points in ousting the San Antonio Spurs a week ago, and went for 34 as the Grizzlies opened their Western Conference semifinal series with a win in Oklahoma City\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ghanamma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ghanamma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"\",\"@id\":\"\"},\"headline\":\"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP)\",\"datePublished\":\"2011-05-06T20:38:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\"},\"wordCount\":861,\"commentCount\":0,\"articleSection\":[\"Local News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\",\"name\":\"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2011-05-06T20:38:14+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/\",\"name\":\"Ghanamma.com\",\"description\":\"News In Ghana - Latest Ghana News Headlines\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com","twitter_description":"MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)\u2014 Zach Randolph (notes) has never played this deep into the postseason, and he\u2019s quickly learned a crucial lesson on the importance of rest. He scored a franchise playoff-best 31 points in ousting the San Antonio Spurs a week ago, and went for 34 as the Grizzlies opened their Western Conference semifinal series with a win in Oklahoma City","twitter_creator":"@ghanamma","twitter_site":"@ghanamma","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/"},"author":{"name":"","@id":""},"headline":"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP)","datePublished":"2011-05-06T20:38:14+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/"},"wordCount":861,"commentCount":0,"articleSection":["Local News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/","name":"Rested Randolph ready for Game 3 (AP) - Ghanamma.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website"},"datePublished":"2011-05-06T20:38:14+00:00","author":{"@id":""},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/05\/06\/rested-randolph-ready-for-game-3-ap\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/","name":"Ghanamma.com","description":"News In Ghana - Latest Ghana News Headlines","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=419019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/419019\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=419019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=419019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2011\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=419019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}