Grizz Notebook: Injuries take toll on bench

With Darrell Arthur out for the year with a torn Achilles, Xavier Henry sidelined with a sprained ankle and the Grizzlies trading Vasquez to the Hornets on Christmas Eve, the Grizzlies have a whole new bench with the exception of Mayo and Sam Young, who didn't play (coach's decision) versus the Thunder. The lack of cohesion trying to blend in new frontcourt players like Quincy Pondexter and Donte Cunningham, as well as point guards Jeremy Pargo and rookie Josh Selby, was obvious at times versus the Thunder. It really showed when Oklahoma City had too many open looks from the three-point range. "We just have to communicate," Mayo said. "Oklahoma City has some guys that really like to shoot the three and we've got to run them off the three-point line." Players, especially veterans, hate training camp and the eight-game exhibition season. But with the lockout shortening the regular season to 66 games and reducing exhibitions to just two, there isn't much margin of error for slow starts. That's why Grizzlies F Zach Randolph uttered the words he never thought he'd say. "I miss those eight exhibition games," Randolph said. "We have some things we need to work out, especially with some of new guys." Starting point guard Mike Conley's season opening debut last exactly 14 seconds. He passed to a wing, cut away from the ball and then collapsed in a heap, re-aggravating a sprained ankle he sustained in the second of two exhibition games against the Hornets. "I don't know how bad Mike's ankle is," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "He hurt it the same way he hurt it before. He stopped and it rolled over. I have no idea how long he'll be out." PLAYER NOTES Rookie G Jeremy Pargo stepped in for injured Mike Conley after the game's first 14 seconds and was absolutely dynamite. He outscored Thunder G Russell Westbrook 15 to four, with Westbrook going 0-for-13 from the field. Pargo also had seven assists and just one turnover. "That's your scratch-your-head part," said Pargo, of suddenly being thrust into the game. "That's a tough situation to play under, because Mike has taught me a lot since I've been here." F Rudy Gay had his second straight double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds. But coming off shoulder surgery that sidelined him all of last season after the All-Star break, it's obvious he's still trying to get used to the grind of game shape. He missed all four field goal attempts in the first quarter, went 4-for-6 in the second quarter, 3-for-9 in the third quarter and 2-for-5 in the fourth quarter. Most of his second half misses were shots that fell short, a sign of fatigue. "I was up and down, some good quarters and some bad quarters," Gay said. "It's a process, but I've been dealing with the process ever since I had surgery." F Zach Randolph, after a cold early start, nearly brought the Grizzlies back for the win. He scored 12 of his team-high 24 points in the fourth quarter, including a 26-foot three-pointer off a designed inbounds play that cut the Thunder lead to 96-95 with 1.8 seconds left. Randolph benefitted from the officiating crew of Leroy Richardson, Ken Mauer and Kane Fitzgerald, who often turned the other cheek on physical play under the boards. "It was like a playoff atmosphere and they (the officials) let us play," said Randolph, who made 9-of-12 free throws. "They should let us play like that every game. I like the wrestling." MEDICAL WATCH G Xavier Henry (second-degree right ankle sprain) will be out two more weeks. G Mike Conley (ankle sprain) is day-to-day F Darrell Arthur (torn Achilles) is out for the season. QUOTE TO NOTE "We looked a lot better than we did against San Antonio. The effort was better, we played for each other and the turnovers were down. We keep playing with that effort, no doubt we're going to better." -- Grizzlies C Marc Gasol.