5 Early Recipes That Will Keep Memphis Grizzlies Cooking

The Memphis Grizzlies are only six games into the regular season, but they have already started to do some things that they will do for the entire season. Some of the intrinsic elements of the “grit ‘n’ grind” are starting to show.

Much of what people see early in the season won’t last for all 82 games. For instance, the Grizzlies won’t pile up points and win by safe margins in a large percentage of games like they have thus far.

However, Grizzlies fans can expect to see certain things from their favorite team. Zach Randolph will put forth an amazing rebounding display every night. The Grizzlies force turnovers like no other team knows how to do.

Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol and others are showing signs that will last the rest of the season.

Follow along for a series of early-season successes that the Grizzlies have had that will last throughout this campaign.

Marc Gasol's Scoring

Marc Gasol vowed before the season that he would be a bigger scoring force this season. He told The Commercial Appeal that he would be more aggressive going for shots. Mostly, he has been.

Gasol started out putting up more points than he did in previous years. Last season, he averaged 14.6 points per game. He dropped more than 20 points in the first three games before scoring 14 against the Milwaukee Bucks and struggling to hit shots against the Miami Heat and Houston Rockets.

This season, the man Tony Allen calls “Big Spain” is averaging 14.2 points per game.

After starting to turn the corner as a scorer last season, Gasol is taking his progress further. This trend is set to continue throughout the year. Gasol has turned into one of the strongest, most forceful centers in the NBA. As the season progresses, this seven-footer will distinguish himself as a scorer only a few centers can outdo.

Rudy Gay Taking More Shots

Grizzlies fans have waited to see Rudy Gay take over scoring like he should. Gay hasn’t quite done that for a stretch of games yet. What he has done is take enough shots to indicate a willingness to carry a larger scoring burden.

Gay has taken a significantly higher number of shots each game than he did in prior years. He’s averaging 18.7 shots per game. Last season, the Connecticut product took 16.4 shots per game. In 2010-11, he took 16.1 shots per game.

Dating back to his sophomore campaign in 2006-07, Gay has averaged at least 16 per game. However, he hasn’t averaged much more than that. He set his career high in 2006-07 at 16.7 per game.

This season will be different. As Gay has consistently taken more shots in a game than his career average, he appears set on finishing the season with a markedly higher attempts-per-game average. Eventually, his shooting percentages will pick up and he’ll produce the points, which fans of the three shades of blue have waited for from him.

Marreese Speights Playing Both Frontcourt Spots

After doing a fine job last season as a stand-in for Zach Randolph, Marreese Speights has moved into a reserve role that’s a bit more flexible and gives him more minutes than he might have expected. Speights is playing both power forward and center, depending on the situation.

That’s because Darrell Arthur, the other Grizzlies power forward re-signed in the offseason, broke a leg while playing pickup ball in late September. Also, the only other reserve big man on the team, Hamed Haddadi, plays only occasionally.

Arthur, who missed the 2011-12 season with a torn Achilles tendon, is also expected to take some time transitioning back into a regular reserve role. He just returned to practice on Tuesday, according to The Commercial Appeal. The Kansas product is shooting to return on Dec. 1.

With Arthur taking time to get back into the groove, Speights will be able to play as much as he could desire in this role. Perhaps until midseason, he can expect to see a fair amount of time at both positions.

After Arthur gets acclimated once again, Speights will likely see most of his time backing up Marc Gasol at the 5 spot, but should still get a few minutes each game at the 4. If Arthur struggles with his shot, Speights will be popping in to spell Zach Randolph with his fairly consistent jumper.

Forcing Turnovers

I mentioned on Monday the modest ideal that the Grizzlies up their ball-hawking effort to lead the league in steals and turnovers forced as they have the past two seasons.

While the Grizzlies aren’t on top in these two categories, they are close. The Grizzlies are in the top five in steals and turnovers forced per game. Memphis players are putting forth strong efforts snatching the ball. Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Quincy Pondexter are averaging 1.5 steals per game.

With the commitment to pursuing turnovers exhibited in the “Grindhouse” this season as in the previous two, this team will continue to be one of the biggest turnover-forcing teams in the league. Conley, Gay and Allen will continue on their pace to average 1.5 steals per game as they did the past two years.

To see the Grizz lead the league in steals and turnovers forced for a third straight year should come as no surprise.

Zach Randolph’s Rebounding Dominance

Zach Randolph saw his rebounding figure fall off last season after two excellent seasons in that department. Fortunately for the Marion, Ind., native, his profile is picking up again.

He averaged eight rebounds, including 2.8 offensive rebounds, in 26.3 minutes per game last year, compared with 12.2 rebounds per game, including 4.3 offensive rebounds, in 36.3 minutes per game in 2010-11.

Randolph has pulled down boards in great numbers. He's averaging 14.5 rebounds per game, including a monstrous 5.7 per game on the offensive glass. His rebounding rates are promising, at 22 percent overall and 17.1 percent on the offensive boards.

The 31-year-old has retained the strength, aggression and positioning ability that made him a dominant presence on the boards prior to last season. He’ll continue to show those attributes throughout the season and finish the year as one of the biggest heavyweights on the glass.