Grizzlies Postgame: Tony Allen says he's ready when duty calls
Veteran guard Tony Allen appeared to be the odd man out of the Grizzlies' bench rotation.
But he jumped back in Wednesday night in the second half of a 106-91 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Griz coach Lionel Hollins called on Allen in search of a defensive spark when the Mavs began pulling away behind easy baskets in the lane.
Hollins said earlier in the week that he would use several games with set reserves to try and firm up his bench. Playing time had been earmarked for Xavier Henry, Sam Young, Darrell Arthur, Hasheem Thabeet and Acie Law.
Hollins also said the decision wasn't etched in stone.
Allen quickly found that out. He played 10 minutes after not playing in the previous two games.
"Whenever my number is called I've got to be ready," Allen said.
Allen was the first player off the bench just two minutes into third period when Hollins took O.J. Mayo out of the game for defensive purposes. Allen's minutes have been as up and down as his play since the regular season began.
But the Grizzlies' free-agent acquisition from the offseason said he is satisfied with his role.
"I'm just here ready to play whenever my number is called," Allen said. "I come every day and prepare myself to play."
Odds and ends
-- The Griz entered the game leading the NBA in steals (12.5 per game), forced turnovers (22) and points off turnovers (24.1). But they collected just four steals, forced 10 turnovers and scored 11 points off the miscues.
-- With his nine rebounds, Rudy Gay (1,821) passed Mike Miller (1,813) for seventh place on the Grizzlies' all-time list. Gay, however, had a streak of nine straight games (dating back to last season) in which he's scored 20-plus points snapped. He finished with 18 points.
-- The Griz have been held to less than 100 points twice this season both times against Dallas. ... The Mavs' bench outscored the Griz reserves 46-27. ... Dallas improved to 3-0 on the road.
He said it
"You try to not have a whole lot of stinkers and that's what this was." -- Hollins, summing up the loss.
