Fourth quarter flurry 14,568 see Griz scrappy playat FedExForum Grizzlies 102, Cavaliers 94 By Ronald Tillery Contact 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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