Wall on Grizzlies resting stars: 'I guess they don't respect us'

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger did his best Gregg Popovich impression Thursday night.

Joerger rested a number of his top players for the nationally televised TNT game against the Washington Wizards, giving Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Tony Allen the night off. Conley, recovering from an ankle sprain, was the only one among the four who was injured.

Memphis's decision to take on Washington shorthanded didn't sit well with All-Star point guard John Wall, who took it as a sign of disrespect. 

"That's how I see it," Wall told reporters. "They sit them and I don't know the reason why. I think we're a team that's on the rise and teams respect us now. 

"I guess they don't respect us and we went out there and played basketball the right way and tried to get a win no matter what."

The Wizards took it out on Memphis, pounding the Grizzlies 107-87 behind Wall's 21-point, seven-rebound, six-assist effort. 

"I was surprised to see guys sit," Wall added. "I thought probably Conley would be the only one to miss because of his ankle sprain but it was shocking to see. It doesn't matter to me. We got the win. We looked past that."