It was only the first quarter of the first game, but it was also the Grizzlies and three-pointers, enough to make seven baskets behind the arc in 13 attempt against the visiting Timberwolves a very encouraging start for the team that finished next-to-last in percentage on deep balls.

The opening lineup was un-Grizz enough: James Ennis, JaMychal Green, Marc Gasol, Andrew Harrison and Mike Conley, with Zach Randolph in his new role as a reserve big man and Chandler Parsons (recovering from knee surgery) and Tony Allen (knee) sidelined. To then start making threes may have been the strangest sight of all.

Conley had three of the seven, in three tries. Conley and Gasol as the Memphis anchors is more like the typical, but in especially interesting seasons for both. Conley is back after signing a five-year, $153-million contract in the offseason and Gasol after being limited to 52 games in 2015-16 by a fractured right foot.

Scott Howard-Cooper has covered the NBA since 1988. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter.

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