"O.J. Mayo didn't get much of an opportunity to dream about the Grizzlies' potential last week after their season-opening loss.

You see, Mayo couldn't sleep that night. He stayed awake thinking about his passive performance in a depressing defeat to the Atlanta Hawks.

"I wasn't even tired after that (Atlanta) game," Mayo said. "I didn't give it all I had in me, and I don't want to feel like that ever again. From now on, I've got to leave it all out on the floor so I can sleep at night."

If there was a tinge of concern about Mayo because of his slow start to the regular season after subpar shooting during exhibition play, then Griz fans can rest easy.

Mayo sure seems to have entered a comfort zone. And it's not just that the third-year, 6-4 guard averaged 24.5 points over the past two games -- both Grizzlies victories. The pep in Mayo's step was noticeable.

He attacked defenders off the dribble, and he made a concerted effort to catch and shoot with range. He made plays for himself and teammates with active defense.

The biggest difference during that span?

Mayo averaged 19 field goal attempts after he inexplicably attempted just nine shots in the opener, in which All-Star Zach Randolph left early with a bruised tailbone.

Griz assistant coach Johnny Davis sounded the alarm. Davis sat down with Mayo and used game film to point out how he passed up shots and looked uninspired.

"He said, 'on our team, you're a shooter. You're a scorer and we need you to score,'" Mayo said. "Now that Z-Bo is down, I have to be a little more aggressive. I just had to put it in my head to be more aggressive and just play hard.""