Memphis Grizzlies: Big Men Will Be Key In Stopping Thunder
The Memphis Grizzlies tandem of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol must play well to hand the Oklahoma City Thunder a loss.
If you’ve watched a game of Memphis Grizzlies basketball this season you would say you’ve seen something different from past years.
Yes the big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have been fully involved on both ends of the floor, but the offense has played at a faster pace in recent contests.
In fact, Memphis is two spots better in terms of pace of play this season, sitting at a 97.1 rating per ESPN’s rankings as opposed to 94.2 last season.
A lot of this has had to do with the improved play of Mike Conley and the higher usage of smaller lineups with Jeff Green at power forward.
Faster lineups with Conley and Green at the four have shot much better on three-point shots than their groupings with two traditional big men per NBA.com. The Grizzlies haven’t been known for their offensive play or three-point shooting, but this season has been a different story for Memphis thanks to the added time for Green as well as the additions of Mario Chalmers and Matt Barnes.
More from Beale Street Bears
- Dillon Brooks speaks out after beating former Grizzlies teammate in World Cup
- Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
- 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
- Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
- Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star
However, that may not help them in a battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder Tuesday night as coach Billy Donovan’s small-ball lineups with Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant at the five and four spots have outclassed many other team’s attempts at trying to match them.
The combination of size, versatility and shooting touch with those two in the frontcourt can beat any unique lineup the Grizzlies can throw at them. So how does Memphis fight against a team with so much speed and shooting ability?
Pound the ball inside.
Randolph and Gasol are capable of putting up huge point totals against the Thunder while still spreading the floor enough for Conley to dribble-drive into the lane and get his or get others involved. Utilizing the two bigs along with using Gasol as a facilitator in the high post to stretch the defense will be two key factors if the Grizzlies want to come out on top in this game.
Durant’s going to put up points. Russell Westbrook may have a triple-double. But as we’ve seen before, the Thunder can’t win games from only those two playing well.
Memphis has the defensive personnel to make life difficult for those two stars as well as the rest of the team, and as long as they stick to their “grit-n-grind” style of basketball they will come out on top.
Prediction: Thunder 98 Grizzlies 102