Discussion: Memphis Grizzlies Visiting Orlando Magic
Dec 9, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jon Leuer (30) drives against Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) at FedExForum. Memphis defeated Orlando 94-85. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
On Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies will put their 27-11 record on the line again as they head further south to play the 15-27 Orlando Magic.
For this preview of the Grizzlies’ regular season game 39 of 82, BealeStreetBears.com links up with one of Orlando Magic Daily’s editors, Brett David Roberts (on Twitter as @BDRHoops), in a one-on-one writers’ roundtable discussion. A few key factors to this battle on the hardwood will be examined in the conversation, which can be found directly below.
The Marc Gasol/Nikola Vucevic matchup looks to be huge. How do the two centers compare and differ from one another? Who wins the matchup?
Christian Dudley: Vucevic and Gasol have some similarities I think. Both are crafty big men. Great footwork and post moves. Gasol is probably the far better passer/playmaker out of the post, but Vucevic has to be taken seriously. Vucevic is quietly deserving an NBA All-Star nod, except for the Magic having a not-so-great record.
Giving my honest and unbiased opinion, I would have to say Marc Gasol wins this battle. I believe Marc is the best center in the NBA right now and what sets himself apart from other “elite” NBA centers, such as Dwight Howard, Tyson Chandler, Andre Drummond, and Vucevic is how much better he can make his teammates.
The Grizzlies thrive off of the playmaking ability of MG. Gasol is essentially a point guard playing the role of a 7’2″ center. He does this on both ends of the floor, too. It is amazing how far Marc Gasol has come in just a few years–which he can credit his weight-loss as being one key factor in his elite success.
Vucevic deserves credit for his many impressive performances. It amazes me how he receives very little recognition while he is posting numbers nearly as great as any other opposing center. He loses the height battle against MG, and he may not pass and playmake as well as Gasol, but he excels at rebounding and positioning in the post, as well as using crafty footwork to score buckets down low. If he can contain Marc Gasol, the Magic have a good chance at upsetting the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night.
Brett David Roberts: Vucevic is dangerous from anywhere within 18 feet. He likes to step out and face up before launching a jumper. His soft is so soft that once he gets the ball deep, he is a short hook shot away from 2 points. He’s also locking it up on the offensive glass. Against the Bulls, he had eight offensive rebounds and hes perfected the art of following teammates’ misfirings and turning them into tip-ins. He’s not yet on a Gasol type level, but his offensive skills approach it.
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As of right now, Vucevic has trouble passing out of double teams. They are new to him. But he is getting better at kicking it out. For whatever reason the only one not afraid to launch contested jumpers is Channing Frye, because he has such a high release. Frye has been cold, but teams still have to respect a shooter. Starting Kyle O’Quinn was bound to be a failed experiment. KO’Q has a problem with foul trouble and he tries to step out to the arc when he belongs in the paint. If he developed his game, he could step out. But even then, he operates best from the post.
Having Aaron Gordon back in the fold will deepen the depth chart behind Tobias Harris, Kyle O’Quinn, and Frye. Fournier always looks to put it on the floor now. Fournier needs to get his confidence back because Vucevic needs good targets to throw it out to. His opportuniies like all big men come from guards feeding the ball to him. It has to be reciprocal.
How can Victor Oladipo be stopped?
Dudley: Tony Allen will have his hands full. TA will have to guard Oladipo mostly, but may require Courtney Lee and maybe even Jeff Green to help him out since Mike Conley will have to keep his eye on Elfrid Payton constantly.
Roberts: Victor Oladipo is impossible to guard when he’s hot. If the defense plays him tight, he drives by them. If they lay back he knocks down the jumper. He’s good at staying away from long two pointers now, and he shot 7 of his first shots in the paint, hitting five of them in the contest against Houston. Oladipo single-handedly created two runs which helped put Houston under water.
What can the Grizz do to contain Elfrid Payton? Is Tony Allen enough?
March 3, 2013; Orlando FL, USA; Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard Tony Allen (9) dunks against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dudley: Tony Allen will already have his hands full with having to defend the rising star, Victor Oladipo. Mike Conley and Beno Udrih will have their hands full with Elfrid Payton. Payton has shown already that he is already an all-around great point guard and will most likely be a star himself in the future. Although Payton does not seem to be focused on scoring much, passing lanes need to be cut off and all shooters that Payton finds need to be contested when the shot goes up.
Roberts: Payton and Oladipo have been running two man halfcourt traps and forcing a lot miscues. Lin had 5 turnovers and Harden had 7 of Houston’s 20. The Magic are capitalizing on the turnovers with a vast increase in fast break scoring, Payton shoots as poorly as Rondo, but like Rajon Rondo he finds ways to turn impossibly poor situations and make lead into gold. His no-looks are true no looks. He has a great awareness of his teammates.
Which best contributor(s) from both teams need to step up in East/West matchup?
Dudley: Beno Udrih, Grizz point guard, needs to have a solid game in order to help lighten the workload for Mike Conley. It would be great to also see Vince Carter come out of his recent shooting slump, especially against one of his former teams–I am sure that he will have a small chip on his shoulder for this game for that reason because of VC’s competitive nature. For the Magic, even though Ben Gordon is quickly adding the years onto his career, he can still shoot the three. Luke Ridnour, whom the Grizzlies are familiar, could get hot from the field quickly. He is a solid backup point guard that always brings the energy and effort.
Overall, the Magic have many shooters and hustle guys that will attempt to throw the Grizzlies off of their traditional gameplan of playing through the post. If this happens, the Magic could rapidly run up the scoreboard on Memphis just as Orlando did in their last game–a victory over Houston in which the Floridian team put up 120 points.
Roberts: The Magic bench has been outscored in six of their last seven games, despite shooting just under 50 percent against the Rockets. Jacque Vaughn has tried to remedy that through two means: putting Oladipo in the second unit and telling Ben Gordon to just gun it like he always has. It doesn’t hurt to have Gordon chucking shots in the second unit, and Willie Green was useful for the same reason. Strangely, Fournier has gone ice cold and Luke Ridnour only has brief moments of looking like an NBA player. Kyle O’Quinn is foul prone. Maurice Harkless gets great looks at the basket, but misses. And soon to be reserve Devyn Marble can’t hit the broadside of a tobacco barn.
Essentially, Marble is Bruce Bowen with bricks from the corner three, instead of deadly shooting. He isn’t dirty yet, but needs to be as physical as Quincy Acy to stick in the league with talent limitations. He was drafted for his defense, and it’s been soild but not overly impressive.
Ultimately, Payton and Oladipo willed the team to a win, while Vucevic reaped the benefits of both guards getting into the paint with such ease. It didn’t hurt that Dwight Howard gambled and overcompenstated by goal tending two shots and picking up silly fouls attacking drives to the basket. Weak side rotations are sometimes lacking the worst way, and Houston struggles with that despite having the 3rd highest defensive rating. Basically, the Magic rely on Harris/Vucevic/Oladipo to save the team’s shooting percentage, and its fate.
Starting Fives (subject to change)
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: Mike Conley (point guard), Courtney Lee (shooting guard), Tony Allen (small forward), Zach Randolph (power forward), Marc Gasol (center)
ORLANDO MAGIC: Elfrid Payton (point guard), Victor Oladipo (shooting guard), Devyn Marble (small forward), Channing Frye (power forward), Nikola Vucevic (center)
Key Notes
- Orlando rookie Aaron Gordon is expected to make his return from injury (out since November 16).
- The Magic are led by center Nikola Vucevic, averaging a double-double with 18.9 PPG and 11.2 RPG.
- Marc Gasol is the Grizzlies’ MVP with 19.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 3.5 APG.
- The Grizzlies are sixth in the NBA in field goal percentage (47%) and eighth in points allowed per game (97.9).
- The Orlando Magic are 27th in points scored per game (94.8) and 23rd in field goal percentage allowed (46%).
- The Magic own a 15-27 record heading into their matchup with Memphis.
- Both teams have not played since Wednesday (both teams earned victories).
- Memphis swept the season series 2-0 against Orlando last season.
- This is the first of two meetings between the Grizz and Magic this season.
- These two teams will play against each other again in 10 days.
Injury Report
The Memphis Grizzlies are currently reporting no known injuries.
The Orlando Magic are ruling Tobias Harris out of tonight’s game due to a recently-injured ankle (high sprain).
Personal Prediction
I believe the Grizz will come out on top in this matchup. The Orlando Magic have been playing at a high level lately and Victor Oladipo is playing some of the best basketball of his young career, but with Memphis’ addition of Jeff Green, I expect the Grizzlies to win tonight by around six points.
Game Time
The Grizzlies will face off on the hardwood against the Orlando Magic at 6:00 P.M. Central Time. You can watch the game on SportSouth television and/or listen to the play-by-play on WMFS.
Go Grizz!