Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets (11/11) Preview: What to expect, Predictions, Game Info

Two Southwest Division rivals grow even more familiar with each other. The Memphis Grizzlies will play the Rockets for the third time in less than three weeks tonight. What are some things to expect?

Let me be the first to say that we have all made mistakes on social media. Regardless of our intentions, we’ve all had a time to two where we say something that we regret. Sometimes, life has a way of making our thoughts and predictions look inane.

So let’s go ahead and give a hand to this local Houston radio host!

The Memphis Grizzlies have beaten the Houston Rockets twice to start the season and have generally looked like a very good (if flawed) team. It does appear that Chris Paul would greatly help the Rockets’ chances against the Grizzlies.

My victory lap aside, the Houston Rockets have been playing some excellent basketball lately. They’re on a four-game winning streak and current sit atop the Western Conference along with the Golden State Warriors (big surprise there). Mike D’Antoni, whose teams have been notoriously bad defensively over the years, has helped craft the Rockets into the top half of the league defensively to go along with their prolific offense. Additionally, James Harden has been playing at the absolute peak of his powers.

The Grizzlies have been at their best recently — their beautiful, inconsistent best. In the last three games of their road trip, they picked up two wins against potential playoff teams in the Blazers and Clippers. Since the basketball gods are unkind and we can’t have nice things, the Grizzlies also had to throw a loss to the Lakers in Staples as well.

Recently (as in the last few years), the Grizzlies have been at their best against the premier teams in the league. What can we expect from the Grizzlies and Rockets tonight?

What to Expect

A playoff atmosphere should definitely be in the cards during a Saturday night in Houston. There has been plenty of chippyness and physical play between these two teams so far this year.

Since the Grizzlies have already taken two games from them this year, expect the Rockets to come out focused and firing on all cylinders.

A 3-point shooting barrage could be in the cards for both teams as well. The Rockets are leading the league with 15.1 made 3-pointers per game. James Harden and Eric Gordon have been a two-headed monster, both leading the league in 3-point makes with 4.3 3PM and 3.9 3PM respectively.  As usual, the Grizzlies will have to attempt to keep pace with Houston’s prolific attack.

The NBA is a star-driven league, and it’ll be no different in this game. James Harden has been transcendent as ever, averaging 29.9 PPG and 9.9 APG. In a recent game against the Utah Jazz, he tallied 56 points on 19-25 FG (!!!!!!) and 13 assists. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol have been solid recently, but they haven’t played to their full potential. They’ll need to play at their normal elite level to offset Harden’s production.

A major key for the Grizzlies to beat the Rockets a third time will be creating turnovers. The Rockets are fourth in the league in turnovers per game, averaging 16.9 per game. Harden himself is leading the league with 5.1 turnovers per game. The Grizzlies are eighth in the league in creating turnovers. If the Grizzlies can force the Rockets into early mistakes, they can exit the Toyota Center with a victory.

Prediction

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I honestly didn’t think that the Grizzlies were going to win either of their first two meetings against the Rockets. However, I will not be fooled again! I will take the Grizzlies in a high-scoring affair.

Grizzlies 108, Rockets 104

Game Info

WHO: Memphis Grizzlies at Houston Rockets

WHERE: Toyota Center — Houston, TX

WHEN: 7:00 PM CT

HOW TO WATCH: Fox Sports Southeast

HOW TO LISTEN: 92.9 ESPN