The Memphis Grizzlies will look to even the season series with the Washington Wizards for the second time this season. What is their best road to victory?
After a long road trip on the West Coast, the Memphis Grizzlies return home to face the Washington Wizards for the second and final time this season. In the first game these two teams played, the Wizards squeaked ahead 93-87 behind 18 points from Bradley Beal.
Since sputtering out of the gates, the Wizards have looked respectable, led by perennial All-Star John Wall and hopeful All-Star Beal.
The Grizzlies are either looking to even up the season series at one apiece or looking to continue to plummet towards salvation in the form of a certain guard from the prairie. Either way, what needs to happen to make this an interesting game?
Keys to the game
- Contain Bradley Beal and John Wall
This seems like a no-brainer. Bradley Beal is on a complete and total tear this season, sparked by John Wall’s early injury. He’s averaging 23.4 points per game and shooting a respectable 36.7 percent from 3, all while remaining uncharacteristically durable. Wall continues to be one of the most explosive point guards in the league. Even though he is still working his way back from his absence, he’s a dangerous player. The Grizzlies need to do whatever they can to contain these two. Their best course of action would likely be to sic Wayne Selden and Dillon Brooks on them.
- Continue to run the offense through Reke
Tyreke Evans has been playing the best basketball of his career this season. He is singlehandedly responsible for several wins that the Grizzlies have gotten, and his ascent has been one of the feel-good stories of the year. The Grizzlies should continue to go as Reke goes. Alternatively, the team almost certainly won’t be able to afford to keep him, so the more opportunities the Grizzlies have to show off his talents to potential trade suitors, the better.
- Win the rebounding battle
The Wizards are one of the better rebounding teams in the NBA. The Grizzlies need to do the best they can do to contain Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris on the glass, and have guys prepared to deny long offensive rebounds from Wall, Beal and Kelly Oubre. The Grizzlies are coming off a long road trip, so they will need to exert extra effort to win this statistical battle.
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Game Info
Who: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Washington Wizards
When: 8:30 PM Central
Where: FedEx Forum – Memphis, TN
How to watch: ESPN or Fox Sports Southeast
How to listen: 92.9 ESPN – Memphis