The Memphis Grizzlies travel to the Mile-High City to face the Nuggets. How can they get a win in Denver?
After winning a close game against the Pelicans, the Memphis Grizzlies travel to Denver for a matchup with the Nuggets in one of the NBA’s toughest arenas to leave with a win. The Grizzlies have gone 4-4 in their last 8 games, behind great performances from Tyreke Evans and Marc Gasol. However, of those 8 games, only 3 were against playoff teams.
The Denver Nuggets have been rebuilding for a couple of years, but after finding a star in center Nikola Jokic, they have put up a very respectable season. If the playoffs started today, the Nuggets would get in with a record of 21-20. They do not tend to play down to their competition, so this could be a tough game for the Grizzlies.
Keys to the game
- Take a second to catch your breath….literally.
Denver is one of the toughest cities to leave with a win. Because Denver is at a very high elevation, teams are generally not conditioned to play at that altitude. At 14-5, the Nuggets have the best home record in the Western Conference by a mile. They use this to their advantage by playing at a fast pace, using a small-ball lineup fairly regularly. The Grizzlies need to try to slow the game down to their pace.
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- Don’t let a perimeter player get hot
The Nuggets have one of the best centers in the NBA, Nikola Jokic. He’s a generational offensive talent, and he’s the best passing big man in the NBA. One of his best ways of generating assists is passing out of the double team to guys that shoot 3’s, specifically Jamal Murray and Will Barton. If the Grizzlies allow either of them to get hot, this game will be over quickly.
- Don’t get distracted by the noise
No doubt, the Grizzlies players know that the locker room dynamic could potentially be changing very soon. With the Grizzlies looking to deal Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore, the team needs to focus on the task at hand.
Game Info
Who: Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets
When: 8:00 PM CST
Where: Pepsi Center – Denver, CO
How to watch: Fox Sports Southeast
How to listen: 92.9 ESPN – Memphis