The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off of one of their worst losses of the season. With a decimated roster, the Phoenix Suns came down to Beale Street and completely embarrassed Taylor Jenkins’ squad.
It was a brutal loss, but multiple players were resting and the Suns came into the game on fire, both literally and figuratively. The Dallas Mavericks, on the other hand, are not a hot team at all. Despite being located in one of the hottest states in the country, this team has been ice cold all year.
Despite having one of the most talented rosters in the league, the Mavericks just haven’t been able to get it together thus far. In part, this can be attributed to injuries. Most notably, star center Kristaps Porzingis missed the first win games of the year, a similar absence as the Grizzlies very own Ja Morant.
These absences caused similar struggles from both teams, with the Grizzlies slightly over-performing and the Mavs slightly under-performing. But regardless, each team has had similar growing pains in the 2020-2021 season, so this matchup should make way for an entertaining couple of hours on Monday night.
The Grizzlies might have an advantage over a stacked Dallas Mavericks team
Despite a bad start from Dallas this year, they’ve been rolling as of late. They’ve won 5 of their last 7 games, including wins against the Hawks twice, Warriors, and Pelicans. This is a team that’s coming to play.
Luka Doncic has been playing lights out, averaging a career high in points this year, dropping 46 and 44 in his past two games respectively. His performance will be a key indicator in how this game goes. The Mavericks also have Porzingis, who missed time earlier in the year, back in a groove as they return to winning ways.
The Grizzlies, on the other hand, are coming off of a brutal 31-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. They didn’t have a pulse in that game and have yet to establish a consistent winning attitude. But while the disparity between these two teams may seem jarring at first, the Grizzlies could actually hold a few advantages over Dallas.