Beale Street Bears
Fansided

3 Grizzlies to monitor during preseason game vs Bucks

By Mark Nilon

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 08: Ziaire Williams #8 and John Konchar #46 help Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Indiana Pacers at FedExForum on October 08, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 08: Ziaire Williams #8 and John Konchar #46 help Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Indiana Pacers at FedExForum on October 08, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next

The Memphis Grizzlies kicked off their 2023 preseason in exhilarating fashion Sunday evening, as they took part in a back-and-forth bout against the up-and-coming Indiana Pacers that ultimately needed overtime for the outcome to be decided.

Fortunately for the home fans in attendance at FedEx Forum, it was Taylor Jenkins’ squad that wound up prevailing, besting Indy by a final score of 127-122.

Now, Memphis finds itself gearing up to play the role of host yet again, as the Milwaukee Bucks have come into town for an 8 PM (EST) tip-off on Tuesday evening.

Grizzlies players to monitor during preseason matchup vs Milwaukee Bucks

Despite the fact that the outcome of the exhibition has zero impact on their regular season standing, there are several things fans and media pundits should be looking forward to observing during the affair.

Specifically from an individual standpoint, we at BSB believe there are a few Grizzlies players, in particular, that spectators should be monitoring closely.

3. Steven Adams

Since coming to the Grizzlies back in the summer of 2021, Steven Adams has established himself as a vital part of the team’s main core.

Ironically, this became most apparent during the final 35 games of last season and throughout the postseason while he was shelved due to a PCL sprain, as Memphis plummeted in statistical categories virtually all across the board — ranked third in win percentage (.674), first in offensive rebounding (13.4), first in total rebounding (49.4), first in defensive rating (109.2), and second in net rating (5.4) with Adams and fell to 13 (.556), 13 (10.3), 15 (43.1), ninth (112.6), and 13 (2.2), respectively, without him.

Now, coming into 2023-24, the hope is that his nine months of recovery have him on track to be a full go right from the jump, though rumblings began to surface recently suggesting that he may not yet be at 100 percent health.

During their preseason opener, Adams did wind up appearing in the starting lineup and was seemingly comfortable with his movements and taking bumps from opposing players, which was an encouraging sight to see for Grizzlies fans.

That said, he saw fewer than 12 minutes on the night, thus making it hard to get a full grasp of where exactly he might currently be in his rehabilitation.

Hopefully, during game two of the preseason, the big man will see a bit more action.

Home/Grizzlies Rumors