The Memphis Grizzlies' rival, the Rockets, are currently second place in the division and sixth place in the Western Conference with a 22-12 record. After the 2023-24 season, when they finished as 11th in the West, they emerged as one of the conference's most elite competitors just one year later. Despite not having Fred VanVleet, Houston has been able to stay highly competitive, since they have no shortage of star power.
With Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün heading the ship, Amen Thompson continuing to be a huge dual-threat player, Reed Shepard rising to the occasion and making significant contributions, and Steven Adams protecting the rim, this is a scary, well-rounded group that can make a lot of postseason noise.
The keys to success for the Grizzlies to overcome the Rockets
The Grizzlies have only played the Rockets once so far, and the two division rivals won't see each other again until the end of January. Houston handed Memphis a loss earlier in the season, and it was certainly not the best showing for the Grizzlies' home crowd.
When it comes to playing the Rockets, here are some of the keys to success and what the Grizzlies need to do moving forward when they face this very talented Houston team.
Offensive efficiency
Offensive efficiency needs to be a priority for the Grizzlies every time they see the Rockets on their schedule, just like it should be a priority in general as they battle for a spot in the postseason during the second half of the season. Houston boasts one of the NBA’s highest offensive ratings to start the year, so Memphis needs to be sure it is able to get good looks and consistently knock down shots.
In their last meeting, five Grizzlies players racked up double digits, including Cam Spencer, who led the team in points; however, their efforts were simply not enough that night, as the team’s overall shooting efficiency was outmatched.
Crashing the glass
Rebounding is another area where the Grizzlies need to bring their absolute best efforts when playing the Rockets. Just like last season, Houston is elite when it comes to rebounding, and teams that are able to bring the same level of intensity on the boards tend to match up well with them.
It is no secret that the Grizzlies’ rebounding numbers decrease when Zach Edey is off the court, but those rebounds still matter. Memphis has been in a lot of close games this year where every possession matters, so focusing on rebounding and second-chance points is paramount to success, especially when facing teams like Houston.
Defensive intensity
As important as it is to find offensive efficiency and rhythm, being able to prevent the opponent from scoring is just as important. The Rockets shoot and make a lot of baskets, but they are also a physical team that plays a very tough style of defense. To take down Houston, Memphis must match their defensive energy without fouling, disrupt their offense, and pressure the turnover-prone Rockets into making costly mistakes.
Top teams are exposing the Grizzlies’ weaknesses
Figuring out a formula to beat Houston is vital for the Grizzlies if they want to have a chance at making the postseason. It has lately felt like Memphis’ biggest weaknesses are getting exposed when they play teams like the Rockets, and as a result, they have lost a lot of games to teams of this caliber.
Despite a win against the Spurs at home on January 6th, Memphis’ track record against the powerhouses of the Western Conference and teams above .500 is not good enough if they want to have a shot at playoff basketball.