Opponent Scouting: Memphis Grizzlies (13-9)
Pulled myself out of a stupor from Michigan winning to get this done. Sorry so short time before the game.
Tonight at 6:00pm EST the Detroit Pistons will be hosting the Grizzlies of Memphis. The Pistons are on two days of rest after beating the Mavericks while the Grizzlies are on one day of rest after beating the Sixers.
The Them:
The Grizzlies have not been elite but they continue where they’ve been the last two years of being really good. They come into the game with the league’s 9th best offense and 17th best defense which is good for the 14th best net rating in the NBA.
The Grizzlies have several guys out. Physical center Steven Adams is listed as questionable, Desmond Bane, who’s burst onto the scene and was averaging almost 15 points per game, remains out with a sprain, Ziarire Williams is also out.
As it is, the Grizzlies are led by superstar Ja Morant. Morant is electric, scoring 28 points and dishing 7 assists per game, his burst to the hoop is unmatched and he can get up to finish over anyone. His shooting is still not a strong point but he’s over 36% on the year which is enough to punish defenses for sagging off of him. An underrated aspect of Morant is also that he’s comfortable playing off the ball for stretches as well. Fellow youngster Dillon Brooks is scoring 17 per game as a big guard/wing and can get his buckets in a variety of ways. Jaren Jackson Jr is back from injury and while his shot remains elusive, he’s still scoring 19 per game and blocking the hell out of shots to the tune of 3.1 blocks per game. John Konchar is a good shooter.
Tyus Jones is a reliable if unremarkable backup who takes care of the ball and shoots well off the bench. Brandon Clarke defends, Santi Aldama is large and can score.
Without Bane the Grizzlies are missing some scoring punch but this remains a talented group that plays with tons of energy every night and Ja Morant is one of the more watchable stars in today’s game. This is a game that will probably be worth watching even if the Pistons get beaten badly.
Matchups to watch:
Killian Hayes vs. Ja Morant: Hayes will likely have the majority of the matchup defensively, and Hayes is coming off what is probably his best game as a Piston.
Pistons vs. Defense: Even in the brief moments of positivity lately the defense has been awful and this Grizzlies team can score.
Stew/Bagley vs. JJJ: JJJ can drag them out of the paint just as easily as he can put it on the floor. Will be a challenge for the Pistosn interior.
Pistons vs. Building momentum for good vibes: Win back to back games against good teams? That’s how you build some real positive vibes in a tough season.