Grizzlies Look to Get Another Big Win in Beantown – Grizz vs Celtics Preview

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Who: Memphis Grizzlies vs Boston Celtics

Where: TD Garden, Boston MA

When: 6:00pm CST

How to Watch/Listen: ESPN, 92.9 ESPN Radio Memphis

 

When the Grizzlies (38-25) take on the Celtics (38-26) tonight in TD Garden, they will be looking to further replicate Monday night’s surprising victory in Cleveland.  Memphis will again be without starters Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Chris Andersen.  Zach Randolph is doubtful again with a sore knee.  If he has to be out again, look for Ryan Hollins to start, with most of the minutes being filled by JaMychal Green.  Matt Barnes, who also missed Monday’s victory to rest his hamstring, is expected to be back in action tonight.

The Grizzlies currently sit at 5th in the West while the Celtics are somewhat surprisingly at 3rd in the East this season.  Boston is looking to get revenge for the January 10th 101-98 defeat at the hands of Memphis led by Zach Randolph with a strong 25 points and 13 rebounds performance.  Of course, Randolph will likely not take the floor tonight, so his enormous presence will be filled by committee.  As they showed on Monday night, if any team can band together through adversity, it’s this one.

Monday night LeBron James admitted that the Cavs “didn’t respect” the Grizzlies and they lost partially due to this fact.  In contrast, Boston Coach Brad Stevens said Tuesday “We have to play well against these guys. They’re physical, long, big. They physically manhandled us the last game. They’re a team that’s won, regardless of who’s been on the floor, pretty much all year. It’s a credit to them. Dave’s done a great job with the team regardless of all the curveballs they’ve had to hit. You don’t respect the game you don’t win. We have to play well to win. We can’t be focused on all of the things we can’t control. We have to do it the right way, we have to share the ball, otherwise we’ll get beat. That’s the same across the league. Any time guys aren’t available, they’re usually being replaced by someone who is awfully hungry to play. That’s enough in this league with this level of talent.” (via greenstreet.weei.com)  Well, as the Cavs game proved, the Grizzlies are hungry and ready to play while proving the naysayers wrong.

The Grizzlies have won 6-8 games, averaging 99.2ppg on 44.6% shooting, 33.7% from beyond the arc, and 79.3% from the charity stripe.  They have allowed 99.5ppg on 44.7% shooting during this time.  The Celtics have won 10-14 games, averaging 106.1ppg on 44.1% shooting, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 78.8% from the free throw line.

Game Notes:

*Isaiah Thomas has been great for Boston.  He is averaging 21.8ppg while dishing 6.7apg. The last time these two teams met, Thomas had 35 points and 8 dimes.  The Grizzlies have to watch out for Thomas, as he can go straight to the hoop and draw contact seemingly at will.  Defending without fouling will be a huge issue, as in their last meeting, Thomas went 9-9 from the line and 50% from beyond the arc.  In his last 3 games, Thomas has averaged 29.7ppg with ZERO turnovers.  The Grizz MUST be aware of how surprisingly good he has been as of late.

*Rebounding – Jared Sullinger has pulled at least 10 rebounds in 9-11 games.  Other big rebounders for Boston include Amir Johnson and Marcus Smart.  The Grizzlies will be without two of their top rebounders from the last game (Gasol 11 and Randolph 13) so others will have to step up in the battle of the boards (looking at you JaMychal Green, Tony Allen and Matt Barnes).

*P.J. Hairston has had a rough March for the Grizz.  In the month of March so far, he is just 6-27 from the floor and 1-12 from beyond the arc.  Hairston will need to step up his offensive game and defend without fouling.

*Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk are game-time decisions for tonight.  Sullinger was released from the hospital Tuesday after being treated for a skin infection.  Olynyk has been out since suffering a partial separation of the right shoulder on February 10th.

*Tonight is the return of Matt Barnes. Also, let’s look to give Barnes a great birthday present with a big W in Boston!

*This is an ESPN game (boooooooo!!!!) so I would highly suggest turning on the game but turning off the volume and listening on 92.9 radio. Oh, look! Our guy Pete Pranica thinks so too!

 

*stats via NBA.com*

Elizabeth Smith

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