The Goon Squad needs to be nasty in Denver

After a disappointing loss to the Phoenix Suns, the Grizzlies look for a much needed win against the Denver Nuggets.

The Grizzlies (34-24) have won nine of their last 13 games. Meanwhile, the Nuggets (23-36) have lost five of their last seven games.

Both teams will be without their leading scorers: Marc Gasol and Danilo Gallinari. Gasol is out for the season due to foot surgery and Gallinari will be out for an extended period due to an ankle injury.

 

Keys to the Game

1. Mike Conley and Zach Randolph must perform better. Against the Suns, Conley and Randolph went 12-of-31 from the field; both scored 19 points respectively. Both guys have to put the team on their backs and produce. The Grizzlies can’t have both shooting terribly from the field at this point.

 

2. Rebounding was an issue in the last game. The Suns out-rebounded the Grizzlies 56-34. That’s by 19!! The Grizzlies have to do a better job on the boards. Randolph leads the Grizzlies in rebounds and he only grabbed four against the Suns. The Grizzlies can’t let the Nuggets bigs out work them on the boards or it will be a repeat of Saturday night.

 

3. This team needs to step up defensively. Since Gasol has been out, the Grizzlies rim protection has been mostly absent. They have been giving up a lot points in the paint. The only rim protector they have now is Birdman (Chris Andersen). His minutes will rise since Brandan Wright is out after he re-injured his knee against the Suns. Dealing with the Nuggets bigs will likely be a problem.

 

4. Stop settling for three pointers. The Grizzlies are not a three point shooting team. They will never be the Golden State Warriors. In the game against the Suns, they were 6-of-20 from beyond the arc. Their bread and butter is in the painted area but in the absence of Gasol, they are trying to rely more on the three ball. We enjoyed the three point output against the Lakers. That was a pipe dream, though. They need to get back to attacking the rim.

 

5. The Goon Squad should get nasty. They need to do what they can to get a win; they need to make the Nuggets pay for their mistakes. The Suns had 18 turnovers and the Grizzlies didn’t capitalize on them. They can’t afford to do this against the Nuggets. Grit and grind should be present tonight against in Denver. As Matt Barnes said, “you either ride with us or collide with us.”

 

 

Tip-Off

Where: Pepsi Center in Denver, CO

When: 8pm CST

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Southeast/ESPN 92.9 FM

 

Brandon Wright Medical Update

 

From the Grizzlies:

Memphis, Tenn. – After leaving in the third quarter during Saturday’s game in Phoenix, Grizzlies forward/center Brandan Wright underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which revealed a sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee, the team announced today. Wright will be out indefinitely, but no surgery will be required.

 

 

“This is an unfortunate development for Brandan and our team,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said. “Brandan had been playing his best basketball of the season recently and showing the positive impact he has on our roster. We expect a full recovery and will have further updates when appropriate.”