Will the Grizzlies rebound after another horrible loss?

The Memphis Grizzlies will try to rebound against the Miami Heat after another embarrassing lost at home. Both teams has issues this season. Yet both records are not indicative of that. The Grizz are 13-11, while the Heat are 12-9. Both are above .500. The Heat have lost five of their last 10 games. The Grizzlies have lost four of their last 10 games. All four games the Grizzlies have lost were at home and by double digits to the Hawks, Spurs, Thunder and Hornets.

The Heat are fourth in the league in field goal percentage shooting 45.8 percent. However, the Grizzlies are 27th in the league in the same category shooting 42.3 percent. The Grizzlies are known for their defense but are allowing 101.3 points a game while the Heat are only allowing 93.7 a game this season.

 

Three things to watch for:

 

Marc Gasol and Hassan Whiteside

This matchup will be fun to watch. Gasol is the best all around center in the league but Whiteside is a better rim protecter; he is leading the league in blocks with 4.3 a game. Gasol is better offensively and score outside the paint.

 

 

The Return of Mario Chalmers 

Rio returns back to Miami the first time since being traded. How well he play against his former team?

Over the last five games Rio is averaging 11.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 steals. He’s has the potential to go off at any moment. He also has the ability to get to free throw line. He may try to prove a point in Miami tonight. Let’s hope it can result in a win for the Grizzlies.

 

Will the defense of the Grizzlies show up?

The Grizzlies have not been playing up to their potential lately on the defensive end. That’s not acceptable. Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger summed in up perfectly after the Grizzlies last lost at home, “The biggest problem is defensively we can’t defend the basketball. People are just going by us over and over and over and over.”

Marc Gasol said, “We have to stop the pick-and-roll. They are pulling up the point of attack, we have to be better. Communicating, showing, making nice turns recovering, being back in front of the ball, the whole nine and pulling from the weak side could be better.”

They know what the problem is and they have to fix it before it’s too late. This team is not built to blow anyone out like the Golden State Warriors. But they pride themselves on the defensive end. They really need to get back to playing the Memphis Grizzlies brand of basketball.

 

Tip-Off: Sunday, December 13, 2015, 5 PM CST

Where: American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL

TV/Radio: Fox SportSouth/92.9 FM ESPN