Colin Rafferty –
Your Memphis Grizzlies are back in action tonight as they take on the 28-25 Golden State Warriors in San Francisco tonight.
The Warriors are 2-3 in their last 5 and have lost 3 straight games at home. Their last game was a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, 105-99.
The Warriors are averaging around 115.6 points per game (16th), they have a top ten defense giving up 113.5 pts per game and are top 15 in point differential.
The Grizzlies will be without Santi Aldama, Ja Morant, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke; this is the lowest number of injuries we have seen this year for the Grizz.
Walter Clayton Jr. is QUESTIONABLE with a right calf contusion. He came up limping near the end of the second Portland game.
That means there should be a plethora of guys available, which by what the team wants to do (lose) might backfire on them.
Photo Credits: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
These young guys play with heart and are aggressive, but they cannot keep up with teams that have been together for a longer time.
Tonight, they will take on a team that has been one of the most consistent teams in the last 8 years.
At this point I don’t want to see anyone get hurt, but actively tanking means that there will be some weird injury reports that will keep some guys from playing. That is just the nature of the tank.
They will have their hands full with guys like Al Horford, Draymond Green, and Quinten Post. With no true big man available, the Grizz will need to use their speed and quickness to stay in front of guys and help on the weak side.
Photo Credits: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images
The Warriors are a guard heavy team so the Grizz will match up relatively well, but the mind of Steve Kerr will recognize the mismatch, and we will probably see more minutes out of the big men.
The Grizzlies do get to play the Warriors without their Grizz killer, Jonathan Kuminga who was traded for Kristaps Prozingis, who will be held out until after the All-Star break.
Golden State will also be without star point-guard Steph Curry who is nursing a knee injury and L.J. Cryer who has a hamstring issue.
They will most likely be led by Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Buddy Hield; in addition to “Mr. Do Something” former Grizzlies player De’Anthony Melton and of course we will see some of Grizzlies Cam Spencer’s brother Pat Spencer out on the floor tonight.
With guys like Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer, Ty Jerome, GG Jackson, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper out there, they could have a shot at a win.
I wonder if Iisalo will put his finger on the scale a bit to influence the outcome of these games, cause all those guys when they play, they play hard.
The people have scattered from San Fran after the Super Bowl, which team will have the hangover? Tune in and watch.
Tip-off is at 9 PM CST inside the Chase Center.
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