The Grizzlies are playing good basketball without a number of key players.
When Memphis point guard Mike Conley exited the game versus the Charlotte Hornets on November 28th the Grizzlies expected the worst. Mike was diagnosed with fractures in his lower back and was set to be sidelined for six or more weeks.
Since the injury, Memphis (17-9) has won six of its last eight games and had been on a six-game winning streak before tonight’s loss to the Cavaliers. The rest of the NBA is scratching their heads as Memphis has done everything but fall out of the playoff race in the west. However, the Grizzlies continue to show the league that their recent formula for success might pay dividends in the long run.
The biggest contributing factor to Memphis’ success has been their Big Men. The big’s for the Grizzlies are stepping up their game in a huge way. Marc Gasol is averaging 20 points per game, shooting at a high percentage both inside and beyond the arc and is getting help from his teammates when it comes to rebounds. Both JaMychal Green and Zach Randolph continue to grab boards at a high rate, both are in the top 30 league-wide in that category.
In addition to the offensive threat down low, the defense continues to fire on all cylinders. The team has stuck to its grit and grind mentality on defense, and it’s clear that Head Coach David Fizdale does not want to mess with that formula. Memphis is rated near or at the top of the league in most defensive categories. The Grizzlies are top 15 in blocks, top 10 in steals and currently hold the highest defensive rating in the NBA.
The defensive effort, while extremely valuable, will not always result in wins. That is exactly where the clutch factor has to come into play. This season, the Grizzlies have embraced that facet of their game. The squad has won the most amount of clutch games in the NBA with 13, tied only with none other than the San Antonio Spurs. Memphis has not only been able to find a way to win late in the game, but it appears that the team shifts into a higher gear on a regular basis when the time is about to wind down.
The Grizzlies will face a tough stretch of games before Christmas. They will play five of the next six at home, all but one of these games will be against a team that is currently in the playoffs if the season were to end today. Up next is a Wednesday night rematch against the Cavs at the FedEx Forum.
