Cast a Spell for a Win: Grizz vs. Wizards Preview

Posted on January 18, 2017 by Carmen Patton

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Tonight the Memphis Grizzlies will face the Washington Wizards for the final time this season. The Grizzlies last saw the Wizards in Memphis early on in the season (Game 3), and were victorious in overtime on the second night of a back to back with a final score of 112-103. The Wizards had a tough start to the season, but they seem to be on the road to finding their way. The Wizards are 7-3 in their last ten games. They’ve won 12 in a row at home, which is the franchise’s longest streak since the Washington Bullets did it in the 1988-89 season.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have had a few days to rest since their loss to Chicago at home on Sunday night, and they’re currently win-less this season if they have more than a day of rest. They’re 11-10 on the road and have gone 5-5 in the last ten games.

It’s been a while, and some may have forgotten the first meeting. The Grizzlies line-up then looked a bit different than the current expected line-up. Here’s how they looked in the October 30 match-up between these two teams:

DNP Coach’s Decision: Tony Allen, Troy Daniels

Inactive: Chandler Parsons, Brandan Wright

Grizzlies Starters: Mike Conley (G), James Ennis III (G), Jarell Martin (F), JaMychal Green (F), Marc Gasol (C)

Wizards Starters: John Wall (G), Bradley Beal (G), Otto Porter (F), Markieff Morris (F), Marcin Gortat (C)

Field Goal Percentage: Grizzlies 44.3 percent (39-88); Wizards 44.2 percent (38-86)

3 Point Field Goal Percentage: Grizzlies 48.4 percent (15-31); Wizards 20.00 percent (5-25)

Rebounds: Grizzlies 47; Wizards 40

Assists: Grizzlies 24; Wizards 19

Blocks: Grizzlies 2; Wizards 4

Turnovers: Grizzlies 14; Wizards 14

Steals: Grizzlies 9; Wizards 8

Bench Points: Grizzlies 49; Wizards 29

Scoring Leaders: Grizzlies: Mike Conley (24); Wizards: John Wall (22)

Rebound Leaders: Grizzlies: James Ennis III (12); Wizards: Marcin Gortat (12)

Assist Leaders: Grizzlies: Mike Conley (11); Wizards: John Wall (13)

These teams are similar in that both tend to get off to slow starts. The Grizzlies can ill-afford to start slow against this team though because offensively, they can do some damage. Defensive coverage has plagued the Grizzlies at times, including in their most recent game. What are the keys to casting a spell for a win against the Wizards today and breaking their home game winning streak?

1.) Contain John Wall.

John Wall is on track to have a great season averaging 22.9 points and 10.1 assists. He’s shooting at 46.4 percent and 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. Keep him off the free throw line as well because he’s 82.6 percent from there. Where he leads, they’ll follow.

John Wall is a nightmare. We gotta really do a job on him without forgetting they’re a complete team.

Coach David Fizdale

2.) Let the defense lead into the offense, for 48 minutes.

This is a dead horse that’s tired of being beat. However, it must continue to be said. The Grizzlies aren’t meant to get into an offensive war with any team. They hang their hat on defense. Defense is their strength. Consistency is their weakness. They’ve got to be consistently defensive for 48 minutes. They’re hard to beat when that happens.

We play great stretches of the game defensively, but we’re not getting a complete 48 minute game. But I think it’ll come. I think we just gotta keep showing the film and working at it and at some point it will click for 48 minutes.

Coach David Fizdale

3.) Play like it’s time to make a push…because it is.

With 39 games left, it’s time for the Grizzlies to start making that mid-season run that they’ve been known to make in years past. They’re in a tight race with the Thunder, the Jazz, and possibly the Clippers (with the side-lining injury to Chris Paul) for seeding in that 4th through 7th spot in the Western Conference. They’ve got to stay competitive. They’ve got to play to win.

Tonight’s game has a 6 p.m. tip. Don’t miss out on any of the action. Go Grizz!!

**Sources used nba.com and landofbasketball.com**