Grizzlies Need To Get Back To The Grind – Grizz vs Jazz Preview

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Elizabeth Smith

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There has been much talk, speculation, calls to action, etc going on in GrizzNation recently. At 3-3 with 3 losses of 30, 50, and 19 points, the Grizzlies certainly seem to be on a shaky path right now. They have fallen to a top contender in the Cavs, the defending NBA Champions in the Warriors, and a team on a hot streak in Portland. The losses aren’t the problem as much as the margin of the losses, the manner in which they lose, and the effort involved in those losses. To the eye test of many on the outside, it looks to be an issue of laying down when things get the toughest, which is NOT the team that fans have grown to love and respect. Our two best players, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, have generally not looked good. With Gasol, it’s possible that the neck strain is more than we know. With Conley…who knows what’s up with that?

As the Grizz look ahead to Saturday’s game against the Utah Jazz, they have to learn from these losses and attempt to in some way to rectify the problem areas. The Jazz are a good up-and-coming team in the West who have traditionally given the Grizz trouble. In the 2014-15 season, the teams finished at 2-2.

2015-16 Season Averages By the Numbers:

*Record – Grizz 3-3 / Jazz 3-2

*Margin in Wins – Grizz 11 / Jazz 20.3

*Margin in Losses – Grizz 33 / Jazz 10.5

*PPG – Grizz 92.8 / Jazz 94.2

*RPG – Grizz 42.3 / Jazz 43.8

*APG – Grizz 21.8 / Jazz 16.2

*BPG – Grizz 4.8 / Jazz 6.4

*STL – Grizz 7.2 / Jazz 9.0

*FG% – Grizz 41.4 / Jazz 42.5

*3P% – Grizz 26.3 / Jazz 35.2

*FT% – Grizz 77.2 / Jazz 70.2

What you see from this isn’t very encouraging. The Jazz look to be better in scoring, rebounding, blocking, steals, 3P%, and FG%. Those margins of victory/defeat make me cringe. Potential DPOY Jazz C Rudy Gobert is averaging 3.6 blocks and 13 rebounds per game and is only getting better. SF Gordon Hayward is averaging 15ppg and just breaking out of his early season shooting slump. PF Derrick Favors is averaging 15.2ppg and 7.6rpg. SG Rodney Hood is averaging 12.8ppg and PG Trey Burke is averaging 10.8ppg. The Grizzlies get the scouting reports before the games. They have got to be prepared for what they are going to be facing in Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday night.

The Grizz are currently allowing 103.8ppg and teams are shooting 47.7% against them. With a good defensive team like the Jazz, Grizz MUST get out of this funk they have been in and go to battle. They can’t continue with this lackadaisical attitude that they have had. The Jazz are a young and talented team similar to what the Grizz started like. Utah will be looking to push the tempo in this game and exploit their youth and athleticism. Grizz must keep the game at their pace. They have to not over-commit on defense.

Keys to Success:

Gasol must be engaged against Rudy Gobert. The Grizz must not allow Gobert to grab his average of 13rpg (4OFF and 9DEF). Marc Gasol must be engaged at all times and make sure that Gobert is not able to get so many extra possessions for Utah. Gobert is young, hungry, and only getting better. Gasol must be on his toes at all times.

Smother Gordon Hayward with #FirstTeamAllDefense. Hayward broke out of his early season slump scoring 20 points against the Nuggets on Thursday. He’ll be looking to continue this streak against the Grizz. Containing him is paramount for success. Tony Allen sticking to him like glue and showing him why he is #FirstTeamAllDefense would be a sure-fire way to contain Hayward.

Defense and Effort: The Grizzlies haven’t looked like the Grizzlies we’re used to all season. The apparent lack of focus has cost them in games this season. For the Grizz to pull out the win tonight, they must reach deep within and remember who they are. They are a tough, defensive-minded, grit and grind team. If they can bring this mindset to the game tonight and moving forward, they can put the Jazz and the rest of the NBA on notice that GnG is back.

I honestly feel that the Grizzlies are just as disappointed as the fans are in the start to this season. After the Portland game, Zach Randolph had this to say:

Z-Bo after Portland loss: “This is not us. This is not the way we play. It’s embarrassing honestly. It ain’t going to get easier."

— Ronald Tillery (@CAGrizBeat) November 6, 2015

This hasn’t been an outstanding start to the season, but then again we’ve been there before. The Grizzlies must try to get back to the grind. Let’s hope the road back starts against the Jazz night.

Who: Memphis Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz

Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

When: Saturday Nov 7^th at 8pm CST

Catch it on: Fox Sports Southeast, NBATV, 92.9 FM ESPN Memphis

*Stats via NBA.com*