The lack of consistent three-point shooting is still this offense’s Achilles heel, but at least they aren’t making it worse by having players try and pretend they can do something the numbers say they can’t. Prince is both a better shooter from behind the arc and also more discerning in his selection. While trading Gay hurt the offensive’s potential to explode, it did eliminate one rough edge-Gay only shot 31 percent from three-point range, yet chucked up an average of three per game. There’s just not a lot of depth to this attack and three-point shooting is a problem. Mike Conley averages 13 ppg and is a good playmaker, but the only other threat is veteran small forward Tayshaun Prince, the key acquisition in the Gay deal and averaging 11 ppg. There’s a lack of balance overall though, and the Grizzlies only rank 21 st in offensive efficiency. The two interior players are also the focal point of the offense, with Randolph’s 16 ppg and Gasol’s 14 ppg being the top two numbers on the team. Randolph and Gasol combine to average twenty rebounds a game. With power forward Zach Randolph and center Marc Gasol manning the low post, the Grizzlies effectively close out possessions by being the second-best rebounding team in the league. Efficiency adjusts for pace and the numbers show Memphis is a genuinely outstanding team on the defensive end. The Grizzlies are second in the NBA in defensive efficiency, meaning that their relatively slow pace is not the reason for the high defensive ranking. Memphis is a pretty straightforward team-they win with defense, and they do it especially in the frontcourt. So how good are the Grizzlies? Can they get out of the first round of the playoffs and maybe challenge for a top three seed position? Or are they a pretender that’s likely to slide in the standings and almost certainly headed for an early playoff exit? That’s the question TheSportsNotebook’s NBA commentary will seek to answer today. Memphis also made the signature trade move of the regular season when they shipped out leading scorer Rudy Gay to Toronto as a part of a three-way deal back on January 31. They Grizzlies hold a game and a half lead on Denver for the right to hold homecourt advantage in the first round and they’re 3 ½ back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the three-spot. They enter tonight’s Western Conference matchup as -15 chalk, per line info from FanDuel Sportsbook.The Memphis Grizzlies continue to lurk in the Western Conference standings, sitting on the #4 seed with a 38-19 record as they enter Sunday night’s game in Orlando. The Jazz have won five in a row, covering the spread in four of those contests. The 25-year-old averages 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game in a little over 13 minutes of court time. Both players’ fantasy value takes a hit if Gobert is cleared to return against the Rockets.Įric Paschall is a depth option at power forward for the Jazz.
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Udoka Azubuike and Hassan Whiteside have split time starting at center, with Azubuike starting the past five games in a row. Gobert hasn’t suited up since January 23 due to a calf injury. QUESTIONABLE – Rudy Gobert (Left Calf Strain)- Utah Jazz February 15, 2022 *AVAILABLE – Eric Paschall (Left Ankle Sprain) The team’s official Twitter account confirmed that Rudy Gobert is questionable to return on Monday, also noting that Rudy Gay is out and Eric Paschall is available. The Utah Jazz could have their starting center back in the lineup against the Houston Rockets. Rudy Gay Remains Out, Gobert Questionable for Jazz vs.