- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
For the second time this week, the Memphis Grizzlies will take on the San Antonio Spurs, this time on their home court at the FedEx Forum. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from 11am (AEDT).
These sides faced off just a couple of days ago in San Antonio with the Spurs taking that one by six. Tim Duncan led the defence along soundly, and LaMarcus Aldridge did the rest with 32 points and 12 rebounds.
The Grizzlies haven’t played a game since that encounter, but badly need to get back into the winners circle and build some form as we head into the post-season. The Grizzlies have now lost two games in a row on the road, with the first of those being against the Los Angeles Lakers in what would have been a demoralising loss.
While their position in the playoffs isn’t under threat, momentum will be everything. They sit fifth in the Western Conference, and realistically are too many games behind the Los Angeles Clippers, and too many ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, for their spot to change.
The Spurs on the other hand, sit second in the west as they have done for most of the season, and with a record of 61 wins and 12 losses, sitting five games behind the Golden State Warriors it appears just about impossible that they could challenge for the top seed.
Their last start was a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, however they had a stack of players – most of their starting team – on the sideline, resting the game out. There were plenty of positives to take though, as their second unit stood up and kept the match competitive.
If the Grizzlies are to get up in this one, a lot of it will be down to Marc Gasol. He has to outclass the likes of Tim Duncan and Lamarcus Aldridge in the paint, slowing the Spurs defence.
As already mentioned, the Spurs won when the sides matched up just a couple of days ago but they have been dominant over the Grizzlies this season, winning all three so far.
The first two saw the Spurs win by double digits. It was their defence that won them both games.
Defence has been the main part of the Spurs’ game all season, and if they are to make a big run in the playoffs, then their defence will need to be firing.
Prediction
Despite everything that looks to be going against the Grizzlies, a return home and the Spurs likely to rest players could see them get the job done. It will be close though.
Grizzlies by 4.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this incredibly important NBA match from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde