MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The FedExForum is still nicknamed the Grindhouse, but there’s a vastly reduced amount of grinding happening here anymore.
The Grizzlies are in the first year of a philosophical change. New head coach David Fizdale came from the “pace-and-space” offensive system in Miami, and, over time, would like to get the Grizzlies into that type of flow. But correctly utilizing the personnel he has right now is the first order of business, and some of those pieces hearken back to the physically intimidating Grizzlies teams of years past.
The Nuggets, then, are running into a hybrid Tuesday night. Mike Conley, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph all remain. But now Gasol is shooting threes, Randolph is coming off the bench and Conley has been given more freedom to play. Add in high-priced free agent Chandler Parsons, a shooter, and the Nuggets will be guarding Memphis a lot differently than they’ve been used to.
“I talk to Mike Conley all the time,” said Nuggets forward , who played for Memphis at the start of his NBA career. “He said he likes the team, he likes the coach and likes the direction that they’re going in.”
But the Grizzlies are by no means an offensive juggernaut. They rank last in the NBA in field goals made and last in field-goal percentage. They rank 27th in points per game (95.6). But, like the Nuggets, they get to the free throw line a ton. In fact, these are two of the top four teams in the league at drawing fouls, and both are in the top 10 – Nuggets are No. 1 – in free throws attempted. So, with all of the potential trips to the free throw line, this game could go on awhile.
Outside of the customary game plan and scouting reports, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said he’s focused in on his group more than Memphis at this time.
“For us, and I know itap cliché, but I’m really more worried about us,” he said. “Can we come out and, regardless of what they do or who they are, I just want to see if we can play basketball. Can we get out and run off our defense and play with pace and share the ball? Not that we’re going to score 123 every night, but I really liked who we were last game. Now the challenge is: Do it again for four quarters before we go home?”
is expected to get more minutes tonight as he continues to round into form after missing a month with a strained right groin. He played 21 minutes in Boston, his second game back, and started in that contest. Malone won’t go crazy with his minutes, though.
“He’ll have more minutes tonight,” Malone said. “He’s responded really well to the first couple of games and treatment and he feels good. We’re not going to put him out there for 40 minutes obviously, but we’ll extend that 20-minute range.”
Meanwhile, (hamstring) remains questionable for the contest and (ankle) is out.
