After having a few days to reflect on their recent losses and what they have done well and struggled to do well, the Memphis Grizzlies will finally get back out on the court tonight when they host the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m. at the FedEx Forum.
The Grizzlies (3-7) have lost four straight games, and have given up an average of 107.3 points in dropping five of their last six contests. That is a far cry from the stingy defense they played in their first four games, when they got off to a 2-2 start by allowing closer to 85 ppg.
The Grizzlies are struggling defensively because they are allowing opponents to dictate the tempo of the game and get easy transition opportunities as a result of rebounding. In their loss to Milwaukee on Friday, the Grizzlies were outrebounded 62-36 by the Bucks, a figure that included 23 offensive rebounds for the Bucks. They will have to do a better job of tracking down rebounds and putting a body on opposing players. It's not enough to try to beat them down the floor to set up a transition defense or get into offensive position. You have to worry about the ball first.
The Kings are struggling with turnovers, averaging 18.5 in their last two games. That could play into the Grizzlies' hands if they don't return the favor. Defensively, the Grizz will have an extra body to account for down low as Brad Miller is back in action for Sacramento. Miller missed the first meeting between the two teams as he served the final game of a six-game suspension. Miller is averaging 13.0 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
O.J. Mayo shows no signs of slowing down, so he should be the Grizzlies' go-to scorer once again. Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay both need solid outings for the Grizzlies to be successful. Second-chance points will be an important factor in the team's chances of pulling out the victory.
Keywords: Brad Miller, Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings
