While the Grizzlies will try to pick themselves up and win after every loss this season, tonight's opportunity may be one that they see as a must-win.
After Saturday's tough loss at San Antonio, the Grizzlies know they have what it takes to compete with a playoff contender on the road. They have made progress since the beginning of the season, especially when it comes to being physical and aggressive. It's easy to back off when you are losing and you lack self-confidence. These Grizzlies have plenty of self-confidence. They just need to get to where they put it on display every night. They are not necessarily a team that can be counted out when they are down 20 points to anyone. Ideally, they wouldn't get themselves into situations like that very often, but they have shown that they can handle it despite their relative inexperience.
Tonight, the Grizzlies face a team in the Minnesota Timberwolves that is going nowhere in a hurry. The Wolves have had one of the league's worst front offices recently, and general manager Kevin McHale is currently making his second appearance as the team's interim head coach in three years. For all his success as a player with the Celtics, McHale's front office record is abysmal. And he's not any better on the bench.
The game features a meeting of former PAC-10 rivals who were traded for each other on draft day. Rookies O.J. Mayo of Memphis and Kevin Love of Minnesota made headlines in college, but last summer's trade is more evidence against McHale. Love has been nowhere near the rookie success for Minnesota that Mayo has been for the Grizzlies, averaging only 7.5 ppg and 7.8 rpg this season.
The game also reunites Minnesota's Mike Miller with his former team. The Grizzlies traded the 3-point specialist in the deal for Mayo.
The Wolves have won only one game in the month of December, a 120-107 victory over the Knicks on Friday and have won only two games on their home floor this season. They average slightly more than the Grizzlies at 95.3 ppg, but they surrender 102.8 ppg.
The Grizzlies know what can happen if they take a team too lightly. I don't see how they could let that happen more than once in a season, especially coming off an emotional loss to San Antonio. Once again, they will be without Darko Milicic. That didn't seem to be a problem against the Spurs, so they just need to do the same things they did in that game to win the rebounding battle.
