The 23-46 Memphis Grizzlies have a pretty significant injury record. According to a recent edition of the NBA injury report, the Grizzlies will be missing a whopping 10 bodies today. That sum includes point guards Ja Morant (right shoulder labral repair, finished the year), Scotty Pippen Jr. (left shin bruise) and Derrick Rose (right groin, recovering from lower back injury in a two for one); wings Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr.; forwards Lamar Stevens (left adductor strain), Yuta Watanabe (personal reasons), Ziaire Williams (right lower back hip flexor strain); plus big man Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon repair).
By comparison, the 35-32 Golden State Warriors are relatively healthy and actively fighting to avoid the play-in bracket. Only future Hall of Fame forward Draymond Green (lower back pain) is on the board. Third-year shooting guard Moses Moody is available despite apparent left knee soreness.
Both clubs have announced their starting lineups for tonight’s contest, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The fight will be broadcast on ESPN, in addition to each club’s local market (BNC Sports Bay Area for the Dubs, Bally Sports SE-MEM for the Grizzlies). The Warriors are, surprisingly, just 17-18 at home, although the team is expected to be able to hold off the Grizzlies’ G League lineup tonight. Golden State is currently the tenth seed in the West and hoping for a W.
All-Star point guard Stephen Curry reflected on the team’s unusual sub-.500 home record this year, according to Field media/Reuters. “[The home court has] been our staple product – giving us a little cushion every season, however long it may be. “It’s a challenge we have to face at some point,” Curry remarked. “The best case scenario is to try to have a home court in a game environment or, when you go into a series, to win here and protect your home court, especially as a lower seed. So you have to correct everything that ails us.”
Kavin Mistr/Getty Images
For Golden State, Steve Kerr will start Curry at point guard, rookie Brandin Podziemski at shooting guard (Klay Thompson is now a sixth man, which is still surreal for some of us), Andrew Wiggins at point guard. forward, Jonathan Kuminga at power forward, and Draymond Green at center. Going all-in on small ball seems to be a handicap in the playoffs. One wonders if Kerr might consider benching Wiggins in favor of Green at some point, while starting either rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis or veteran Kevon Looney (both 6’9″) at center , but that’s a question for another day.
The Grizzlies will start John Konchar at point guard and newcomer Desmond Bane at shooting guard, GG Jackson and Santi Aldama at forward and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. at center. JJJ is normally a power forward who doesn’t rebound, but of course Memphis is severely shorthanded. It’s a fascinating approach from head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Memphis is banking on youth and energy against a much more veteran Golden State team. We’ll see if his bet pays off. Vegas is pessimistic. According to The action network, the Warriors are -12.5 point favorites to beat the Grizzlies at home. Let’s see if they succeed.
Uncommon knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
