Satchel Paige famously said "don't look back, something might be gaining on you". Rock band Boston sang "don't look back". Steve Lukather sang "can't look back". The Grizzlies would do well to heed the warnings.
Denver's Nuggets are one game back of Memphis (three games back in the loss column), and they are on a rampage of their own. Their seven-game winning streak is second-longest in the Association.
Memphis' assignment is simple: win. It's tempting to keep an eye on what Denver is doing, but all they really can control is their own result. Friday night, the Grizzlies play in Cleveland.
Cavaliers' PG Kyrie Irving is one of the best young players in the league, and fast becoming one of the best players period. He leads his team in PPG, assists, FT percentage, 3PT percentage and steals. He's that rare Duke player who was a good college player but even better as a pro. Mike Conley is quick enough to keep up with Irving, but Conley is gonna have his hands full Friday.
Cleveland is missing some key players. Anderson Varejao got injured in December and is gone for the year. Boobie Gibson, Tyler Zeller and Dion Waiters were all fighting the dreaded "flu-like symptoms" (Why don't teams simply say "he has the flu"? What other illnesses are really flu-like, but not actually the flu?)
The Cavaliers aren't depleted, however. Thank Memphis for that, actually. Marreese Speights and Wayne Ellington, former Grizzlies, have been assets since coming over in that January trade. I like Speights' game - he's a big body that can go out on the floor to hit a mid-range jumper. He can post up and score. He is a willing and physical rebounder. He contributes a lot, and is capable of a 20 point, 10 rebound game coming off the bench. Ellington was really coming into his own this year, especially as a long-range shooter. His leaving Memphis left a hole in the Grizzlies' roster that Austin Daye is attempting to fill.
Tristan Thompson in the post and C.J. Miles on the wing are good players, especially offensively. They are part of a young roster that can score, and they feed off the passion of the home arena crowd. If they get on a roll, and the fans stand & cheer, they are very good.
Memphis has to know that the youngbloods feed also off Irving's play. He is the guy whose quickness and vision helps to set up easy shots for teammates.
Memphis needs to keep Irving somewhat under control. If he gets his 20-23, but doesn't get teammates involved, Memphis can win. If Irving gets 20 with 12-15 assists, Cleveland will win.
One more thing: Cleveland isn't a particularly strong defensive team. They've given up an average of 99.6 points the last five games. They've scored an average of 98.6 in the same span.
My guess: Memphis 97, Cleveland 96. It will be an exciting game, and Irving will put on a show. Memphis' team balance will squeak out a win, but the Grizzlies have to hit those close-in and mid-range shots they seem to miss in the first and second quarters. They must establish control of the game early, take the crowd out of the contest, and convince Irving to play "hero ball" instead of setting up his teammates.
After the Game: Memphis 103, Cleveland 92. Both teams were depleted. Between injury, illness and the fact that both teams have now played 60-plus games, some sloppiness was expected.
Gasol led the way with 22 pts, 8 rebs and 5 assists. Five Memphis players scored in double figures, with Bayless contributing 17 off the bench. His long-range shooting kept the team afloat in the second half. Conley had 17 pts, 11 assists versus Irving's 24 pts but only 3 assists.
Memphis had 45 baskets, 30 assists and 12 turnovers, compared to Cleveland's 33 baskets, 19 assists and 15 turnovers. What kept the game close was a 20 to 9 FTs made between the home team and the visitors (which is pretty much normal in the Association, eh?).
Considering a) no Randolph or Arthur (injuries) and b) history (first Memphis win in Cleveland since November of 2003), this was a good win. After the flight home and some rest, the Grizz get New Orleans at home Saturday night.
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