My Team - Grizzlies at Detroit

The All-Star break (and its attendant hullabaloo) are done. Time to get back to the push for playoff positioning. Having won three straight at home, and adjusting to the post-Rudy Gay era, Memphis is looking to play like a playoff contender on the road. Detroit, while a young roster, has some up-and-coming post players like Greg Monroe who will give the Grizz fits.

Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye return to Detroit, probably hoping to put on a show before their former home fans. Jose Calderon is adjusting well to life with the Pistons after the three-team trade.

For me, the typical box score for a Grizzlies' victory should have the following elements:

Randolph, 20 pts, 9 rebs
Gasol 16 pts, 11 rebs, 1 or 2 blocks
Conley 16 pts, 8 assists, 4 or fewer turnovers
Allen 14 pts, 3 or 4 steals.
Bench player TBD - 14 pts, 5 rebs, no more than 2 turnovers (could be Daye, Pondexter, or Bayless)
Prince, 12 pts, 7 rebs

As a team, shooting close to 50% on 2pt FGA, a couple of 3pt shots made (probably Conley), no more than 10 turnovers, 20 or more team assists, 10 or so steals.

Sure, you could say the same about every team in the league except the Heat, but getting good shots in the interior (and converting them) is more crucial for Memphis than for most teams. They really are more inside-out than ever since Gay left. Post play (offense and defense) & layups off of steals will define this team's success the rest of the season.

My guess is Grizzlies 97, Pistons 93 in overtime.

Oh, by the way, Wednesday night the Grizzlies play at Toronto against their old team mate.

After the Game: Grizzlies 105, Detroit 91. And, that's with Detroit winning the 4th quarter by 10 points. Conley led the team with 19 pts and had 4 assists/2 steals in 30 minutes. Z-Bo added 15 and 10 in 26 minutes. Pondexter scored 10 off the bench, and Ed Davis scored 14. Sixty-two points in the paint. A 44-29 advantage in rebounding. In 2nd/3rd quarters combined, Memphis outscored Detroit 62-30. That'll do it.

Monroe got 9 and 6. Looks like Detroit lost their way in the middle of the game, and eventually both coaches emptied their benches.

On to Toronto!