Game 39: Memphis Grizzlies (16-22) vs. San Antonio Spurs (16-20) - 8:00 PM ET

[ducler]

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[Jamaaliver]

Game Preview: Grizzlies @ Spurs


Memphis comes into a matchup against San Antonio as winners of three consecutive games.

The Grizzlies are 11-14 in conference matchups. Memphis allows 116.3 points to opponents and has been outscored by 3.7 points per game.

The Spurs are 2-4 against the rest of the division. San Antonio is 4-10 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 13.3 turnovers per game.

The teams meet for the third time this season. The Spurs won 145-115 in the last matchup on Dec. 23. LaMarcus Aldridge led San Antonio with 40 points, and Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 22 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jackson Jr. leads the Grizzlies scoring 17.8 points per game and averaging 5.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Dillon Brooks is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers and 16.5 points over the last 10 games for Memphis.

DeMar DeRozan has averaged 21.9 points and 5.2 rebounds for the Spurs. Patty Mills has averaged 2.7 made 3-pointers and scored 12.1 points over the last 10 games for San Antonio.

[VCfor3]

We are now tied for 8th. What a ride.

[Whole Truth]

They, gave them the FT line
They, fouled out Jaren in the 4th
They, gave them a 4pt play where clearly he kicked sideways to make a 12pt lead 8. Calling for the Replay didn't matter, they still got it wrong as the Spurs announcers tried to sell it as straight up & down. lol

They, couldn't give them the game.

Well done Memphis

Ja - 22/14/7
Jaren -24/3
Brooks - 22/6/4 we know what happens when he get 20
Melton - 13/6/4
Clarke - 10/9/4
Jonas - 21/9/3

Credit to Jenkins & his development team. Spurs are coming off wins over Bucks & Boston & have been playing much better. Memphis earned that 8th spot tonight. More importantly, they're showing they'll be no push over. Lakers must be wetting themselves at the thought

[SD2042]

They, gave them the FT line
They, fouled out Jaren in the 4th
They, gave them a 4pt play where clearly he kicked sideways to make a 12pt lead 8. Calling for the Replay didn't matter, they still got it wrong as the Spurs announcers tried to sell it as straight up & down. lol

They, couldn't give them the game.

Well done Memphis

Ja - 22/14/7
Jaren -24/3
Brooks - 22/6/4 we know what happens when he get 20
Melton - 13/6/4
Clarke - 10/9/4
Jonas - 21/9/3

Credit to Jenkins & his development team. Spurs are coming off wins over Bucks & Boston & have been playing much better. Memphis earned that 8th spot tonight. More importantly, they're showing they'll be no push over. Lakers must be wetting themselves at the thought

This team has been playing on an interesting run as of late. I would have never thought I would be thinking playoff race right now. This has been an unpredictable turn of events this season for the Grizzlies. Another good win over the hard fought Spurs tonight.

[Whole Truth]

This team has been playing on an interesting run as of late. I would have never thought I would be thinking playoff race right now. This has been an unpredictable turn of events this season for the Grizzlies. Another good win over the hard fought Spurs tonight.

It's been a long time since Marko has seen minutes.

People mention how well Memphis has been playing since.. Dec, last week, month etc... It's all coincided with Melton getting minutes over Marko. His ball pressure has been instrumental, as Beverly is to the Clippers. I think Memphis are 11-6 since going to Melton over Marko. Correct me if I'm wrong?.

I'm as excited to see what Josh can potentially bring to the table. Both these players were bad fits on a poorly constructed Suns team. If Josh's 3pt shooting in the G league translates, Memphis will get another nice little boost to the rotation. Defense, playmaking, transition game... his issue was he shot 28% from 3 on a team that needed spacing with no lead playmaking guard & a big that clogged the paint. The fact that Josh is shooting 38% on 6 APG is exciting, I'm hoping he gets promoted & It translates.

To think, Brooks shot 1-7 in the first half, then produced 2nd half. Before, it was game to game inconsistency. If Brooks can find that consistency & fine tune his decision making … Memphis are a good team when he's on. 11-0 I believe. If he does that, they might not have to make any additional moves outside of promoting Josh & trading for additional picks to ensure future health of team & cap. Resign what they know is working.

[Whole Truth]

Fun fact - Since drafted, Raptors have not missed a playoffs with Jonas starting in his 6 of 7yrs for them coming off a losing season where they drafted Ross 8th overall. Last year was his first year missing the playoffs but it should be considered he joined a 22 win team, mid season.

For 6yrs Casey used this offensive talent as a defensive garbage man big to cleanup after DeRozan. People claimed you can't win with him though Raptors made 7 straight playoff appearances with him starting for 6yrs, they said he can't pass, he's not a modern day big, he can't etc....

Under Jenkins.

- Jonas effective FG% is a career best .62 8 seasons in with an increase in touches.
- 2 assist per game from a career .9
- 1.5 attempts from 3 at 45% from a career .3 on 38%
- He's shooting 60% from the field for 15pts on 10.5 APG from a career 56% on 8 APG.

Under Jenkins, 21.5 per, 2.7 win shares

It's not hard to say his post game is extinct & that he's not a modern day big .. when he attempted .3 apg from 3 under Casey, though Jonas had 3 point range since his rookie season. Raptor fans said it was Jonas unwillingness to shoot, if that's the case how in the world did Jenkins get him to take nearly 2 a game in 1yr when Casey couldn't do it in 7.

I'm not much of a stat guy but I bet his advanced stats look better also.

[Whole Truth]

A young team like Memphis can get to high or to low emotionally after wins & losses.

One game, one half, one quarter, one possession at a time. Stay humble, stay focused. You're tied for 8th with a half season to go.

[Whole Truth]

Half of DeRozan's 30pts came on the FT line.

This was 2 of them.

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Jonas takes a lot of contact in the post nightly but rarely gets to the line in relation to that contact but often gets calls like this against him. lol

Today's match against GS, they allow Greene to be as physical as he wants against him to even out the size advantage. If they're getting away with raking his forearms on post ups, get him rolling to the basket. Jonas is one of the few players that doesn't embellish to help draw fouls... maybe he should.

[Whole Truth]

When Jaren entered the 4th Q, Memphis were only up 2. He came in and impacted the defense, then he hit 2 big consecutive 3's to open a 9pt lead, looking like he was about to catch fire. It was for that reason, the very next play he was cheaply fouled out to help the Spurs stop the bleeding.