By Michael Wallace
Grind City Media
CLEVELAND – Fresh off their improbable blowout victory over the league-best Golden State Warriors, the Grizzlies face an even stiffer challenge Tuesday against LeBron James and the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena.
Memphis will be without Western Conference player of the week Marc Gasol as it seeks to extend a six-game winning streak and win in Cleveland for the second time in as many seasons. Gasol, in the midst of the most productive start of his nine-year career, was given a maintenance night off to rest and did not travel with the team. Gasol has anchored Memphis on both ends of the court in his first months back from last February’s season-ending foot surgery. He is expected to be available when the Grizzlies return to FedExForum on Wednesday to host the Cavaliers in a back-to-back set.
Gasol capped the highest-scoring week of his career by leading the Grizzlies to Saturday’s 21-point home win over the Warriors in a matchup of Memphis’ top-rated defense against Golden State’s No 1-ranked offense. He averaged 27.3 points, 10 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks while shooting 50 percent overall from the field and 47.1 percent from three-point range in last week’s 4-0 stretch.
Veteran guard Tony Allen said Tuesday’s game represents another test for the resilient Grizzlies (17-8), who have persevered through injuries and absences all season. Coach David Fizdale said he would decide at game time who will replace Gasol up front. But the options include starting Zach Randolph, Deyonta Davis or Jarell Martin alongside power forward JaMychal Green. Allen spoke with Grind City Media after Tuesday’s shootaround about the team’s mindset before facing the Cavaliers (17-5).
HEALTH REPORT
In addition to Gasol sitting out to rest, the Grizzlies will be without Mike Conley (back), James Ennis (calf), Chandler Parsons (knee) and Brandan Wright (ankle). Vince Carter (hip) is listed as questionable but has gone through extensive pregame workouts the past few days. For the Cavaliers, Channing Frye (bereavement) missed the past two games but is expected to play tonight. J.R. Smith (knee) returned over the weekend from a two-game absence and is also expected to play.
NUMBERS WATCH
0.5. Finally! The Grizzlies enter Tuesday’s game against Cleveland with a positive net point differential for the first time since the second full week of the regular season. It took Saturday’s 110-89 win against the Warriors to push Memphis over the hump after entering that game with a minus-0.4 scoring differential through the first 24 games of the season. The Grizzlies had been the only team in the West with a winning record and a negative scoring differential. Part of the reason is because they’ve perfected the art of winning close games with that 12-0 record in “super-clutch” situations, which are games in which the score is within three points at any point in the final minute. By contrast, four of Memphis’ eight losses have been by double figures, including three by at least 15 points.
KEEP AN EYE ON
Toney Douglas. If only because his time is limited with the Grizzlies. The hardship roster exemption the league granted Memphis to sign Douglas to a 16th roster spot officially expires after Wednesday’s return game at FedExForum against the Cavaliers. That gives the seven-year journeyman guard two chances to stick it to the team that cut him late in the preseason. Cleveland parted ways with Douglas after J.R. Smith ended his extended training camp holdout and re-signed with the team just before the start of the regular season. Fizdale said he was surprised Douglas was available when the Grizzlies picked him up nine days ago to add much-needed depth and guard help to a roster that was then down to just nine available players. Douglas has been a valuable asset in the guard rotation. He played the entire fourth quarter and scored the final six points in Thursday’s 88-86 win over Portland and had four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s upset of the Warriors. Memphis could reapply for another exemption to keep Douglas 10 more days, but it would have to provide medical evidence that at least four players will likely remain out two more weeks with injuries.
GRIZZ-TAKE
Fizdale on his relationship with LeBron from their time in Miami – Obviously, we’re very close and I consider him one of my brothers in this game. When you’re around someone, from the pain of losing in the Finals his first year in Miami to the joys of winning back-to-back titles, you really get to know someone and what they’re all about. He was one of the guys that really pushed me to go and get a head (coaching) job earlier. But I wanted to stick around and ride that special thing out in Miami with him, D-Wade and the rest of those guys.
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