It’s #2 vs. #3 tonight in Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies have only had Ja Morant for 20 of their 37 games so far this season. The Grizzlies are 14-6 in those games, which is a 57-win pace. Without Morant, Memphis is 10-7, good for a 48-win-pace. So while Morant has been upgraded to questionable after missing two weeks, it’s not like the Grizzlies are dead men walking when he doesn’t play.
That’s a common theme among some of the best teams in the league. Everyone is going to deal with injuries, and of course if a team is missing its alpha star it’s going to struggle. However, the well-built teams in the league find ways to adjust to life without great players: OKC is cruising without Chet Holmgren, Dallas has been decent-to-good without Luka Doncic, the Orlando Magic are basically three players in a trench coat, and the Los Angeles Clippers did better than “survive” the early season without Kawhi Leonard. If those players are out during the Finals, yes those teams won’t be favored to advance too far (except maybe OKC), but it speaks to team-building when you don’t fall off too hard when your top players are out.
Memphis plays the Houston Rockets three times this month, which will wrap up the season series between these two Southwest Division does. Houston won the early season matchup, but you would expect a much more game Grizzlies squad in the Grind House (Grindhouse?).
We’ll be in the Playback room tonight, so you should come join to watch the Rockets and talk about the game. Remember, we get a handful of VIP passes that we give out to anyone who wants to watch the game. No League Pass necessary!
Tip-off
7pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network and Playback
Injury Report
Rockets
Tari Eason: GTD
Jabari Smith Jr.: OUT
Grizzlies
Ja Morant: GTD
Desmond Bane: GTD
Jaren Jackson Jr.: GTD
Santi Aldama: GTD
GG Jackson II: OUT
The Line (as of this post)
Hou -3.5
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Saturday afternoon in Atlanta against the Atlanta Hawks
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