Game Preview: Brooklyn Nets at Memphis Grizzlies

When: Wednesday, February 14th, 2024

Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

How to Watch/Stream: BallySports Southeast

The Memphis Grizzlies will return to action tonight when the Brooklyn Nets come to town. It’s set to be a match-up of two teams all but destined for a high lottery pick. It will also be a matchup of two teams—each dealing with a change-up of sorts.

For the Grizzlies… They will be without former two-way player Jacob Gilyard. A Memphis stalwart for a couple years now—with both the Hustle and Grizzlies—was waived Sunday. A familiar face will be taking his place but more on that later.

On the opponent’s side… The Nets are under new leadership. Er—coachship. After what I’ll describe as a ‘meh’ start to their season Brooklyn elected to move on from their head coach.

Out with Jacque Vaughn. In with Kevin Ollie.

Let’s say both teams are dealing a slice of ‘season from hell’ and that’s being nice about it. Regardless of each team jockeying for draft odds at this point… There’s still some things worth examining heading into the game this evening.

Another Goodwin Start?

Near the top of that list is the point guard situtation. And let me tell you friends. It. Is. Getting. Dire.

No Ja Morant. No Desmond Bane. No Marcus Smart. No Scottie Pippen Jr. And now no Jacob Gilyard.

They’ve had Derrick Rose. Sometimes. But he’s been dealing with nagging injuries all season. And when he has appeared… He’s had more in common with Shadow-Derrick Rose than Real-Derrick Rose.

You know about Shadow-Derrick Rose? Let me explain. I’ll assume you played Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time yeah? The Water Temple? The mini-boss? A Shadow-version of the main character Link? Shadow-Link. Boom Shadow-Derrick Rose.

And so my money on who starts moving forward? That would be one Jordan Goodwin.

YESSSSSSSSIR 😤 pic.twitter.com/2lEfvIYUBe

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) February 15, 2024

You may remember him as the new point guard… That played two games with the Grizzlies… Right before the start of the All-Star Break…

Goodwin is about as ‘new blood’ as you can get at this point. Which isn’t a bad thing per say… I mean look at those two games that I mentioned above. He averaged 26.5 minutes in those games. Not bad.

His stats? They were even more not bad-der. 10.5 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, and 1.5 STL per game. All while shooting the ball pretty damn well too. 45.0% from the field and 40.0% from three. All I’m saying is there was enough in those games to leave me wanting more.

And more appears like what we’re in for. At least for the time being.

Nitpicking Nardo

It almost doesn’t feel fair to nitpick amidst a “lost” season… But that’s what I’m going to do. Becasue to be frank I’ve come to expect more from Luke Kennard.

I also have come to expect more in “revenge games”. Which this was. I expected Kennard to go off against his former team.

But against the Clippers “Nardo” came up flat. I’m talking 16.7% from deep flat. That’s more than a bit uncharacteristic of the marksmen.

Case in point… Before this last outing? He’d shot above 40.0% from three in seven games straight. And more than that? He’d shot over 50.0% in seven of his last ten appearances.

.@LukeKennard5 triple counter: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/XvqupFkrpy

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) February 15, 2024

So yeah… That 16.7% sticks out like a sore thumb. A sore thumb that I’m used to shooting the basketball better than that.

LIke I said, it feels bad—coming after Luke—after one bad shooting night. And yet, we need the offense to come from somewhere. And Luke is our team’s best shooter. And if the boot fits…

Photo Credit: (Justin Ford/Getty Images)