Game Preview: Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies

When: Thursday, February 1st, 2024

Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

How to Watch/Stream: BallySports Southeast

After finally getting a couple days rest, the Grizzlies will have some reinforcements. They will need them too. Considering after there last game saw them have enought guys to compete by the skin of their teeth.

The good news is they’ve got at least two guys—three for the week—with fresh legs. Fresh-ish. They’ve all been seeing time in the G-League and playing time on other 10-day contracts… But let’s say fresh-ish for Memphis and call it a day.

With the Cleveland Cavaliers coming to town—less injured roster—they’ll need them. More than less injured, the Cavs are actually getting their dudes back… Which doesn’t bode well.

The Grizzlies are going to need all hands on deck tonight, if they want to continue surprising folks… And string a couple wins together. Memphis may make a run for the Play-In still yet.

Jaren Jackson Jr. and a G-League Showcase

At this point in the season you’d have to be living under a rock—a very large one—to have missed it. That is the injuries that have decimated this Grizzlies roster. As such, to say Memphis has faced an uphill battle of a season…

Well that would be an understatement. It’s been difficult for Coach Jenkins to even cobble to together a 9-man rotation on some nights. But he’s done it.

Now it’s felt like Jaren Jackosn Jr. and the Memphis Hustle some nights but that neither here nor there.

As is there are three players seeing active minutes for Memphis… Who were also doing the same with the Memphis Hustle. Even more impressive—or depressing I guess depending on who you talk to—is the total number of G-Leaguers. On the roster that is.

Because tonight the Grizzlies will have seven guys under contract—2-way or 10-day—play. Seven guys who played active minutes on a G-League roster this season that will suit up tonight. And three of them? Well… They got signed this week.

We already got to see Matthew Hurt suit up last time Memphis saw the court. Dude was warming up in Southaven… Next thing he know he’s seeing his first NBA minutes. Pretty stinking cool.

Hurt didn’t shrink at the opportunity either. In 23 minutes of action Monday here were the former Duke talent’s numbers… 10 PTS, 2 REB, and 1 AST on 50.0/66.7/100.0% shooting. Look if he can keep of even a modicum of that shooting Memphis will be grateful to have him.

On top of that, the Grizzlies signed two other G-leaguers to contracts this week. Trey Jemison—who we’ve touched on a great deal here—and Tosan Evbuomwan. We’re looking at over half the rotation at this point.

Over half the rotation that are fresh out of the NBA’s developmental league.

Which is less than an ideal for a team trying to compete. Thing is? If any group of guys can do it it’s going to be this team. TJ has already done a remarkable job with these young guys. Expect that to continue, as even more of the youths get miles under them… Even if it’s by necessity.

From One Elite Rebounder, To Another

Pretty certain I harped on this in a Game Preview earlier this week… But the problem persists. Boy does it persist…

Fresh of getting destroyed… No, demolished… No, lambasted… No, bullied… No, all the above on the boards by Domantas Sabonis… Another monster rebounder is coming to town.

This time it’s in the form of one, Jarret Allen.

He may not be the number one ranked rebounder in the league… But he sure as hell is no slouch. As of this writing, Allen ranks 7th in the league with 10.7 rebounds per game. He also notched his 16th (?!?) straight double double last night.

Allen’s a huge reason why the Cavs are the 7th best rebounding team in the league. Where as the Grizzlies? They rank 23rd.

There’s definitely room for improvement there.

The good news? The signing of the above mentioned Jemison. On the season in the G-League he was synonymous with “Rebound Monster…. No, “Rebound Machine”…. No, “Rebound Destroyer”… Yeah that’s it.

With per game averages of 13.6 PTS and 12.3 REB with the Squadron? What would you call him?

Now is it foolish to think that a dude on the first day of his 10-day contract is going to win the rebound battle? Against Allen? Yeah, sure, I guess.

But he may be the Grizzlies best bet tonight. When combined with Memphis’ rebounding-by-committee approach he may give them a fighting chance. We’ll see how it looks after the game tonight.

Photo Credit: (David Liam Kyle/NBAE)