Game Preview: Grizzlies vs Suns (12/2/2023)

When: Saturday, December 2nd, 8:00 PM CST

Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ

How to Watch/Stream: Bally Sports Southeast

Whisper it quietly…say it only amongst only people you trust…but for the first time in a long time, it feels like the Memphis Grizzlies have a shred, maybe even a morsel of positive momentum.

The Grizzlies, now 5-13, captured their first home win of the season against a similarly shorthanded Utah Jazz team who were without Lauri Markkanen. Now, the Grizzlies have faced off against the depleted Dallas Mavericks, furthering their positive momentum and winning back-to-back games for the first time this year.

That game against the Mavericks was the start of a three game road trip for the Grizzlies, followed by games against the Phoenix Suns (11-7) and the Detroit Pistons (2-17). All of these games represent a chance to keep the team above water before the return of 12.

Frank Vogel, a name most NBA fans will be familiar with, leads the Phoenix Suns as head coach. A coach known most for maximizing defensive scheme efficiency while allowing superstars to orchestrate high-usage offense, his fit in Phoenix has been questioned at times.

As a team, the Suns rank 9th in Net Rating, a statistic that takes a team’s points scored per 100 possessions and then subtracts how many points allowed per 100 possessions. Their positive start has largely been without recent trade acquisition Bradley Beal, suggesting that the team still has more growth ahead of them.

With Bradley Beal out for large stretches and Devin Booker’s health failing him as of late, more and more responsibility has fallen on Kevin Durant’s shoulders. While no one is suggesting Kevin Durant can’t carry the load for a team, it’s more of a question of if you want a player at age 35 having to do so, and with Devin Booker ruled out for Friday’s matchup against the Nuggets, he may have to continue his solo act against the Grizzlies.

With or without Booker, Grizzlies fans know between Ja’s absence and the unrelenting injury bug, every single game is going to be a battle.

Getting Back to Team Ball

If you were a busy Grizzlies fan and didn’t have time to watch the game on Wednesday vs the Jazz, a quick peek at the box score may have been a bit disappointing. Seeing Jaren as the leading scorer with a mere 20 points doesn’t exactly inspire a ton of confidence, especially considering the team’s issues getting the ball through the hoop.

However, fear not unsuspecting and (fairly) pessimistic fans! The Grizzlies’ performance against the Jazz was a fantastic reminder of how the team should be conducting offense without its superstar in Ja Morant.

Yes, everyone knows that Desmond Bane is capable of scoring 30+ on a given night (like last night), but seeing him leverage his abilities, on and off the ball, to get others involved is a far more positive indication for this Grizzlies team now and down the line.

Bane, who was tied for the team-lead the team with 9 assists, was one of SIX Memphis players in double digits. Between an unselfish Desmond Bane and a vintage Derrick Rose performance, the ball was moving seamlessly amongst Grizzlies players, a great way to increase morale for a team who needs positives badly.

BEAUTIFUL MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES BASKETBALL. pic.twitter.com/SJHJwLPYMy

— Grind City Media (@grindcitymedia) November 30, 2023

After providing some needed words of criticism, Derrick Rose delivered his best performance for the Grizzlies. Along with being a team best +20 while on the court, Rose was tied with Bane for the team lead with 9 assists and scored an efficient 14 points on 7-11 shooting.

For a team that’s missing its offensive superstar who has made scoring in bunches so easy, encouraging a more team-oriented, ball-movement-focused offense should improve both morale and results.

Phoenix’s Dynamic Duo

I say this with all due respect to all of the other teams in the league, but I truly don’t think another organization in the NBA boasts a better one-two punch than the Phoenix Suns with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

Starting with Durant: in his age 35 season, the man is averaging 31.3 points per game with nearly 7 rebounds per game and 5.5 assists per game. Despite all of the legendary seasons he’s put together, the start to this one has arguably been his most impressive.

It’s not just that Durant is averaging the second most points per game in his career, or that it’s being done at nearly a 50/40/90 pace. It’s the fact that Durant has reminded us of the underappreciated, underrated aspect of his game that is his defense. 

While in Phoenix, Durant has often had to take the task of guarding the other team’s best scorer, and while he certainly hasn’t been prime Kawhi in that regard, he has held his own and sometimes won the matchup. While this arrangement is born out of necessity, Durant’s two-way game is as good as it’s been in a while.

Booker, on the other hand, has revolutionized his playmaking. Although he’ll be a game-time decision vs Memphis, Booker has answered every critic’s questions about how the Suns will fill the Chris Paul-sized void in the team.

Averaging 8.5 assists per game is nothing to sneeze at, and Booker has done that while still maintaining his ruthlessly efficient all-around scoring game. I constantly hear the phrase “The game has slowed down for him,” and that’s all I can think about when watching Booker. There’s no way to speed him up and no way to stop him from getting to his spots; you just have to hope he misses.

While both are regulars on the injury report, each player is more than capable of piloting wins on their own, and the Grizzlies’ wings need to be prepared to deal with each individual’s unique offensive brilliance.

Signs of Life from the Wings!

Speaking of the Grizzlies wings, the positional unit had their best collective showing against the Jazz. While Roddy, Ziaire, and Vince all brought something different to the table, each ingredient was necessary for a Grizzlies win.

For Roddy, it was his best shooting performance that I can remember seeing. The Colorado State product, who scored 19 points on 7-11 shooting and 5-9 from three, looked confident and aggressive when taking his opportunities. Additionally, he seemed more locked-in on the defensive side of the ball, something that was constant throughout the team.

THIS IS GRIZZLIES BASKETBALL LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 🔥
pic.twitter.com/hR0497oJHh

— Grizz Lead (@Grizz_Lead) November 30, 2023

Ziaire, similar to Roddy, also had his best shooting performance of the year. Putting up 15 points on 75% shooting is good enough as is, but Williams also managed to come down with 8 rebounds. More importantly, Ziaire’s stroke from deep looked much smoother and much more instinctive, netting all three of his attempts from downtown.

Vince Williams reminded Grizzlies fans about the intangibles that make a difference in winning basketball, showing a relentless energy throughout the game. While maintaining his elite level of defensive play, Williams also contributed in the rebounding department, snagging 8 boards.

If the Grizzlies do manage to string a few wins together, it will be because of these players stepping up and playing within their respective roles.