Game Preview: Memphis Grizzlies at Atlanta Hawks

When: Thursday, October 12th, 6:30 PM CST

Where: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

How to Watch/Stream: Bally Sports Southeast

Is anyone else as grateful as I am to have hoops back? I mean, yeah, it’s preseason, but basketball is still basketball.

After a 2-0 start to the preseason, the Grizzlies now begin a road trip that will take them up to Game 1 of the regular season.

As they head into Atlanta, the Grizzlies will have to face an also-undefeated Hawks team that is under new coach Quinn Snyder and has Trae Young at the helm… The Hawks look to hand the Grizzlies their first loss.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies hope to improve to 3-0 in the preseason. Will they continue handling their opponents? And will it translate to regular season success? Or will Trae, along with Dejounte Murray and Clint Capella, keep this squad in check?

We’ll find out—one way or the other—this evening.

Ask the Magic 8 Ball: Will Z Start at the 3? “It Appears Likely”

And like that, we may have found our starter at the “3” for the opening tip of the season. Well, fingers crossed, at least.

Not that he’ll need it. He may have earned the damn thing.

Through two games this preseason, Ziaire Williams is playing like a version of himself that none of us have ever seen. This Ziaire seems focused, as well as someone oozing confidence from every pore.

In two postseason appearances, Z has produced 16 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 2 STL, and 2 BLK. That’s much more in line with what we saw from rookie-year Ziaire. Except that rookie-year Ziaire wasn’t quite impacting the game like his modern counterpart.

I mean, have you ever seen a dunk from Z like this before? Cause I sure as heck hadn’t.

If that’s what we can expect out of his newfound confidence… It’s going to prove difficult not to start him. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Coach Jenkins start someone new—Jake LaRavia—this evening. He seems keen to give every candidate a bite at the apple, which is fine.

The thing is, though, Ziaire looks like a dude one game away from claiming it for good. We’ll know more after tonight’s game, of course, but if it’s another excellent outing? Close the curtains.

Will the Grizzlies’ shooting stay this… weird all season?

We all know how much poor shooting has plagued Memphis over the years. Of particular worry is what seemed to be a team regression in shooting in each year of Jenkins’ tenure.

Thank the hoops gods; it looks like they may be turning a corner… Well… Kind of… The Grizzlies’ shooting isn’t as bad as it has been through two preseason games… But it’s also definitely not where it needs to be.

For example, through two games, Memphis has been frigid from deep. I’m talking about “Frozone” levels of cold here. They’ve gone 21 for 83 (25.3%) during that span from beyond the arc. Still, I’m not worried. Luke Kennard—best 3PT% two years running—hasn’t shot super great, but that will change.

It hasn’t all been rainclouds, though. Oh no, quite the opposite. In the two preseason wins, they went 36 of 43 (83.7%) from the line. After a season in which they placed dead last in FT%… This was something that, beyond a shadow of a doubt, had to change. We’ll see if this rate is sustainable, but so far, so “not crappy” at shooting free throws.

If Memphis Remains Smart With Smart, Who Guards Young?

I’m beginning to get the feeling that many of you out there are panicking. Freaking out, some would say, due to the simple fact that Marcus Smart hasn’t played in the preseason yet.

If I may…

For starters, this is the preseason. Not sure a player of Smart’s caliber is even required to suit up for each preseason game… so calm down a bit.

Second, he’s been by far one of the most engaged on the bench despite not actually seeing any minutes yet. To me, he’s already bought in. And that’s exactly what you need from your vets.

The fact that the Front Office is being safe with Smart makes me very, very happy. Now, if the Grizzlies’ first regular season game gets here and Marcus is still MIA… Well, then I’d start to worry a great deal. While he’s waiting, let the guy’s stomach settle.