Game Preview: Phoenix Suns at Memphis Grizzlies

Sweet, delicious Black Friday.

A time of capitalistic madness and aggressive shopping tactics. The one day of the year when everyone sets aside their differences and their grudges… To become barbaric, frenzied gift givers, minds locked in on their discounted target.

The lone 24 hour period during which the lines folks wait in, don’t incite impatient feelings of rage… But instead incite feelings of joy as they prepare to wait for hours and hours and hours… For mass-produced merchandise with a moderate discount attached.

I can’t think of a more optimal time to remain indoors and away from… “all that”. You can find me feasting on sammies with leftover turkey and watching hoops. Full and happy.

Look here’s the thing… As much as I wish the Grizzlies the happiest of Thanksgivings… If they show up full and happy tomorrow we’re in trouble. Not against Kevin Durant and this Suns squad.

Phoenix heads into Memphis riding a five game win streak. Meanwhile, Desmond Bane and Co. are coming off a pair of defeats. The first, a crushing loss to the Celtics that went to the game’s final seconds. And the second, a 20 point trouncing at the hands of the Rockets.

All that to say the Grizzlies could use some juice. At this point, they’re fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament—every win is key. Thing is, the Suns still have a puncher’s chance so a win may be hard.

I’m referring to the In-Season Tournament. Though incapable of winning their group—the Lakers won Group A—they’re not out of it yet. The Western Conference Wild Card spot is still up for grabs, well within their reach.

Do the Suns show up for this game? Do the Grizzlies—one of the first teams eliminated—make it turkey-free and ready to hoop? If Memphis pulls out the win, it won’t be a Black Friday miracle—there’s not a clearance television involved—but it’ll be close.

Bismack Biyombo? Grayson Allen?! Revenge Game?!?

Nothing like a revenge game on the roster periphery to make a contest spicy, am I right? If there’s two of them? Don’t even get me started. Talk about a wealth of hoops riches.

In all seriousness though, it will be interesting to see if Bismack Biyombo—or Grayson Allen—balls out tonight. Bis was last seen in a Suns jersey during the ’23 playoffs. Against the Nuggets, he averaged 3.4 PTS and an equal amount of boards. Pair that with his 1.3 BLK and almost a single AST (0.8)?

That’s an ok-ish stat line when playing less than ten minutes a game. As was the case this past postseason (9.8 min/game). But Biyombo has shown he’s capable of much more, as seen by his recent play in Memphis. He has two double doubles in his eight starts in replacement of Steven Adams.

For comparison’s sake, he recorded three double doubles all of last year with Phoenix. That’s in fourteen starts. He’s well on pace to eclipse last year’s numbers if he continues playing at this rate. And why should it not? Considering the Grizzlies don’t have an additional true center on the roster…

Then on the Suns side of things there’s Grayson Allen. The Duke product is in the middle of his third season away from Memphis. Which also happens to be career-best statistical showing across the board.

Heading into tonight’s game, he’s on pace to have career high marks in PTS, TRB, AST, and BLK. On top of that, he’s shooting lights out this season. Over six years since entering the league, Grayson’s never struggled with shooting. He’s been consistent from beyond the arc year after year.

Which is one reason why the fire he’s reigning down this season stands out. On the year, Allen is making 50.0% of his twos and 47.4% of his threes. I dislike the idea of a “Grayson Allen” revenge game. We’ll see if Memphis can get down to “Bis-ness” and shut him down.

Boom. Nailed it two times.

Sooner or Later, Shots Have To Fall

If you’ve caught a Grizzlies game this year, you most likely saw them take some shots. Many of them. Some would even say too many. In fact, you may even have found yourself screaming at your TV screen.

You know, something like this: “Please stop shooting, for the love of all that is holy they’re not going in”. Or you may be more in line with this: “Again? AGAIN?! Please can I introduce you to ANY OTHER part of the court”.

Or you know, there’s a chance that sitting, staring into the void after the tenth missed three is your bag. You’re allowed. It is Black Friday after all. And there’s no yucking yums on Black Friday, everyone knows that.

All that to say, Memphis has done a horrendous job shooting the ball this season. Let me rephrase…

Memphis has done a horrendous job at making shots this season. Heaving them up, that’s another story. They can do that with the best of them.

As of Friday morning, the Grizzlies rank 2nd in the league in attempted field goals (91.9) and 4th in attempted treys (40.6). You would think if ranked that high, it must mean something had gone well right?

You would think… And yet that’s not the case in the slightest. In actuality, it’s the exact opposite. They’re ranked dead last in FG% (42.3%) and second to last in 3P% (33.4%).

I’ve tried to logic my way through it. The best I can come up with involves the coaching staff giving wrong percentages to the guys. You know? Like they’re telling them they’re shooting the ball, like 100.0% or something. Why else would they keep shooting. And keep shooting.

And keep shooting.

I’m kidding of course. What makes the most sense? At some point their shots have to fall, it may be that simple. Question is: how long do you let them keep shooting until that happens? Hey if the answer was easy—we wouldn’t be 0-6 at home I promise you that.

Homecourt Advantage? I Hardly Know Her!

Remember the days when the Grizzlies were good for 30 or so wins at home? Search the recesses of your memory… It seems like such a time was decades ago. And yet, it was only last year. That’s not exactly a good thing.

After back-to-back years that saw them win 30 (’21-’22) and 35 (’22-’23) games, it seems Memphis can’t buy a win. They remain to this day the only team without a victory on their home court.

Winless at home. Talk about a tough pill to swallow.

What’s frustrating about the 0-6 home record? It has nothing to do whatsoever with lack of effort. Quite the contrary, these dudes have been hooping their hearts out in these losses. No one could ever accuse them of not trying.

So what is it then? Their shooting isn’t helping matters (more on that later). Other than that , the only common denominator is health. Of which the Grizzlies have little to none.

Will tonight be the night? The night they win their first game on the season? It can only happen once a year, and tonight’s a night that’s good as any right?