:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46091712/usa-today-7835417.0.jpg)
I remember being a Vancouver Grizzlies supporter, until I was forced into throwing all of my Maple pride into the Raptors. Rooting for the Grizz was so benign, after all the Utah Jazz started off something like 16-0 or 16-1 against them in franchise history. Now that they are in Memphis they have built their teams around Gasols, and are trying to knock on that NBA Finals door. I don't know if they will make it this year, but they are in a dogfight atop the highest reaches of the Western Conference against the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and San Antonio Spurs.
One thing that they are probably looking back on, as they fret over their remaining games, are the losses to the Utah Jazz. They are 1-2 against Utah this year, with the Jazz winning both games in their gym. Utah got one early in December, and took the other one by force. But looking behind the curtain you see that the Grizzlies were fighting pretty wounded in those games.
| Player | Pos | Started | Played | S% | Total | MPG | ||||
| 1 | Courtney Lee | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 100% | 104.62 | 34.87 | ||
| 2 | Marc Gasol | 5 | 3 | 3 | 100% | 103.82 | 34.61 | |||
| 3 | Mike Conley | 1 | 3 | 3 | 100% | 98.33 | 32.78 | |||
| 4 | Kosta Koufos | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 67% | 85.48 | 28.49 | ||
| 5 | Jon Leuer | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0% | 49.52 | 16.51 | |||
| 1 | Jeff Green | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 100% | 56.85 | 28.43 | ||
| 2 | Nick Calathes | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 42.33 | 21.17 | ||
| 3 | Beno Udrih | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 36.92 | 18.46 | |||
| 4 | Jordan Adams | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0% | 33.38 | 16.69 | ||
| 1 | Zach Randolph | 4 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 33.47 | 33.47 | |||
| 2 | Tony Allen | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 24.25 | 24.25 | |||
| 3 | Tayshaun Prince | 3 | 1 | 1 | 100% | 23.55 | 23.55 | |||
| 4 | Vince Carter | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 21.90 | 21.90 | ||
| 5 | JaMychal Green | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | 5.60 | 5.60 | ||
To be fair, the Jazz have been playing almost every game this season without Alec Burks, and had had their fair share of injuries as well (Rodney Hood, Derrick Favors, etc). But the point of this is to look at who the Jazz haven't had to play against.
- Z-Bo for only one game
- Tony Allen for only one game
- Vince Carter for only one game
As far as I can remember, those three guys have been pretty rough for the Jazz. Still, having a Gasol, Conley, and Lee all play should mean that the Grizz were still strong. Just not at full strength. Oh, and tonight Tony Allen is still out, and Mike Conley is questionable. Tonight will be the second time our bigs Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert go up against their bigs, and the last time that happened the Jazz lost.
Tonight will be an interesting game, will the Jazz take advantage and win the season series? Or will Memphis tie it up as they claw their way to the #2 seed in the Western Conference with only four games to play?