The 23-46 Memphis Grizzlies have quite the injury tally. According to a recent edition of the NBA’s injury report, the Grizzlies will be missing a whopping 10 bodies today. That sum comprises point guards Ja Morant (right shoulder labral repair, he’s done for the year), Scotty Pippen Jr. (left shin contusion), and Derrick Rose (right groin, low back injury recovery in a two-for-one); wings Marcus Smart and Vince Williams Jr.; forwards Lamar Stevens (left adductor strain), Yuta Watanabe (personal reasons), Ziaire Williams (right low back hip flexor strain); plus big man Brandon Clarke (left Achilles tendon repair).
Comparatively, the 35-32 Golden State Warriors are relatively healthy, and are actively fighting to avoid the play-in bracket. Only future Hall of Fame power forward Draymond Green (sore low back) is on the shelf. Third-year shooting guard Moses Moody is available, despite dealing with an apparent sore left knee.
Both clubs have announced their starting lineups for tonight’s contest, slated to tip off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The bout will be broadcast on ESPN, in addition to each club’s local market (NBC Sports Bay Area for the Dubs, Bally Sports SE-MEM for the Grizzlies). The Warriors are, shockingly, just 17-18 at home, although one expects the team can withstand the Grizzlies’ G League roster this evening. Golden State is currently the tenth seed in the West, and hoping for an easy W.
All-Star point guard Stephen Curry reflected on the team’s uncharacteristic sub-.500 home record this year, per Field Level Media/Reuters. “[The home court has] been our staple — giving ourselves a little cushion every season for the last however long. It’s a challenge that we have to overcome at some point down the stretch,” Curry remarked. “The best-case scenario is to try to have home court in a play-in environment or when you get into a series have to win here and protect your home court, especially as a lower seed. So you got to correct whatever is ailing us.”
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For Golden State, Steve Kerr will start Curry at the point, rookie Brandin Podziemski at shooting guard (Klay Thompson is now a sixth man, which is still surreal to some of us), Andrew Wiggins at small forward, Jonathan Kuminga at power forward, and Draymond Green at center. Going all-in on small ball would seem to be a postseason liability. One wonders if Kerr might consider benching Wiggins in favor of Green at some point, while starting either rookie rookie big man Trayce Jackson-Davis or vet Kevon Looney (both 6’9″) at center, but that’s a question for another day.
The Grizzlies will start John Konchar at point guard and the newly-returned Desmond Bane at shooting guard, GG Jackson and Santi Aldama at forward, and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. at center. JJJ is normally a power forward who doesn’t rebound, but of course Memphis is severely shorthanded. It’s a fascinating approach from head coach Taylor Jenkins.
Memphis is gambling on youth and energy against a far more veteran Golden State lineup. We’ll see if its gamble pays off. Vegas is pessimistic. According to The Action Network, the Warriors are -12.5 point favorites to best the Grizzlies at home. Let’s see if they get it done.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.