Preview: Grizzlies vs. Bobcats

The Grizzlies welcome the Bobcats to FedExForum tonight for their lone visit to the Bluff City of the 2010-11 season. The Grizzlies will look to put their best foot forward this evening as NBA Commissioner David Stern is expected to be in attendance to help celebrate the team’s 10th Anniversary Season in Memphis. To do so, they’ll need to push the ball and get into the open court against a Charlotte team that is in the bottom third in the league in offense (26th in the NBA, 93.7 points per game). The team that is able to set the tempo tonight could very well be the team that comes out on top. The Bobcats have skilled offensive players on the perimeter, but they have struggled to score points this season, despite the offensive prowess of Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace. With the Bobcats struggling to regain the mojo that helped them make their first ever postseason last year (they are 9-15 this season, which is currently 10th best in the Eastern Conference), the Grizzlies have to look at this matchup as an opportunity to move closer to the .500 mark. The Bobcats have underperformed based on their expectations coming into the season, and with a Texas two-step against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs looming, the importance of coming away with a win tonight becomes magnified. Defeating the Bobcats will be no small task based on recent history for the Grizzlies, however. The Grizzlies have lost their last four straight to the Bobcats after winning the first seven of eight meetings all-time between these two teams.

Grinding it out:

The Memphis Grizzlies have won their last three contests thanks to a renewed vigor on the defensive side of the ball that if maintained, will go a long ways towards turning around a sub .500 record. They’ve held their last three opponents to 84.7 points on .414 FG, .290 3FG, and are playing a grind-it-out style that might befit winning for this team. Tonight’s contest against the Bobcats will certainly lend towards a low scoring affair, as Charlotte is one of the top teams in the league in defense . If the Grizzlies can play to this style again and find a way to come out on top, Grizzlies fans could be watching a team that has defined itself.

Matchup of the night:

The most interesting matchup of the night will certainly be at the power forward position, where Zach Randolph will matchup with Boris Diaw. Rarely will you see another power forward this season who possesses such a divergent set of skills compared to Randolph than Diaw. Whereas Randolph makes his living on the glass, picking up garbage baskets and tip-ins, Diaw’s game is based on finesse around the perimeter. Diaw does have the ability to pull Randolph away from the basket, so his Grizzlies teammates will need to provide support on the boards if Memphis hopes to come away with a victory. Randolph notched his fourth 20 point-20 rebound as a member of the Grizzlies on Dec. 13 against Portland, and his individual success has become a true indicator of the Grizzlies’ team success. When Randolph records at least 20 points and 10 rebounds the Grizzlies are 6-1 this season.

Stat of the night:

This season the Grizzlies are 9-7 when O.J. Mayo has 10 or more attempts from the field. When Mayo gets up less than 10 shots the Grizzlies are 2-7.