Grizzlies vs. Trail Blazers Preview
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The Grizzlies will be looking to avoid a season sweep by the Trail Blazers tonight in Portland. Here are a few storylines to watch in tonight’s game.
M.I.P. Showcase
Two of the leading candidates for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award will be on the court tonight in Portland. The Grizzlies’ Rudy Gay and the Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge are both vying for the award, and each figures to get serious consideration. In fact, their careers thus far hold numerous parallels:
- Both Gay and Aldridge were part-time starters last season; this season both have started every game they’ve played.
- Both players have nearly doubled their scoring outputs over last season, and not just because of additional minutes played. Gay’s points per 48 minutes have gone from 19.3 last season to 26.2 this year (+6.9), while Aldridge’s has gone from 19.5 to 24.6 (+5.1).
- Both players have responded to added responsibilities in the face of major trades: for Gay, it was becoming the team’s first option on offense after the Grizzlies dealt Pau Gasol to Los Angeles. For Aldridge, it was becoming the primary scoring option in the paint with the trade of Zach Randolph to New York and Greg Oden’s injury.
They’ve also been equally outstanding head-to-head in the two prior meetings between these teams this season: Gay has put up 30.5 points on 62.5% shooting from the field and 63.6% from three-point range while adding 5.5 rebounds. Aldridge scored 26.5 points on 53.5% shooting and added 7.5 rebounds, with the added bonus that he’s helped Portland win both games.
Roy Improves on R.O.Y.
While LaMarcus Aldridge is enjoying a terrific sophomore NBA season, so is fellow second year player and reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy. He’s increased his scoring and rebounding, and made big strides with his playmaking, averaging nearly two more assists per game than last season. He’s doing all of it while committing fewer fouls and turnovers despite playing more minutes, and his outstanding play this season earned him his first trip to the All-Star Game back in February.
Roy’s play is a big reason the Blazers reeled off a 13-game winning streak earlier this season, stayed in playoff contention until the All-Star Break and have a chance at a .500 record despite the trade of Zach Randolph and the injury to Greg Oden before the season. Like Aldridge, he’s played well against the Grizzlies in the season series thus far, averaging 24.0 points on 50.0% shooting, 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds in Portland’s two wins.
Next Year’s M.I.P.?
It’s been an up and down season for Grizzlies rookie Mike Conley, but he’s doing his best to end the season on a high note. He comes into tonight’s game on the heels of a career-high 25 points Saturday against Minnesota, a game in which he also dished out five assists without committing any turnovers.
He’s been outstanding in the Grizzlies’ last three games, averaging 19.7 points, by far his highest-scoring three-game stretch of the season. Most importantly, he’s getting outside shots to fall, an area he’d struggled with all season. Over these last three games, he’s gone 8-13 from three-point range, or 61.5%, a far cry from his season mark 32.9%. In addition, he’s pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in two of the last three games, and has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.25 over the last three contests, a nice improvement on his season mark of 2.42. His recent play is a nice building block as he heads into next season.
Tune In
Don't miss the debut of the Part 1 of the Grizzlies Insider season finale tonight at 9 p.m. on FSN followed by the game broadcast. View channel listings.
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Sat, Sep 27
Mike Conley Bowl-N-Bash Noon - 3p.m. | |
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Wed, Oct 29
Grizzlies @ Houston
7:30 pm | |
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Fri, Oct 31
Grizzlies vs. Orlando
7:00 pm | |
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