The tough schedule continues for the struggling Los Angeles Lakers, as they will face the top seeded Memphis Grizzlies at home after losing to the Denver Nuggets, in a game where they should have won.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are coming fresh off an easy triumph against the Los Angeles Clippers at the FedEx Forum. They begin a four-game road trip and will look to start their trip on a high note.
The Lakers will be going up against one of the top defenses in the league. The Grizzlies rank top 10 in opponent field goal percentage and three-point percentage, top three in points allowed, and top 10 in forcing turnovers. In addition, they take care of the ball really well, averaging just 12.6 turnovers per game, which is seventh best. The Lakers take care of the ball extremely well too, as they average 12.3 turnovers per game, ranked sixth. However, going up against a strong defense, L.A. cannot get raddled.
The battle in the paint is going to be very interesting. The Grizzlies rank fourth in the NBA when it comes to points in the paint. Their tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph do most of that damage. The Lakers will have to match their physicality and hustle. Gasol is, after all, coming off two 30-plus point games, as he is playing the best basketball of his career. To possibly keep the Grizzlies out of the paint, the Lakers may play some zone defense to force outside shots, although they will still have to be aware of Memphis’ efficient three-point shooting.
Aside from the interior play, another matchup that will be interesting is the matchup between Kobe Bryant and Tony Allen. These two have ton of respect for one another, but they both battle hard against each other on the basketball court. Allen tends to give Kobe a hard time with his ferocious perimeter defense. That means Kobe, who is shooting an abysmal 38.1 percent from the field this season, will have to be smart with his shot selection and cannot force the issue offensively.
On the other end, Kobe usually plays off of Allen to force him to take jump shots, which is not the best aspect of Allen’s game. However, the last time these two battled, Allen was aggressively attacking the rim and hustling for loose balls, making Kobe work and expend energy on the defensive end. Surely, he will look to do the same in this game.
Coming into this game, the Lakers may be without starting power forward Carlos Boozer, who is still dealing with a sore shoulder. Furthermore, Ed Davis is probable due to an ankle injury, meaning the Lakers could be extremely thin in their frontcourt in a game where they need length and size.
This game will be the second of a four-game home stand for the Lakers, and it comes against a very tough opponent. The Lakers will need to show the same effort they did when these two teams clashed in Memphis on November 11, where the Grizzlies barely squeaked out a five-point victory, for them to have a chance.