Share
Bobcats vs. Grizzlies
7:30 p.m., Time Warner Cable Arena
TV: SportSouth. Radio: WFNZ-AM 610
Projected Starters
| Bobcats | Grizzlies | ||||
| Pos, Player | Ppg | Rpg | Pos, Player | Ppg | Rpg |
| G, K. Walker | 19.0 | 3.7 | G, M. Conley | 13.9 | 3.6 |
| G, Jeff Taylor | 4.7 | 2.2 | G, T. Allen | 6.6 | 2.7 |
| F, M. Kidd-Gilchrist | 11.1 | 6.9 | F, R. Gay | 20.7 | 6.6 |
| F, B. Mullens | 11.3 | 9.0 | F, A. Kirilenko | 16.7 | 14.0 |
| C, B. Haywood | 7.8 | 8.2 | C, M. Gasol | 14.1 | 7.1 |
Matchup to Watch
Rudy Gay vs. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: Rookie Kidd-Gilchrist has the skill set to be an elite defender. Gay has become one of the NBA’s best offensive weapons. Something has to give.
Observations
• The Grizzlies were off to a fantastic start. Friday they had a big home game against the undefeated New York Knicks.
• Zach Randolph is a load inside, both as a post scorer and a volume rebounder.
• The Grizzlies have enough scorers that they can start defensive specialist Tony Allen at shooting guard.
Tap-ins
• Who would have guessed that Mike Conley – not Greg Oden – would be the NBA prize in that Indianapolis tandem that ended up at Ohio State?
• How good are the Grizzlies? They’ve already beaten last season’s championship-series teams, blowing out the Heat and winning in Oklahoma City.
• Marc Gasol is nearly as skilled as his brother Pau. He averages five assists, no small feat for a center.
Did you know
Grizzly bears (brown bears) exist only in the Pacific Northwest. So they’re as common in Memphis as lakes in Los Angeles and Jazz clubs in Salt Lake City. Awkward nicknames for relocated NBA teams.
Rick Bonnell
