Battered clubs battle as Warriors hobble into Memphis
The Memphis Grizzlies are going through a difficult stretch because of the abundance of injuries, particularly at one key position.
The shortcoming -- emphasis on short -- is beginning to take its toll on a team that is operating without true centers.
Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke are out with injuries -- as they have been most of the season -- and 6-foot-10 forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was traded to the Utah Jazz shortly before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline, creating even more disadvantages in the paint.
As a result, the Grizzlies have lost six of their past seven games and have been overwhelmed on the boards as they prepare to play the visiting Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
In a 123-114 loss on Monday to the visiting Sacramento Kings, who had dropped a franchise-worst 16 straight games, the Grizzlies were outrebounded 45-37. The Kings had 22 second-chance points thanks to 13 offensive rebounds.
Two days earlier, Memphis was outrebounded 57-35 in a 136-120 road loss to the Miami Heat.
"Offensively, this was one of the games that we really struggled against the switches," Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said of defeat against the Kings. "We don't have the inside advantage that we had before and can't really rebound. There's no mismatches created by that, so we got to work on that."
Besides Edey and Clarke, the Grizzlies have been missing a number of key players. Star guard Ja Morant will miss his 15th straight game on Wednesday because of an elbow injury. Rookie Cedric Coward, a regular starter since November, will be sidelined for a fifth consecutive contest due to a knee injury. Santi Aldama (knee) is set to miss his eighth game in a row.
Because of the abundance of injuries, Memphis started a different lineup for the 11th straight game Monday. Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who stands 6-7, started at center.
"Next year, we're going to have a big," Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. said. "We will have guys back. I probably won't see this much (defensive) switching on the court, like, ever. It's rare to see anyone out there with a 6-foot-7 center."
In the Monday loss, Javon Small led the Grizzlies with 21 points. He added nine assists and six rebounds. Prosper scored 17 points, and GG Jackson had 16.
The Warriors come to Memphis with their share of significant injuries. Stephen Curry hasn't played since Jan. 30 due to a right knee injury and is expected to miss his ninth straight game. Kristaps Porzingis is battling an illness, and Jimmy Butler is out the remainder of the season with a torn ACL.
Porzingis, a key acquisition before the trade deadline, has appeared in one game for his new club -- Feb. 19 against the Boston Celtics. In that contest, the veteran big man finished with 12 points in 17 minutes. He was sidelined for the past two games with what coach Steve Kerr called "just a bug."
"He's just been really, really sick, but he's making improvements," Kerr said.
Despite the absences, the Warriors posted an impressive 128-117 win over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Sunday, a game in which Golden State dished out a remarkable 42 assists on 48 made field goals. On Tuesday in New Orleans, the Warriors -- minus Curry, Porzingis, Butler and Al Horford -- fell 113-109 despite getting a season-high 28 points from Melton and 24 from Moses Moody.
Moody had 23 points against Denver.
"Moses has been brilliant for six weeks," Kerr said. "He is shooting lights out."