Minnesota Sports Forum

I can't even begin to say how important this game is, it's a HOME game so there are no excuses we have to win. Memphis is on fire and they're also in our way.

We need Love to put up one of his monster games imo

I actually think this game is more about Rubio and Martin. I already expect Love to have some trouble tonight against Gasol and ZBo. Those are some animals down there and Love's gonna have to be really special to have a monster game. I'd take his season averages tonight as a win.

Rubio and Martin need to play top notch basketball. Ricky's gonna have to disrupt Conley and Martin's shot needs to be falling. I never go into a game thinking we'll get blown out, but if Rubio and Martin don't play good (not average) basketball, we have zero chance of winning.

Huge swing whether we win or lose. Hopefully our guys pull it together and get a much-needed statement win. Going for our sixth win in seven games.

Camden wrote:I actually think this game is more about Rubio and Martin. I already expect Love to have some trouble tonight against Gasol and ZBo. Those are some animals down there and Love's gonna have to be really special to have a monster game. I'd take his season averages tonight as a win.

Rubio and Martin need to play top notch basketball. Ricky's gonna have to disrupt Conley and Martin's shot needs to be falling. I never go into a game thinking we'll get blown out, but if Rubio and Martin don't play good (not average) basketball, we have zero chance of winning.

Huge swing whether we win or lose. Hopefully our guys pull it together and get a much-needed statement win. Going for our sixth win in seven games.

I agree, and I think that we need a good game out of Bud or JJ. I think that we will need 20+ points out of our bench tonight. Without Pek, we will need others to step up a pick up his scoring load.

I recognize that Memphis has won 9 out of ten, but are they really that good? They are known as a great defensive team, but they are missing one of their best defensive starters in Tony Allen, and his replacement Courtney Lee has never been able to start during his career because of his defensive limitations. Gasol helps them a lot defensively, of course, but he is only 11 and 6.6 since his return. Z-bo is not shooting as well as he has in the past...a 44 FG% is not acceptable for a guy that doesn't shoot threes. And their starting SF (Prince) is averaging 6 points a game and shooting less than 40%. Conley is scoring well, and shooting very well recently, but 6.3 assists per game is certainly not elite for a PG. I have to admit...I don't get it.

But still they are winning, and are even favored by a point or two on our court. It looks like the bookies understand the importance of the Pek loss. I have Kevin Martin as the key to this game. Courtney Lee is not even an average NBA defender, and Martin has the ability to go off for 30 on any night. Tonight better be the night.

I agree to a degree. Memphis doesn't strike me as a "win nine out of ten games" type team, but they do have great chemistry since they've played together for years. Three All-Star caliber players and when healthy, one of the best perimter defenders in basketball (T.Allen). I wanna see how their bench does considering they got rid of Bayless. He used to be their sparkplug off the bench. The guy they traded for, Lee, will be a starter tonight since Allen is out. What does that do to their bench? Can't really think of much offense on that second unit for Memphis.

I don't understand why you're calling Lee out for defense. He's always been a pretty good defender in my eyes. Even calling him average would be somewhat underrating him on that side of the floor, but saying he's not even an average defender? Ehh. Can't agree in the slightest.

I do agree that Martin's a huge factor tonight. Let's hope he comes out hot and aggressive; making shots and getting to line. We need him badly tonight.

Put Bud in for Brewer.

Ronny is coming back down to earth after a few impressive performances. He missed an easy put back and blew a pass to Love that would have been an easy bucket.

The Griz are having their way so far.

wow, we could learn a lot from Memphis about moving without the ball.

LST- I agree their ball movement and how their players move without the ball has been very impressive so far

Camden wrote:I agree to a degree. Memphis doesn't strike me as a "win nine out of ten games" type team, but they do have great chemistry since they've played together for years. Three All-Star caliber players and when healthy, one of the best perimter defenders in basketball (T.Allen). I wanna see how their bench does considering they got rid of Bayless. He used to be their sparkplug off the bench. The guy they traded for, Lee, will be a starter tonight since Allen is out. What does that do to their bench? Can't really think of much offense on that second unit for Memphis.

I don't understand why you're calling Lee out for defense. He's always been a pretty good defender in my eyes. Even calling him average would be somewhat underrating him on that side of the floor, but saying he's not even an average defender? Ehh. Can't agree in the slightest.

I do agree that Martin's a huge factor tonight. Let's hope he comes out hot and aggressive; making shots and getting to line. We need him badly tonight.

This is how I've always seen Lee on defense. Every time I watch him, it seems as if his man can get shots off against him at will. He is a reacher on defense and not very athletic or tall. I think Martin is licking his chops with Tony Allen out.