The Utah Jazz have laid eggs both times they’ve faced the Memphis Grizzlies so far this season. Can they turn things around in round three?
The Utah Jazz have been disappointingly crushed by the Memphis Grizzlies on two occasions already in this young season. And despite having played just 12 total games, the Jazz are primed to meet up with them yet again for a third time on Monday evening.
In the first contest, neither team could find their shot, but the Jazz were especially bad as they went just 35.4 percent from the field and ultimately lost 92-84. In the second contest, Donovan Mitchell sat out with a hamstring injury and Utah’s offense similarly sputtered. Ultimately they would fall 110-100.
In other words, the Grizzlies have had the Jazz’s number so far this season and have abused them big time, causing two early and discouraging losses. And while the usual suspects, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, have punished the Jazz, they’re far from the only ones that have given Utah trouble.
Sure, Conley went off for 23 and 28 points, respectively, in the two bouts, and Gasol gave Utah’s bigs much more than they could handle throughout each contest, but guys like Jaren Jackson and, perhaps most surprising to Jazz fans, former teammate Shelvin Mack have done critical damage as well.
Jackson showcased his potential and young athleticism by putting up 11 then 13 points in the two contests, outscoring Derrick Favors each time. Meanwhile, Mack went off to the tune of 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting in game one, then an astounding 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting including 4-of-6 from deep in game two.
The fact that Conley and Mack have had such great success against the Jazz is a testament to the fact that Ricky Rubio needs to step it up on both ends of the court, but particularly defensively. Receiving meaningful minutes from Dante Exum would be big, too. Unfortunately, he’s a combined 3-of-17 from the field and 0-of-6 from deep in the two games against the Grizzlies with a total plus-minus of minus-16. Ouch.
Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors have also been largely outplayed by Marc Gasol and the aforementioned Jaren Jackson. Sure, Gasol is a tough cover for anybody with his elite shooting and ability to stretch the floor, but Utah needs to come in ready to execute their game plan and hold him in check.
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Last of all, Donovan Mitchell played poorly in the first matchup and then obviously didn’t play at all in the second. For Utah to have any hope against the Grizzlies in round three, he’ll need to bounce back and have a great game to jump-start Utah’s offense which has been sluggish against Memphis.
For what it’s worth, I’m feeling optimistic that the Jazz will get it turned around this time. Coming off a confidence-building win over the staunch Boston Celtics as well as two days of rest from there, a refreshed and refocused Jazz team ought to be able to bring the pain to the Grizzlies even on their home court.
Prediction: Jazz 97, Grizzlies 94
Utah has had some of their poorest outings of the season against the Grizzlies, but ideally that will turn around on Monday night. Both losses to Memphis came at home, but the Jazz are an impressive 4-2 on the road, so perhaps they’ll be able to return the favor when they visit the FedEx Forum.
For the sake of their early-season record, let’s certainly hope they can. The Jazz are sitting merely at a disappointing 6-6, and have a daunting road trip left ahead of them which includes stops in Dallas, Philadelphia, Boston and Indiana. If they can’t earn a victory over Memphis on Monday, they’ll be in real peril of slipping a couple games under .500 by week’s end.
The contest between the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies tips off on Monday at 6:00 PM MT.