The Utah Jazz have a chance to tie up the series with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night. Join our live comment stream below during the game!
The series between the Utah Jazz and Memphis Grizzlies has been an odd one this year. After losing the first two contests in disappointing fashion, thanks largely to the heroics of former Jazzman Shelvin Mack, the Jazz battled back to win the third contest, though it was hard-fought as well.
Although the Grizzlies are second to last in the West and no longer have former franchise player Marc Gasol (or the aforementioned Mack either, for that matter), they’re still a feisty squad that presents a challenge for the Jazz. Utah tends to struggle in the FedEx Forum against the gritty Grizzlies regardless of the status of the Memphis squad, so don’t expect this to be an easy win by any means.
That’s especially true with Mike Conley running the show for the Grizz at the point. Conley was highly coveted by several of the Utah faithful amidst reports that the Jazz front office was heavily pursuing him at the trade deadline, and for good reason. Since the deadline, Conley is posting a whopping 24.3 points per game while shooting 42.9 percent from three-point land.
Just imagine the kind of damage he could have done alongside prolific second-year player Donovan Mitchell. Sigh…
Can the Utah Jazz even the season series with Memphis Grizzlies?
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Back to reality, though, Conley isn’t the only one who’s faring well for the Grizz. Jonas Valanciunas who came over from the Toronto Raptors is putting up a solid 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field as a member of the Grizz. Other newcomers Avery Bradley and former University of Utah Ute Delon Wright have been solid as well.
Much like the New Orleans Pelicans squad (especially sans Anthony Davis), who the Jazz have seen twice in a row in their last two contests, Memphis plays with a chip on their shoulder and simply doesn’t go down without a fight. Especially with lackluster defender Ricky Rubio paired up against prolific scorer Mike Conley, the Jazz could be in for a battle.
Then again, considering that Rubio knows the Jazz were looking to move him in exchange for Conley, maybe he’ll come out with a little extra edge. Remember a season ago when the Jazz played the Pelicans after the deadline and Derrick Favors got his shot at Nikola Mirotic for the first time after allegedly being on the trade block for him? Maybe we’ll see a similar reaction from the Spanish Samurai this time around.
The Jazz will certainly need that against a determined Memphis squad and it would be nice to see Rubio, who has struggled in recent contests, get back in some sort of a groove during the final stretch into the playoffs. Ultimately, as long as Rubio plays at least halfway decent and Conley doesn’t light the world on fire, this should be a contest the Jazz win.
Sure, playing in Memphis is never easy and the Jazz can’t get complacent as they did during stretches in both recent contests against the Pelicans, but I still think we’ll see Utah come out on top this time around.
My Prediction: Jazz 98, Grizzlies 92
As you’re tuning into the game, be sure to join our live comment stream which will be available in the comment section below this article. Several Jazz fans will be chiming in to give their take on the contest as well! Tip-off for the bout is at 6:00 PM MT.