Opinion
3 min read

Grizzlies Roar and Hornets Buzz in Spectrum Showdown

As the Memphis Grizzlies prepare to take on the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, fans are eager to see if their team can replicate the offensive prowess displayed in their recent games. The Grizzlies have been a mixed bag this season, but there's reason for optimism as they head into Charlotte.


MEMPHIS, TN - OCTOBER 19: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 19, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In their last outing on December 24 against the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis put up an impressive 125 points with a particularly explosive third quarter where they scored 40 points. They showed resilience by overcoming a deficit and securing a six-point lead during crunch time. This victory was marked by an efficient field goal percentage of 52 percent and a dominant performance in the paint with 76 points.


The bench also came alive, contributing 25 points to the cause. However, it wasn't just about scoring; Memphis demonstrated solid ball movement with 29 assists and kept turnovers relatively low at twelve. Their defense could use some tightening up though, as they allowed Atlanta to score almost at will for stretches of the game.


Looking back further to December 22 against Indiana Pacers, MEM played host and emerged victorious with a scoreline of 116-103. That night saw them lead for over three-quarters of game time thanks to consistent shooting from both inside (55 percent from two-point range) and beyond the arc (46 percent from three-point range). The bench was again instrumental, chipping in with an impressive 40 points.


However, it's not all sunshine for MEM fans; consistency has been an issue this season as evidenced by their record before these two wins. On December 20 against New Orleans Pelicans – despite winning – they struggled early on before rallying back late in the game.


What does this mean for their upcoming clash? The Grizzlies' ability to dominate inside while also spreading out defenses with effective perimeter shooting could be key against CHA. If they maintain high assist numbers while keeping turnovers down as seen recently, MEM should be able to control the pace of play.


The Hornets will certainly pose challenges; however, based on recent performances where Memphis has shown flashes of brilliance offensively while managing decent defensive efforts – there is every reason for Grizz Nation to believe that victory is within reach come February 11th.


Fans can catch all action live from Spectrum Center or tune into BSSE channel 649 when tip-off occurs at what would be local evening time due to timezone differences between Charlotte (Eastern Time Zone) and Memphis (Central Time Zone).

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