Randolph of the Grizzlies will be out for the same period as Manu (8 weeks )with a knee injury . Given Manu's and Zach's injury, the question is which team has a better chance of making the playoffs or getting a highter seed, the Spurs or Grizzlies? How ironic both teams best players are out for the same period. This is the closest thing to testing which player in most valuable to their team. if ever the was a time when often used question which team can play best without their MVP ? can be tested. this has to be it.
BTW I've got to believe that recovering back to 100 % with a hand injury is a lot easier than a knee injury
I think the Grizzlies will be fine. It's toughing having two black holes on the same team in Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. Their offense will flow a lot better when those two aren't fighting for shots. Now they can just give Gay the shots Randolph got at the end of last year and everyone will be happy.
With both of them healthy, I was hoping they would implode. Now that will have to wait . . .
Well, Randolph missing 6-8 weeks will only give them less time to sort things out before the playoffs.
Speaking of black holes, Speights is in the mold of Randolph. Obviously, he's nowhere near the same player, but he can score inside and out, he's a solid rebounder and he has no interest in passing or defending. Though in fairness to Randolph, he's gotten better in those two areas.
I think the Grizzlies will be fine, too. But they'll have to run Gasol into the ground to get through this with their heads above water.
I concur. I think they will be fine too.
After watching that first Spurs/Grizz game, it was pretty clear that their offensive flow wasn't the same as last year Aside from the fact that the Spurs played more committed defense, it was apparent that Zach and Gasol weren't getting nearly the same looks down low.
There is no doubt that Rudy Gay is a very gifted offensive player. However, unintentionally took his bigs out of the game by virtue of his own Russell Westbrook impersonation.
Plus MEM brought in a pretty decent upside big that might fit in role wise better in Speights.
Grizz are screwed and I wouldn't be surprised if Zach Randolph just suffered a career ending/altering injury, IIRC he had some serious surgery on that knee already and he's on the wrong side of 30. Sure, he never had a lot of athleticism, but its going to affect his overall game and work in the paint nonetheless. I also have to wonder how long Zach will stay out of trouble with all of the free time he now has and the stress of not being able to play.
Not only are they missing Zach Randolph, but they also lost Darrel Arthur for the season. Grabbing Speights will help boost their now thin frontcourt, but he's not much of a subs ute to those 2 key players
I wonder what they'll do with OJ Mayo. Anyway I think the Grizz are going to struggle mightily to get into the playoffs, if that happens at all. I like that they play a physical, grinding out style in the regular season to prepare them for the playoffs, but I gotta go with a Manu-less silver and black over a Grizz team thats missing both Randolph and Arthur.
Torn MCL = six to eight weeks? I think that's very optimistic for an NBA player. Especially one who's not young.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
