Tonight's preview: Wizards @ Grizzlies

October 8, 4:10 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Washington Wizards Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

The Washington Wizards and the Memphis Grizzlies enter tonight's eight o'clock match-up down 0-1 respectively, and while it is only preseason, each team is looking for a momentum win.  The Grizzlies are coming off of a 93-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, while the Wizards try to break through the injury announcements which overshadowed their 82-108 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

The Wizards can almost breathe out today, after Jamison's injury report has been considered minor.  Brendan Haywood's wrist, however, could remain serious.  Tonight, Etan Thomas, the Wizards warrior inside, will look to continue to be the force and leader for Washington's team defense.

The Grizzlies are a new-look team except for last season's hold-over star, Rudy Gay.  Without a 100%-healthy Antawn Jamison for the Wizards, Gay will be a hard match-up.  At center, Memphis picked up quite a buzz with the NBA's first Iranian baller, Hamed Haddadi, a 7' 2" big that could make some noise tonight.  Memphis also picked up Marc Gasol (Pau Gasol's brother) and Javaris Critterion from the Los Angeles Lakers, whom should give the Griz a layered offense. 

After trading Pau Gasol to the Lakers last season, and giving up Mike Miller to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Grizzlies are a team looking to rebuild.  They have a variety of bigs, but their offense should not be as fine-tuned as Jason Kidd's Mavericks.  Defensively, the Griz might provide a few issues for the Wizards.  Gay is an excellent all-around player, and Marc Gasol is the tougher of the two brothers on the defensive end.

Expect heavy rotation of Andray Blatche tonight after his great performance against Dallas yesterday.  Wizards reserve point guard, Dee Brown, should also have an easier time working out a tempo against Memphis than he did against Dallas.  Question marks include Dominic McGuire, whose training camp buzz did not surface at Dallas, and Linton Johnson III, who couldn't seem to get anything going Tuesday night.

For the whole roster and a load of media, visit the Wizards cross-over, training camp to preseason homepage.  Also, be sure to visit Gilbert Arenas' latest article about family (and check out that killer smile).