Raptors vs. Memphis Grizzlies – What to watch for [PS 6]

DeMar DeRozan (10). Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

A trip to Tennessee completes the exhibition schedule for our guys. The Grizzlies are a serious playoff contender, in my view, & will be interested in playing their regular season rotation. Auditions are just about complete for every team; the Raps dropped 2 players earlier this week, & still need to dump 1 or 2 more. I can’t see them keeping Magloire, but then I couldn’t see them doing it last year. The Grizz have Bayless on their roster, & I anticipate he will receive a significant amount of PT in order to show his old team they should have resigned him. Amen to that, Jerryd.

The Grizz are going to be a formidable test for any team. Of the 2 Gasol brothers in the NBA, I’d rather have Memphis’ Marc. He’s young, strong, tall & can rebound, defend, & score (other than those things, he’s a waste of oxygen). Rudy Gay is a quick, talented, borderline-All Star swingman. Zach Randolph is healthy again, & I expect another big season from him. Mike Conley may not be a top rank PG, but he stays healthy, gets his 12 points & 6 assists regularly, & will pick your pocket if you’re not careful.

• The Raps’ starters are going to get more burn. I expect each of them (Jonas, AB, Landry, DD & Kyle) to get around 30 minutes against a deep bunch of bruins.
• From the swingmen, Terrence Ross needs to be first off the bench. His camp has been hampered by nagging injuries & illness, but if he’s healthy, I’d give him 20+ minutes. Let him make his rookie mistakes in pre-season.
• DeMar will have his hands full if he’s covering Rudy Gay. DD, who’s thicker & stronger than he’s ever been, has frequently been accused of little more than academic interest in defense, &  needs to change some minds. DeRozan is in his team-option year & has serious competition for his minutes. He needs to step up, for the sake of his team, his career, & his wallet.
• There are trade rumours swirling around the Raps’ front line. Will Amir or Ed be highlighted, then shipped out, as a way to lessen the logjam among the second-unit bigs? I hope not, as I think there’s a role for both of those guys. If the Raps are in a mood to deal, why not toss Kleiza overboard?

Brian Boake is a staff writer for Raptors Rapture. “Like” Raptors Rapture on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @RaptorsRapture for all the latest news and updates about the best damn NBA team from Canada.