Toronto Raptors: Three keys to win over Memphis Grizzlies
The Toronto Raptors will look for their fifth straight victory on Tuesday night when they face off against the Memphis Grizzlies. Here are the three keys to success.
Perhaps not to this extent, but everyone expected the Toronto Raptors to be good. The Memphis Grizzlies, not as much. With a loaded Western Conference, most expected Memphis to be back in the lottery this season.
So what a surprise it must be to see the Grizz currently just one game back of first place in the Western Conference. Led by Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, as well as, a couple of fresh faces, the Grizzlies are one of the surprises in the NBA thus far.
What do the Raptors need to do to pick up a victory? Here are our three keys:
Speed up the pace
The Memphis Grizzlies play at the NBA’s slowest pace. According to NBA.com, they average approximately 96 possessions per game. The Toronto Raptors, average 102 per game, ranking as the 11th fastest team in the NBA.
When evaluating the Grizzlies personnel, the tortoise-like pace makes sense.
The Memphis Grizzlies two best players, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, are 31 with injury-riddled pasts. They’re killers in the pick-and-roll, but don’t get up and down the court like they use too. Attacking in transition eliminates two of the Grizzlies most significant assets.
The Grizzlies are also an extremely large team. Jaren Jackson Jr. projected as a center coming out of college. Kyle “Slow-Mo” Anderson is more of a powerforward in today’s NBA. Both play down a position for the Grizzlies, who might have moved on from the “Grind and Grit” motto, but they still have the same “Grind and Grit” personnel.
Don’t turn it over
The Grizzlies have the third-ranked defense in the NBA. One reason why: they rank second in the NBA in opponent Turnover%. Their second place ranking is even more impressive when you consider their turtle-like pace. Causing turnovers in the half-court is difficult to do, the Grizzlies are masters at it.
On the offensive end, the Raptors haven’t exactly avoided the turnover bug. Toronto turns it over more than 2/3rds of the league, with a couple of tanking disasters propping them up from rating even lower.
Toronto will need to try to increase the pace of the game, but can’t turn the ball over in the process.
Open up the paint
Memphis allows the third least amount of points in the paint. Despite their advantage, Toronto will need to attack consistently.
One way they can open up the paint is to drag rim-protectors Marc Gasol and Jaren Jackson Jr. away from the hoop. The Raptors are able to play five-out, a luxury most teams don’t have.
Next. Who has under/over performed expectations this year. dark
If your plan is to attack the Grizzlies in the low-post, good luck. Instead, Toronto will need to open up the promise land and attack with different options.