14/15 NBA Preseason | ||
---|---|---|
vs. | ||
October 8, 2014 | ||
Resch Center | Green Bay, WI | ||
7:00 CT | ||
No Local TV | 620 WTMJ / Audio League Pass | ||
Probable Starters | ||
Brandon Knight | PG | Mike Conley |
O.J. Mayo | SG | Courtney Lee |
Giannis Antetokounmpo | SF | Vince Carter |
Jabari Parker | PF | Zach Randolph |
Larry Sanders | C | Marc Gasol |
2013/14 Advanced Stats | ||
94.3 (24th) | Pace | 92.2 (30th) |
100.2 (26th) | ORtg | 103.3 (16th) |
108.9 (29th) | DRtg | 102.1 (7th) |
On the Grizzlies: Grizzly Bear Blues | Three Shades of Blue
Memphis Moves: These Grizzlies look a lot like last year's Grizzlies, save the welcome addition of Vince Carter, whom Memphis hopes can spark an offensive improvement from the perimeter. Memphis has always been an inside-out team focused around the imposing and impressive frontcourt of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol, but they've generally lacked much in the "out" part of that equation. Carter, Courtney Lee (a 2013-2014 midseason acquisition), and Mike Conely are going to be leaned on heavily to provide the three-point shooting needed to pull defenders away from the paint.
Bucks Starters? The lineup you see above is my personal preference for a starting unit, at least for tonight, but it is by no means the obvious choice. For what it's worth (not much), Jabari Parker started at SF for his side in the Bucks' open scrimmage, but most indications have been that he'll begin his career primarily playing the 4. That gives the Bucks a decision between the more experienced (and possibly better-shooting) Ersan Ilyasova and Parker, and John Henson could get some consideration as well. Giannis seems a bit more secure at the 3, but there's always a chance he slides up to SG, allowing the Bucks more flexibility on the wing to insert a shooter like Khris Middleton. In short, there are tons of possibilities, none of which are particularly likely to stick right away.
UPDATE:
#Bucks will start Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, Jared Dudley, Jabari Parker and Larry Sanders tonight
— Andrew Gruman (@AndrewGruman) October 8, 2014
#Bucks coach Jason Kidd said to expect the starting lineup to be different tomorrow in Cleveland
— Andrew Gruman (@AndrewGruman) October 8, 2014
Reunions: There are a few past connections between these rosters, none of which matter very much, but "not very much" is plenty much to make the cut in a preseason preview! Jerryd Bayless played about a season and a half in Memphis before being traded to Boston last January. Jon Leuer was drafted by the Bucks in 2011 and played one season in Milwaukee before being traded to Houston, a move for which I have never forgiven them. Leuer later signed with the Cavaliers, who flipped him to Memphis in a salary-dump trade for the Grizz (though I just read that trade as "Jon Leuer traded for first-round pick"). Beno Udrih played a season and a half for Milwaukee after being acquired in a draft-day trade in 2011, and was eventually included in the Trade That Shall Not Be Named. He signed a two-year deal with Memphis in July.