The Philadelphia 76ers return home to host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night after a 115-101 loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Monday night. The Grizzlies have lost four games in a row, including their most recent 126-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night. Both teams have been ravaged by injuries, and tonight's game will look more like a G League game than what the NBA is accustomed to.
Who: Memphis Grizzlies (23-40) at Philadelphia 76ers (34-30)
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: XFinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass
The Sixers went into Cleveland needing their secondary players to really step up in place of all of their missing stars, and what they got in return was those players being exactly who they are. The Sixers minus Joel Embiid cannot thrive in the modern NBA. They are competitive and will get some wins, but they're not a top-tier team. If you take out Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, they're a high-picking lottery team.
Dominick Barlow is this year's Guerschon Yabusele as a diamond in the rough who has quickly become a fan favorite. He is a great motor player and does a lot of small things that people love to see and that teams need. Barlow has been a nice story, and though he's not a star, the team needs more from him, especially now, at least within reason. Over his last ten games, Barlow has averaged just six points and three rebounds. His scoring numbers are what they are. It's his rebounding numbers that have to increase, both now and moving forward.
Quentin Grimes has proven to be a solid reserve player this season, but he's struggled to replicate his success from the end of last season, when he had full autonomy of the offense. With a more defined role this year, Grimes should be the guy who can come in and provide sound defense, while getting some quick and quality buckets. He's struggled to do so consitently and now with more opportunity, he hasn't been aggressive enough in making the most of it.
The Grizzlies are in the same boat as the Sixers, as the majority of their key players are injured. Looking at their most recent loss, falling to the Nets, you'd have to spend some time looking up exactly who's suiting up for the team of late. Players like GG Jackson II, Jaylen Wells, Javon Small, Walter Clayton Jr., and Rayan Rupert all scored in double figures.
Players like Ja Morant, Ty Jerome, Santi Aldama, and Zach Edey are all out for extended periods or, in some cases, the remainder of the season. For all of the aspirations that the team held just a few short years ago, the team and the seasons have not gone as planned, with this year being another failed season.
The Grizzlies have to figure out how to move forward, but they're future-focused, with a projected 11-13 first-round draft picks over the next seven years. The problem is that they won't see many results for quite a while.
Both teams are fielding significantly shorthanded squads in this matchup. For the Sixers, the offensive burden will be on Grimes and Kelly Oubre unless they receive reinforcements.
With no injury report as of this writing, the only saving grace for the evening could be the return of the Sixers' star rookie, VJ Edgecombe, who's been battling a lumbar contusion for the past few games.
Grizzlies 101 - Sixers 87
