The Grizzlies and Pacers Have All-Star Centers, Dinosaurs
by Griffin Gotta on Feb 10, 2012 7:47 AM CST
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PrintSo, just as it was foretold in these parts yesterday, Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is now officially an All-Star. Congratulations are in order for Marc, as it was nice to see his all-around and all-important contributions on a nightly basis get recognized; it will be interesting to see him throwing fancy passes from the elbow in Orlando in a few weeks, to be sure.
For now though, Memphis sits again at .500 and outside of the West's top eight, but in the midst of a five-game home stand. Tonight, the Indiana Pacers, a young team growing up and making noise in the Eastern Conference, pay a visit with an All-Star center of their own.
That would be, of course, Roy Hibbert, who was also named as a reserve last night. In Gasol and Hibbert, the Pacers and Grizzlies have two of the last vestiges of the a traditional-form center in the NBA. Lumbering big men without the otherworldly athleticism of a Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan, but who can still throw up sky hooks and protect the rim effectively -- both rank in the top ten in blocks per game, with Gasol third and Hibbert seventh, respectively.
Hibbert stays connected to the paint, looking for touches as low as possible to put his deft feel around the basket to use, and alternatively, is a disruptive presence to opposing penetrators just by standing there. Gasol's skills are a bit more fine tuned, as he does like to float outside for spot-up jumpers and assist opportunities pretty consistently, before challenging shots and trying to get the break started on the other end.
Their match-up will be an important one in tonight's game, yet it wouldn't be surprising if their play cancelled each other's out, like two samurais who know their combatant's counterattacks all too well (except a slightly less nimble version of that). While it's unclear at this point if Tony Allen will play or not, our defensive pairings with the Pacers could be interesting. Rudy Gay and Danny Granger might just turn this into the world's biggest jump-shot battle, but Marreese Speights and whoever else Memphis uses on David West looks like it could be a potential problem spot; we'll see if West gets it going early on and what adjustments will be made, if necessary.
Otherwise, it's the same thing of late: Avoid that one absolutely terrible offensive quarter and there's no reason, at home, that the Grizzlies can't take out one of the East's up-and-comers. But they remain banged up, meaning that like Wednesday night, when it was Quincy Pondexter who provided the much-needed jolt of scoring, someone needs to get buckets. Tonight (or any night, I guess), it really doesn't matter who it is, so long as it happens.
For more on the Indiana Pacers, do visit Indy Cornrows.
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Pacers Guy Here
From a Pacer fan, I absolutely love the Griz. You gotta believe me when I said they will send the Spurs packing last season in the playoffs and would give the Thunder a hard ass run. You all have 2 of our hometown boys that showed up huge every night. And was hoping M.Gasol would end up a Pacer this past offseason but we ended up signing West for some added punch and much needed leadership. The Pacers and Grizz are nearly mirror image of theyselves Gay/Granger, Hilbert/Gasol, Conley/Collinson Mayo/George…Deep bench play as well. It should be a good game but the Pacers are obviously lacking a good back up at the 3. ALSO I might add….What is up w/ Mayo? Larry Bird loves the guy and he keeps popping up in trade rumors linked to us even as of a couple days ago. Thought that shipped sailed away. At least until offseason comes and I am sure Bird will sign OJ to a descent contract and let him and Paul George run together. Pacers are coming off a bad road game against the Hawks and we havent lost 2 in a row all season. But tonight that run may end as I feel the Grizz will beat my Pacers. Were w/o George Hill and Lance and AJ Price are no where near up to snuff to play on an NBA floor..well maybe for 3-5 mins but thats it.We’ll have our hans full but I sure hope its not as embarrasing as it was the last time we played at the Fedex where the game was over when it started. Grizz are a good-good team. You guys enjoy!
***Forever Grunge...Man!***
*Hill with the steal, he drives the lane and finger rolls. COUNT IT aaaand put'em on the line...A magnificant display of defense from George Hill*
i'm a huge Hibbert fan
I think I’m a sucker for that old-school center type of play. I had him on my fantasy team two years in a row knowing he’d blossom into an All-star caliber player. Of course I passed on him this year, now that he’s blossomed into an All-star caliber player!
Truly a night of Magrocodile - Mike Payne
gonna be in Dallas tonight with the in-laws
Hope I get to watch some of the game, but if not, go grizz, go mavs!
Truly a night of Magrocodile - Mike Payne
Gasol v Hibbert is going to be a great matchup, but I hate that it is probably going to be decided by ticky tacky foul calls. Granger is kind of a poor man’s Rudy Gay, which I don’t mean as a slight, but upon thinking about it, it definitely is one. They both have a tendency to settle for jumpers, but Gay is more likely to knock his down, although Granger is much better defensively. That being said, we gotta keep him from driving to the basket, and make him shoot contested jumpers, because he can make them if we don’t. I’m glad we are playing at home, because this is going to be extremely difficult to win, but playing at home hopefully gives us an edge.
It was a particularly small egg...thats why I asked.
by thenightstallion on Feb 10, 2012 10:25 AM CST reply actions
You guys will want Granger to drive to the basket. If he drives, he is one dimensional and will throw up some wild shot and yell for a foul. He is not good at driving to the bucket. If you let him shoot, he will get it going, he has been shooting better as of late.
PacersCenter.com
Good call.
From what I’d seen of Granger, he was basically Rudy Gay Lite. Clearly, at least based off this game, I was wrong. He has a really nice stroke.
It was a particularly small egg...thats why I asked.
by thenightstallion on Feb 10, 2012 10:01 PM CST up reply actions
From The Pacers Fan
Hey I posted this morning you guys would win. Typical Pacer/Grizz game. Smash Mouth! You guys did a solid job…good luck tomorrow night for you guys. Wish we can trade Tyler for Mayo tomorrow morning but Bird wont grow a pair and roll the dice to make any moves. I Guess he is content being a one and done playoff team. Looks like you guys are getting hot right now. I knew the Grizz would get it together after 10 games or so. Buddies of mine know i like your Grizz and they dawged me when y’all were horrible at the 1st of the season…Good to see the Grizz getting back up now. Should be a real contender when Zach is back alongside of Gasol.
***Forever Grunge...Man!***
*Hill with the steal, he drives the lane and finger rolls. COUNT IT aaaand put'em on the line...A magnificant display of defense from George Hill*
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