Game Preview: Grizzlies v Bucks

The Memphis Grizzlies play host to the Milwaukee Bucks at FedEx Forum on Monday.
The Bucks (32-33) have catapulted themselves into the eight-seed in the east, as
they’ve won six-straight and 10 of their last 13 games. The defense is what’s
really turning their season around, with Milwaukee allowing 101 points or less
in all six of those wins. It’s the addition of Khris Middleton that has really
changed the dynamic though, as he recently returned from a hamstring tear that
kept him out for the first few months. What Middleton brings to the table is
impossible to duplicate, as he’s one of the most talented two-way players in the
NBA. It’s a huge bummer that Jabari Parker re-tore his ACL and it will be fun to
see what this team looks like with he, Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo are
all playing together. The Grizzlies (36-30) are struggling as bad as anyone
right now, as they’ve lost five-straight games. The defense has hit a major
wall, with Memphis allowing 114 points across their last six games. That is bad
on its own merit, but considering how weak their offense is, Memphis is in
serious trouble. The Grizzlies currently rank 27th in scoring and they
desperately miss the scoring void that Chandler Parsons was supposed to feel
this season. The big offseason acquisition has been one of the biggest
disappointments in the NBA, as he’s averaging 6.2 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.6
assists per game this season. What makes that even more disappointing is the
fact that Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are having career years. The silver lining
is that the Grizzlies still rank seventh in the west and are a short winning
streak away from getting back to sixth.