Memphis Middling Again

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies come into this game after a pair of losses. This team, which is last in offensive rating, failed to reach 95 points in both contests. Not even on Sunday when GG Jackson II finished with 30 points. He’ll probably shoulder the burden again for a squad that’s 29th in true shooting percentage. Memphis is the NBA’s worst three-point shooting team (on the fifth-most attempts per game) and 29th in rim efficiency. The Grizzlies are 26th in turnover percentage, 25th in free throw percentage, and 22nd in offensive rebounding percentage. Can they crack 100 points this time around?

On the other end, the Grizzlies have managed to hang around at 11th in defensive rating through all of their injuries. They’re ninth in points allowed this season. Memphis forces the fourth-most turnovers per game. They’re also the third-best team at defending the rim. Where the Grizzlies struggle is with forcing three-point misses (25th) and defensive rebounding (23rd). Against the Wizards, Memphis has a chance to get back on track.

Wizards Winning Streak

There is one team in the Eastern Conference with consecutive wins (before Monday’s results), and it’s the 14th-place Wizards. They beat the Hornets 112-100 and the Heat 110-108. For a group that’s last in defensive rating this season, those were sensational performances. They’ll try to make it three straight by keeping the Grizzlies under 110 points again. Washington’s greatest defensive strength is allowing the fourth-lowest percentage of field goal attempts to come from beyond the arc. They also force the sixth-most turnovers per game. However, this group is 29th in rim defense and last in defensive rebounding percentage. The Wizards allow the most points per game. Let’s see if their recent play is a mirage.

There’s a reason that Washington has one of the NBA’s worst records and it’s because their defense is paired with the league’s 26th-best offensive rating. The team has a lot of holes, but let’s examine the strengths first. The Wizards are a top-10 team at getting to the rim and finishing at the rim. They’re also 16th in turnover percentage. Now, the negatives. Washington is last in offensive rebounding percentage, 28th in three-point percentage, and 27th in free throw attempts per game. The Wizards are 20th in free throw percentage. Will they muster enough on Tuesday to push their winning streak to three?