Miami Heat look to bounce back against Memphis Grizzlies

Game preview for the Miami Heat versus the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 29.

Heat (18-12) vs Grizzlies (17-16)
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
When: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 8 PM ET
Watch: FS-SUN, NBA League Pass

I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed. That’s basically what the Miami Heat’s agonizing loss to the Brooklyn Nets last night comes down to. The Heat blew a 16-point lead and watched a spiritless, talent-less, pointless team rally to beat them. I know, I know…. the Heat had played three games in four nights. They are led by two aging All-Stars. But the Freaking Nets? Are you kidding?

This is Miami’s struggle this season. They can win a big, gut checking game against the Oklahoma City Thunder then lose to a team like the Nets. Inconsistency should be expected with what is very much a new group. A loss to a quote-unquote lesser team like the Detroit or Boston or Charlotte here and there should be expected. But a loss to the Nets–in any non-disaster scenario–should not be expected. That was a bad, bad loss, and the Heat need to bounce back against the Memphis Grizzlies on the second game of a back-to-back Tuesday night.

Matchup to Watch: Zach Randolph vs Luol Deng

A power forward versus a small forward? Yyyepp.

With Randolph coming off the bench for the Grizzlies (who have decided recently to get with the times and go small, putting Z-Bo in that David Lee position) now, Chris Bosh won’t have to worry about defending the big guy in the post. Instead, that will be Deng’s problem, who has also been recently played at power forward in Miami’s small ball bench lineups. It boils down to this: Miami’s second unit likes to play faster, Memphis’ will try to slow it down. The two won’t likely be matched up for large stretches of the game, but whoever is able to establish the pace in this battle will give his team a big advantage.

X-Factor: Someone with the last name Green

Jeff Green and Gerald Green both graduated from Streaky Scorer University with a degree in If I Get Hot, My Team’s Chances of Winning Increase a Whole Bunch. In these teams’ first meeting, Jeff Green scored 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting. Miami’s Gerald Green scored 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Both have the *Green* light to shoot when they want, and they take full advantage of it when they’re feeling it. If one of these guys gets hot, it could make all the difference for their respective team. If they both get hot… well… we’re in for a treat.

Key Stats:

Miami Heat offensive ranking: 10th, 103.0 points per 100 possessions
Miami Heat defensive ranking: 6th, 99.1 points allowed per 100 possessions

Memphis Grizzlies offensive ranking: 25th, 100.0 points per 100 possessions
Memphis Grizzlies defensive ranking: 18th, 103.2 points per 100 possessions