Definitive Guide to Rockets vs. Grizzlies and Monday's Top NBA Games
Bask in the glory of Monday.
On this holiday week, work is killer. Either you're pining for your shortened schedule to finally end or you're in retail, in which case you have my deepest sympathies come Black Friday.
But Monday, it's all about the NBA. Nine games are scheduled, giving us all a little something to be thankful for.
The Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers square off in the battle of up-and-coming contenders. The Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies will go head-to-head while attempting to navigate a labyrinth of injuries in the process. Derrick Rose's Chicago Bulls continue life without him. And the continuously fascinating Dallas Mavericks meet the Denver Nuggets, in what is sure to be a jaw-dropping display offensive savants will revel in and a disappointing massacre for those in love with defense.
Put on your turkey-eating sweats early this week, and stuff your face with fistfuls of NBA action. And actual stuffing, if you're into that sort of thing.
Monday Night's Lineup
Boston Celtics vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 7 p.m. ET
Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m. ET
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET
Phoenix Suns vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. ET
Houston Rockets vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET
Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. ET
New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz, 9 p.m. ET (NBATV)
New York Knicks vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET
*All stats in this article are from Basketball-Reference and accurate as of Nov. 25, 2013 unless otherwise noted.
Best Matchup of the Night
1 of 6
So much for Southwest Division star power.
Memphis' Marc Gasol is out indefinitely with an MCL sprain and according to ESPN's Marc Stein, Houston plans to rest Harden and his ailing foot for the next few games.
For the Grizzlies, Gasol's injury could not have come at a worse time. There's never a convenient aspect of a star going down, but the team had rattled off four straight victories before being blown out by the Spurs.
Without Gasol, their defense is vulnerable in the middle. Zach Randolph isn't a defensive stopper and the Grizzlies were struggling on that end—until recently—as it was. They currently rank 16th in defensive efficiency, a far cry from the second-best mark they upheld last season.
The Rockets, meanwhile, must find a new go-to scorer in the interim. In two games without Harden, scoring hasn't been a problem. They've topped 110 points in each of those contests and are 1-1 without him on the year.
While still early, divisional matchups are always pivotal—especially here. The Southwest Division is the deepest in the NBA, and with both teams preparing for life, however short or long, without their best player, an intra-division victory goes a long way in boosting their playoff-seeding potential.
Must-See Individual Matchup: Kevin Love vs. David West
2 of 6
Admit it: you're intrigued.
David West squaring off against Kevin Love? Count me in. Seriously, this is my RSVP to the invitation you didn't send me. I'm showing up at your house, looking over your shoulder and we're watching these two power forwards do battle.
Love isn't your typical 4, and West isn't used to defending someone who can spread the floor as effectively as he can. I've never been a fan of West's defensive sets when he journeys beyond the free-throw line, mostly because Indiana's impromptu switches and complicated, situational help zones make it so he doesn't usually have to. Against Love, he'll have to.
And against West, Love will have to wear his big-boy shorts. West is the life of Indy's party and he's going to bruise down low, a style of play Love isn't used to guarding either.
But while you'll come for the inside-outside-their-comfort-zone madness, you'll stay for the gritty displays of rebounds. Both players crash the glass like it's a cardinal sin not to. Watching them jostle for position after a shot goes up and seeing how they react to excessive contact should make for a terrific viewing experience.
Consuming a milkshake each time one of them snags a board should also make for a great, brain-freeze filled drinking game.
Who Has the Most on the Line?
3 of 6
Well, well, well—we meet again Knickerbockers. Or should I say we meet again, cold, lifeless forms dressed like the Knickerbockers.
Until further notice—i.e. their next victory—the Knicks have plenty to prove. They've been awful this season. Positively horrendous. Like when they go up for a shot, you can bet on two things: 1) There's a good chance less than five seconds remain on the shot clock when they do and 2) it's probably not going in.
New York has lost five straight and hasn't topped 100 points in eight games. The team ranks 29th in defensive efficiency, ahead of only the Brooklyn Nets, who have been even worse, because that's apparently possible.
Bad news continues to mount as well. Neither Raymond Felton nor Tyson Chandler will be available Monday night, leaving the Knicks down two starters. And because pressing problems cannot be cured overnight, we must assume they still don't know how to defend point guards.
Want to know the secret to remedying New York's floor general-averse defense? Not facing Damian Lillard.
"It's a very tough time," Carmelo Anthony said following a Saturday night loss to the Washington Wizards, per the Associated Press (via ESPN). "This is a time where you could easily put your head down and mope around, but I can't do that."
Set to face a surging Blazers squad, moping isn't an option for the depleted Knicks. At a times like these, it's difficult to imagine winning is, either.
Injury Report
4 of 6
According to USA Today's Sam Amick, Mark Cuban is urging the NBA to conduct research on the correlation between HGH use and player rehab. Yeah, the injury bug has been that bad.
Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo (knee): In due time, Beantown. In due time. I think.
Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler (toe): Turf toe sounds funny, but it's not—especially for the Bulls. And especially now.
Derrick Rose (knee): The Bulls announced that Rose would be out for the remainder of this season after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Godspeed, Chicago.
Denver Nuggets
Danilo Gallinari (knee): Once Gallo returns, this Nuggets team is going to be scary. And they'll never run low on community haircare products.
JaVale McGee (leg): Stress fractures are no fun. On the bright side, Denver is playing better without McGee.
Houston Rockets
James Harden (foot): As noted before, Stein says the Rockets plan to rest Harden, meaning Houston is officially light on facial hair. Oh, and maybe scoring.
Memphis Grizzlies
Marc Gasol (knee): This isn't the time for lying. When the team announced Gasol was out indefinitely, a part of me died inside.
New York Knicks
Tyson Chandler (leg): Remember when the Knicks played defense?
Raymond Felton (hip): ESPN New York's Ian Begley says Felton is likely out for the Knicks' game against the Blazers. I'm sure everyone in Portland is beside themselves with immense sadness right now.
Phoenix Suns
Eric Bledsoe (shin): All we know is that Bled is doing better than anticipated but hasn't played in four games.
*Injury information obtained from CBS Sports unless otherwise attributed.
Pop-in Potential: Denver Nuggets vs. Dallas Mavericks
5 of 6
Let there be offense. And no defense.
Cuban's Mavericks have become one of the NBA's biggest early surprises. They have the second-best record in an uber-talented Southwest Division and Dirk Nowitzki and Monta Ellis—well, they're dominating.
After beginning the season 1-4, the Nuggets have won five of their last seven and are looking to climb above .500 for the first time this season. Since JaVale McGee went down, their offense has been clicking and Kenneth Faried has been rebounding like a G. He's been providing help defense like one, too.
Adding to the hype that I'm attempting to generate is the fact these two teams played on Saturday. Denver emerged from the Pepsi Center with a two-point victory, despite Ellis and Nowitzki combining for 52 points.
With both the Rockets (Harden) and Grizzlies (Gasol) battling injuries to key players, it's important for the Mavericks to strengthen their second-place hold in that dangerous division. But with a winning record finally in sight, the Nuggets aren't going to roll over. They're playing like the Nuggets again and have gone from accidental tankers to postseason-worthy in the span of a few games.
Points will be scored and defensive proponents brought to tears in this one. You're going to love it.
Fantasy Stockwatch
6 of 6
Still down on your fantasy luck? Trying to figure out why you drafted Andris Biedrins so high? Upset that LeBron James didn't fall to you at No. 10?
Believe me, I've been there—except for that whole Biedrins thing. There's no such thing as drafting him too high.
Anyway, Monday is a chance for you to start (relatively) fresh. For your morale to be boosted by the thrill of winning. For the Knicks defense to help the point guards on your roster post gaudy totals.
Bring it on.
The Big Guns
No Gasol? No problem—for the Rockets.
With Harden unlikely to play and the Grizzlies down the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard is going to have a field day on the hardwood.
Normally a staunch defensive unit, Memphis' greatest line of interior defense runs through Kosta Koufos and Z-Bo. Think of Howard as their guinea pig; a test run. The first of many centers poised to rip them apart.
Expect Superman to have a performance like the one he put forth against Dallas, when he went for 33 points and 11 rebounds. Fair warning: I cannot be held responsible for his free-throw shooting.
Damian Lillard
Lillard is a point guard. Going up against the Knicks.
'Nuff said.
The Sleeper
Gordon Hayward
Chicago has no Rose, no Butler and is coming off a 121-82 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. This isn't going to be pretty. Not even on the defensive end.
The Bulls may still grind out a victory against the tanking Jazz, but they're vulnerable on the wings now. Mike Dunleavy is a serviceable defender, as is Luol Deng, but neither of them are the stoppers they once were. Facing a point forward in training like Gordon Hayward, they're liable to be torched.
Collective mindsets come into play here, too. Rose is going under the knife Monday and the Bulls, known for their ability to persevere, might not be able to weather yet another storm.
All the better for Hayward and the Jazz.
