Grizzlies-Lakers: Monday Night Test for OJ Mayo

Tonight marks a significant night in the career of OJ Mayo. 

It is the first time he will face one of his measuring sticks—Kobe Bryant. 

Coming off his worst game as an NBA player, Mayo and the Grizzlies play host to the defending Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers. 

This game will have a bunch of subplots.  The return of Pau Gasol to Memphis as a visiting player.  The first time Pau and his younger brother face off as opponents in the NBA.  The suddenly-slumping Lakers against the annually-slumping Grizzlies. 

However, the most exciting thing to look for is how Mayo fares against Bryant.

This summer they, faced off against each other while Mayo and the young guns were helping the 2008 Redeem Team  prepare for the Beijing Olympics.  It seems that initially Kobe was getting the best of Mayo, but eventually Mayo began to adjust.

“Kobe completely shut him down in the beginning,” said U.S. managing director Jerry Colangelo. “But the longer they went, the better Mayo got.” Bryant already knew Mayo, who attended his camp last summer, and already thought highly of him.

So although Mayo’s primary focus will be getting the Memphis Grizzlies back on the winning track, this is a game where he and NBA fans can get a feel of how he will project in the future.  It is no different than one of the first times Allen Iverson faced Micheal Jordan.  It is not really whether Mayo wins the one on one matchup with Kobe, it is how he competes in the game.

Will Mayo affect the game with his offense by balancing his ability to attack and score with his ability to keep his teammates involved?  Will he take on the challenge of slowing down Kobe on offense to hinder a suddenly surly Lakers squad? 

Let us not forget who Kobe Bryant is.  He would like nothing better to put Mayo in his place, have Pau go big, and walk out of Memphis with a blowout victory.  Make no mistake—Bryant and the Lakers will be going for the jugular early and often.

So tonight’s game in Memphis should see a pretty decent Memphis crowd.  That crowd should bear witness to a good early season NBA show.  My guess is this will be another step down the path to stardom for OJ Mayo.