TV: League Pass
- Initially, today’s game would have been a good matchup of two of the NBA’s young point guards in Memphis’ Mike Conley and Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving. Instead, the starting point guard matchup features Jerryd Bayless of the Grizzlies and Jeremy Pargo of the Cavaliers. Pargo has started the last three games in place of the injured Irving. As a starter, Pargo is averaging 19.7 points, including a career-high 28 against Philadelphia. He was the Grizzlies backup to Conley last season before losing his job late in the season to Gilbert Arenas. “He had some decent games with us, as well,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. “It was just a matter of consistency and being able to bring it every night. That’s what this league is about. It’s about establishing consistency.” Cleveland coach Bryon Scott said Pargo has been consistent for the Cavs, whom he was traded to last summer. “Jeremy’s played well,” Scott said. “He stepped into a tough situation with Kyrie being down. … He’s not trying to speed up or do anything that he’s not capable of doing. He’s just controlling the game and taking his shots when he has [them]. … I just look for him to be consistent on both ends of the floor and I expect him to come out and play hard every single day and he’s done that. I think the situation he was in here [in Memphis] he’s probably learned from it and is a better player for it.”
- Conley will miss tonight’s game with flu-like symptoms. That will allow Bayless to make his first start of the season. He is averaging 7.3 points and 2.7 assists as a reserve.
- Davis said he likely won’t be able to go small against the Grizzlies because of the their frontline of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Rudy Gay. Scott said he couldn’t afford to have a matchup that featured 6-6 Alonzo Gee trying to guard Randolph. Instead, he will use his normal rotations.
– By Marlon W. Morgan
