- LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
- Darrell Arthur is set to make his return tonight.
A big one tonight at FedExForum as the new-look Lakers, in their third game under new head coach Mike D’Antoni, face a Grizzlies team coming off a three-game Thanksgiving break. Hopefully, unlike myself, the home team won’t be plagued by a sluggish turkey-and-dressing hangover tonight.
Three things I’m thinking about in advance of Grizzlies-Lakers:
1. Doppelganger Lineups: In a league going smaller, the Grizzlies and the Lakers are the two contenders most reliant on traditional, post-oriented lineups. But the similarity in the starting lineup construction of these two teams is even more profound than that:
Pure Point Guard — Steve Nash vs. Mike Conley
Big, Dynamic Wing Scorer — Kobe Bryant vs. Rudy Gay
Crazy, Colorful Wing Defender — Metta World Peace vs. Tony Allen
Rebounding Machine — Dwight Howard vs. Zach Randolph
Post Playmaking Seven-Footer Named Gasol — Pau Gasol vs. Marc Gasol
The match-ups in this one will be fascinating. Marc Gasol trying to neutralize Howard in the battle of the league’s two best true centers. Or Marc matching up with big brother Pau, which we might see some, especially if Howard is out of the game. Randolph and Pau, who have very different games but are, arguably, the Two Greatest Grizzlies. The cross matches on the wing, where Tony Allen guarding Kobe Bryant is reason enough to be in the building and Rudy Gay responding to the brute physicality of World Peace (these jokes will never get old) could be a key to the game.
