Game Time

(That's me, # 10, second to left. To my left (your right) is a young Kyle Lowry)


Who: Grizzlies (15-36) @ Sixers (26-24)

What: The Grizzlies are a beaten up bunch, and have their tales between their legs coming to Philly. They have won two in a row, and when you have 15 wins total on the year, that's saying something. However, they have lost six of their last 10, and have lost two important players in the process. Rudy Gay is out with a hip flexor, and will also miss the All-Star Slam Dunk Contest this Saturday. Kyle Lowry, the Philly native and former teammate of mine in high school (name drop!) is out due to an ankle injury. (p.s. Check out my stats!)

As for the Sixers, spirits remain high following a huge win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday. The 108-91 drubbing of a former elite team adds to the big wins for the Sixers and proves they can hang with just about anyone. "[Philly] played well. They definitely came out and raised the intensity," said Suns forward Amare Stoudemire after the Suns were run out of the building. "We fired back, we hung in there. We had a chance in the fourth quarter to fight back and get that win, but we just couldn’t do it."

Where: Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA

When: 7pm (game 51)

Why (The Sixers need this win): If they lose, its a complete letdown. You cant blow out the likes of Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O'Neal and Grant Hill, and then get beaten on your own court by a decimated Grizzlies team struggling to score points. Another win puts the Sixers closer to the vaunted 4th spot in the East, a plateau that is very much reachable. Another victory also gives them that much more confidence at the end of a long home stand. After this, the Sixers hit the road for five of the next six, with their only home game against the Denver Nuggets on February 18. End the seven game home stand on a nice note, boys.

How (The Sixers can win): Shutting down O.J. Mayo. Without Gay, they are missing their prized wingman who poses problems both inside and out. However, Mayo is their only viable offensive weapon at this point. The Grizzlies as a whole manage just over 93 points per game, good for 29th in the NBA (30 teams folks). They are also among the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, so forcing outside shots pretty much assures a win against this downtrodden squad.

The key for the Sixers is keeping spirits high by getting Marreese Speights involved often and keeping the intensity level up. This is a proverbial trap game, and a loss to a medicore team can shatter confidence quickly. Run, run, run, and force the ball outside on defense, and a win should be easily attainable.