Celtics Look to Impress a National Audience on Wednesday Night

The Boston Celtics will look to show off in front of a national audience on Wednesday night

The Boston Celtics will take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night in a game that will air on ESPN. The Celtics were soundly defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night, in a game where the Celtics held an 18-point lead before allowing the Cavs to storm back and take over the game when the Celtics lost focus on defense.

The Grizzlies meanwhile were defeated by the lottery bound Phoenix Suns by a final score 109-100 on Sunday. However, they bounced back with an impressive win on Monday when they defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite the fact that they were missing four starters due to injury as Mike Conley, Chris Anderson, Zach Randolph, and Matt Barnes missed Monday’s game.

The Grizzlies are going to be without Mike Conley who is still suffering from a sore right foot.

Conley, who is leading the Grizzlies in both points and assists, is going to be replaced by Mario Chalmers in the starting lineup. Despite the loss of their star point guard, the Celtics should not underestimate the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies are currently fifth in a extremely completive Western Conference and are an impressive 8-3 since Marc Gasol‘s season ending injury. Players like Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, and Matt Barnes will continue to play tough defense and compete no matter the circumstances. The Celtics learned this lesson the hard way back in January when the Grizzlies came back from a 21-point deficit.

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The Celtics on the other hand will continue to be without Kelly Olynyk, although he was reevaluated and started practicing again on Monday. It is, however, unlikely he will play on Wednesday night. In addition, starting power forward Jared Sullinger is questionable to play due an skin infection. If Sullinger is unable to play, Tyler Zeller’s role could increase, as size upfront may prove valuable against Memphis’s physically imposing front court.

One matchup Celtics’ fans should keep an eye on is the Celtics big men vs. Zach Randolph. Randolph, who scored 25 points and grabbed 13 boards against the Celtics in January, will be to go guy for the Grizzlies tonight due to Mike Conley’s injury. The Celtics will have to keep “ZBO” from getting good low post position and force him to take tough shots to slow the Grizzlies’ attack.

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Also, the Celtics should not sleep on the Grizzlies guards. Former Celtic Tony Allen lit up the Cavs for 26 points on Monday night and Mario Chalmers has played extremely well since joining the Grizzlies in a trade in early November.

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