Tim's Preview: Game 3, Memphis  Grizzlies

Even Grizz does not think that his team has a chance tomorrow night against the Timberwolves.

Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (1-1) at the FedEx Forum

Thanks to the Wolves, the deer population in greater Minnesota has been reduced by at least a dozen. I don't know about the rest of you, but I am as excited about the Wolves as I have been since Kevin Garnett was here. We have scorers, athletes, rebounders and shot blockers. We have guys who compete hard on every play. Maybe that shouldn't be noteworthy, but given what has happened the past few years, it certainly is.

Next up is our first road game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is known for many things. The Civil Rights Movement. Fantastic barbecue. Jerry "The King" Lawler. Judge Joe Brown.

Memphis is also known for being the birthplace and/or home of many of this country's great musicians, such as Elvis Presley and B.B. King. Since the Wolves are finally starting to get in tune, I figured that it would be a great time for musical version of Tim's Game Preview.

Marc Gasol vs. Darko Milicic

After being traded to Memphis for his brother Pau Gasol - and watching his older brother win two consecutive NBA titles - Marc has spent the past two years fighting for great post position, only to watch (Rudy Gay / O.J. Mayo / Zach Randolph / Grizzlies Player X) take low percentage, contested jump shots.

Poor Marc has to be feeling lonely. He has to be feeling used. He has to be wondering what it would've been like if the Lakers had not included him in their trade and he was starting for the injured Andrew Bynum out in Los Angeles.

He also has to be wondering how many of his shots are going to be stuffed by Darko Milicic on Saturday night. The block is a lonely place to be when all you've got is time, a team shooting percentage under 30% and a negative turnover-to-assist ratio..

Winner: Darko Milicic

Darrell Arthur vs. Kevin Love

(Note: Zach Randolph is likely to miss Saturday's game with an injury, and thus ruining the opportunity to play "Jailhouse Rock". Oh well.)

Wasted time defines Darrell Arthur's career. He was wasting time when he got busted at NBA Rookie Orientation (Michael Beasley was only there to plead with Arthur to lay off of the pot). GMs were wasting time when they scouted Arthur, so much so that he was traded about seven times before draft night ended. Now, he's wasting time that the Grizzlies could be giving to other, better players and I'm wasting time writing about Darrell Arthur.

In the meantime, I should be writing about Kevin Love. Despite the fact that his shot does not seem to be falling, Love was a game high +19 against Milwaukee and had a ridiculous 16 rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Those are All-Star worthy numbers, folks, and it is because Love does anything but waste time on the basketball court. He's hustling every second he is out there this year.

Winner: Kevin Love

Rudy Gay vs. Michael Beasley

Now that Rudy Gay is being paid like a superstar player - $82 million over 5 years - Gay needs to start producing like a superstar player. Sure, the man can score the basketball. He had 21 points in each of his first two games against Atlanta and Dallas, while also grabbing 9 rebounds per game over those two contests. But can he be a leader on this team? Can he get the Grizzlies to the playoffs? Is he even an All-Star caliber player in the Western Conference?

Our own Michael Beasley also scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds last game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Do you know what Mr. Beasley is getting paid this season? Less than $5 million. And while nobody is crying for Be Easy's pocketbook, I'd take him as a player over Rudy Gay and use the extra millions of dollars to upgrade the Target Center concessions. I mean, it's almost 2011 and the majority of your food stands don't take credit cards? What's that about?

With $82 million, Rudy Gay could buy a whole lot of barbecue, whether it comes from the Target Center food stands or from a restaurant in Tennessee. Tomorrow night, however, I think Gay's going to have an upset stomach from a steady diet of Skittles all night long.

Winner: Michael Beasley

O.J. Mayo vs. Wayne Ellington

O.J. Mayo is a fly guy. He comes from the University of Southern California, and although he was born in Kentucky, Mayo clearly has Hollywood in his veins. While he was still in high school, players like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony would routinely watch his games. Mayo also "flew" through college thanks to guys like Rodney Guillory, Leon Rose and others who violated NCAA rules while Mayo was at USC.

Mayo, however, did finish as runner-up for the 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year award, and although his numbers slipped last season, he remains one of the brightest and flyest young shooting guards in this league. Unfortunately for him, there are few people in Minnesota who still believe that the Wolves did not get the best of that draft night trade for Kevin Love.

The Timberwolves are going to stay "fly" in their own way thanks to Wayne Ellington, Wesley Johnson and Corey Brewer who are already soaring above the rim and making their own highlight plays at the wing spots. Mayo is going to have a difficult time staying in front of these guys or contesting their jump shots.

Winner: Wayne Ellington

Mike Conley vs. Luke Ridnour

Mike Conley was a nice prospect coming out of Ohio State, but no one is quite sure how or where he fits with this Memphis team. There were rumors in the offseason that he might not fit in at all and that his departure would be forthcoming. Conley is not a great shooter, he is not a great athlete and he is not a great playmaker, often leaving the Grizzlies without any rhythm at all. 

It is yet to be seen whether he is good enough to be a starting point guard on an NBA team. Luke Ridnour - who has already secured his spot as the best point guard of the post-KG era of Timberwolves' basketball until Ricky Rubio comes over or Jonny Flynn improves quite a bit - is going to have his way with Conley tomorrow night at the FedEx Forum.

In order for Conley to overcome the blues, he needs to get rhythm. Unfortunately, he's only going to get a big fat loss instead, courtesy of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Winner: Luke Ridnour

The Grizzlies will certainly be feeling the Memphis blues after tomorrow night, when the Wolves' will continue their winning streak. There's a saying that "they don't play the games on paper", but play this game on whatever surface you'd like, the Timberwolves are going to be victorious and it will not be close. 

My prediction: Timberwolves 94 - Memphis 78

2-1, 79 games to go until the playoffs.