clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Cavaliers vs. Grizzlies: Start time, TV information and preview

The Cavs are set to take on the Grizzlies in Columbus.

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Cavaliers continue their preseason tour of Ohio tonight, as they are set to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in preseason action at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones may be there, which is kind of cool.

Who: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Memphis Grizzlies

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Schottenstein Center - Columbus, Ohio

Where to watch: Fox Sports Ohio

Enemy blog: Grizzly Bear Blues

Music: Johnny Bye-Bye - Bruce Springsteen

No Kevin Love, although he did practice over the weekend

Love practiced over the weekend, but it doesn't sound like he's going to play tonight vs. the Grizzles or on Tuesday vs. the Bucks. This is good and bad for the Cavs. On one hand, you'd think they'd like to see Love play as much as possible in the preseason in order to get him comfortable and also get any new sets incorporated into the offense.

But there's still two weeks until the regular season starts and Love will have three more games to play if he's out both Monday and Tuesday. All is well that ends well.

The Grizzlies are still grinding, but a little differently

As long as the Grizzles are built around Marc Gasol and start Zach Randolph at power forward, this time is going to grind and be gritty. This is there ethos and what makes them unique in a league that values speed and spacing more than ever. It's also why the Grizzlies, a team that won 55 games last year and would have been the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference if it weren't for a dumb playoff seeding rule, are somewhat overlooked as a contender. They aren't in the class of the Cavs, Warriors or Spurs, but would a Grizzles title run be totally insane?

This year, however, Memphis is tweaking its identity ever so slightly. Tony Allen is going to come off the bench and Dave Joerger is going to start Courtney Lee and Jeff Green on the wing. Green, who was acquired in a deal midway through last year, is the type of player Memphis wouldn't have started before. Through the first few preseason games, he's been more effective playing the Grizzlies bench units and it remains to be seen if Memphis sticks with the lineup tweaks. They are, however, worth looking at.

Roster spot drama

With Dionte Christmas joining the roster, the Cavs' race for the final roster spot is still playing itself out. There are a few different options and with Kyrie Irving hurt, the Cavs could decide to keep two players out of Christmas, Jared Cunningham, Quinn Cook, Austin Daye, D.J. Stephens, Nick Minnerath and Chris Johnson when the season starts. Aside for Love getting some floor time, this is probably the most important storyline to follow over the next two weeks.

Prediction

It's preseason, so, let's go Cavs 97, Grizzlies 95. But who knows.