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Trail Blazers head to Memphis for a daunting task

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Match-up
The Trail Blazers lead the all-time series against the Grizzlies 36-21, boasting an 18-10 record at home.  The teams split their four-game series last season, with the away team winning every game. The Trail Blazers have won their last seven contests in
Memphis, Portland’s longest current road winning streak against any team, and have won nine of the last 11 meetings overall against Memphis.
The Grizzlies scored a season-low 66 points in their 2009 game in Portland, tying the club’s lowest point total since moving to Memphis before the 2001-02 seasons.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers have been plagued by injuries more than any other team in the league this season. With Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla already on the sidelines at the start of the season, their star guard Brandon Roy is also suffering from a severe
knee ailment and is not expected to start against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brandon Roy led Portland against Memphis, with an average of 24.5 points per game, in four games last season. With the star player suffering from a knee ailment, the Portland Trail Blazers will definitely be under strength. However, they will be hoping to
end a recent rough road stretch and improve on their impressive away record against the Grizzlies.
Roy who is the lead scorer this season for the Trail Blazers, with 18.1 points per game, opted not to go for surgery on his persistently sore left knee and is almost certain to miss the next game.
Portland coach Nate McMillan told reporters, "He told me his knee was sore, and he needed to be pulled. He'll be evaluated and we'll wait and see what happens."
Even with Roy playing, the Trail Blazers have surrendered five of their last eight games and will be looking to step up their performance, especially in the first half after being restricted to 35 points in the first 24 minutes against the Hornets in the
last match.
But the Blazers have still got the depth in their ranks, which most other teams yearn for. The team is gifted with enormous talent and back up strength with the likes of Rudy Fernandez, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews and Luke Babbitt.
With the young players carrying the Blazers 6-5 into the season, Portland will be looking to halt their road losing streak and prevail over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies sport a bevy of gifted players including Rudy g*y, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol. Despite the great offensive prowess of the Grizzlies, notching up 104.6 points per game, Memphis is looking down the barrel at
4-6 for the season. The Grizzlies have failed to clog up their defense this season and are languishing in 27th place in the league in terms of points allowed at 107.2.
Memphis came face to face with the two Eastern Conference giants, Boston and Orlando, in their last two games and having lost both will be eager to record a home win to break the losing trend.
Key Players
With Brandon Roy doubtful for the game, all eyes will be on LaMarcus Aldridge. The phenomenal forward has been scoring at an average of 17 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.  He shot 51.1 percent from the field in four games against Memphis last
season, averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Andre Miller is another potential threat to the Grizzlies, as he leads his team in assists (7.6) and is scoring 13.2 points per game. The Grizzlies will have to close him down to put Portland under pressure.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, Zach Randolph is the player to look out for. Zach Randolph led the Memphis charge in four contests against Portland last season with an average of 20.3 points per game.
Rudy g*y who started the season with eight consecutive 20-plus point games, will also play an important role in the match-up. He had an off night against Orlando, scoring only 9 points, but he will be rearing to go against the Trail Blazers.
Verdict
Portland Trail Blazers face an uphill task to turn the tables on the Memphis Grizzlies especially with the absence of Brandon Roy. The Trail Blazers will have to shore up their defense and bring the Grizzlies offense out of their comfort zone to stand a
chance of beating them.
With so much on the line the match is expected to be a cracker.
 

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