BOSTON – The Memphis Grizzlies have been playing with a cut-and-paste lineup most of this season due to injuries, and tonight’s game against the Boston Celtics won’t be any different.
Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale announced that starters Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons would both be out.
Conley, the Grizzlies’ franchise leader points scored as well as assists, will be replaced by Andrew Harrison in the starting lineup.
Harrison was in the starting lineup earlier this season when Conley missed games with a lower back injury. In 12 starts this season, Harrison has averaged 8.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
“Andrew carried the load when we didn’t have Mike for that stretch,” Fizdale said. “This is why I have great confidence him.”
Conley is out due to a left toe injury while Parsons not playing is part of the team’s plan to gradually bring him back into the fold after he missed 17 games due to a left knee injury.
And that injury came about he had returned to the lineup after missing the first six games while recovering from surgery to his right knee.
Boston Celtics
The Grizzlies are 6-3 this season with Parsons in the lineup.
“We’re being very cautious with him as we bring him back,” Fizdale said of Parsons. “To try to strengthen him as we go along, we’re going to try and not play him on back-to-backs early on.”
The Grizzlies lost 112-102 at Orlando Monday night, with Parsons playing just over 12 minutes, all in the first half.
“Just to preserve him and really get his legs underneath him and build them up,” Fizdale added.
A reporter jokingly asked Fizdale was there anyone else he wanted to sit tonight.
“Listen man, I gotta put five out there, you know?” replied Fizdale, grinning.