MVN: Most Valuable Network

VOTE IGUODALA FOR ALL-STAR

Thanks to my good friend Chip over at 3 Shades of Blue, the preview to tonight's game with the Sixers in Memphis is in good hands.  While the matchups are well documented, how both teams will bounce back from road losses on Friday remains to be seen.  Lou Williams rested his fractured toe injury and the Sixers lost at the Wachovia Center, 101-106, to the Lakers.  Meanwhile, Memphis was getting manhandled by the Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills, eventually losing 67-94.

Pau Gasol returned to the Grizzlies lineup on Friday and posted 10 points and 10 rebounds.  He's been playing rather uninspired ball all season when he hits the court, and with the current team in contension for the lottery rather than the playoffs, you can't blame the Spaniard.  Darko Milicic has been in and out of the lineup, but those two have not formed anything close to the dominant duo that fans thought possible.

Instead, the best big man of late has been Sam Dalembert, who is even playing is way into some all-star consideration.  As far as I'm concerned, that consideration only goes as far as a casual discussion.  Still, it is nice to see Dalembert playing so well after wondering what would become of a season in which the majority of the preseason consisted of resting a stress fracture.

The Memphis-Philly connections run deep, so this is an important game for many.  Lou Williams has some Memphis roots, although it isn't known if he'll play.  The Grizzlies backup point guard, Villanova and Cardinal Dougherty's own Kyle Lowry, has been playing well as of late and is averaging 26 minutes a game.  Those numbers have been going up, while the minutes of starter Damon Stoudamire have been going down from 22 to 18.  Look for more Lowry tonight as well.  Sixers rookie Thaddeus Young also played his high school ball in Memphis.

One more guy with the Memphis-Philly connection is Friends Central's Hakim Warrick.  I would love to pair him with Iguodala in the Sixers frontcourt.  Rudy Gay has established himself as the future for Memphis, while Warrick has been relegated to the bench.  Even the resurgent Stromile Swift has made the most of limited bench duty.  Warrick seems to be the odd man out, while Chip believes that there are plans in the works to continue developing the high-flyer.

Speaking of Rudy Gay though, has anyone noticed that the guy is averaging 20 points per game?  There hasn't been a quieter 20 in the league this year.  With Gay taking on a bigger role, don't forget about sharpshooter Mike Miller.  Andre Iguodala will have his hands full tonight.

It's going to take another big effort from Andre Miller and Dalembert tonight.  After getting blown out in Detroit, the Grizzlies will be anxious to return home to take care of business.  I wonder if the Griz just mailed it in last night and saved themselves for the visiting Sixers?  Both roads meet tonight at the FedEx Forum.  Enjoy the game!

BONUS: Previously on Passion and Pride, Lakers Balance Dooms Sixers in Philly | GAME TIME: History in the making | Pacers Race By Sixers in Indiana | GameThink: “Dear Mr. Answer…” | Why Jim O’Brien is no longer in Philly in just 75 seconds | Memo to Management: Consulting with Larry Brown

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