Grizzlies’ ‘Grit ‘N Grind’ formula still can work

The Memphis Grizzlies' front office spent this offseason preaching three overarching principles in explaining their plan to return to the playoffs.

Defense, depth and the return of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley.

All of them were vital Monday night during the Grizzlies’ slugfest of a win over the Utah Jazz, and it’s what made

the result so reassuring. Five days after being embarrassed to open the regular season at Indiana, Memphis watched Gasol (18 points, 13 rebounds) and Conley (23 points, including 9 in the fourth quarter) deliver vintage performances.

The new faces surrounding them, meanwhile, rediscovered the grinding and gritty identity the fan base embraced during seven straight postseason appearances earlier this decade.

Success this year is probably more complicated than simply replicating “Grit ‘N Grind,” but the Grizzlies’ second victory in a row suggested it’s a formula that still has a place in today’s NBA.

“This win really showed just a lot of us who we are,” Conley said afterwards.

But what will that mean moving forward?

More will come to light starting Wednesday night, when Memphis concludes

Depth tested

Rookie Jaren Jackson Jr. delivered in his first career start, replacing injured forward JaMychal Green (broken jaw) in the lineup at Utah. He scored 11 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and proved to be an intimidating defensive presence in the lane.

But the Grizzlies might need other reserves to step up against the Kings now that forward Chandler Parsons (knee soreness) and guard Dillon Brooks (foot soreness), the player who replaced Parsons in the starting lineup to begin the second half Monday, are also dealing with injuries.

Their uncertain status could put a bigger spotlight on role players like Kyle Anderson, the team’s big free agent acquisition this offseason, as well as

Getting defensive

After giving up 111 and 117 points in their first two games of the year, the Grizzlies locked down the Jazz and held Utah to just 35.4 percent shooting from the field. Their defense and pace will be tested by Sacramento, which was averaging more than 125 points (and giving up more than 130) heading into its game Tuesday night at Denver.

Kentucky products De’Aaron Fox (20.3 points) and Willie Cauley-Stein (18.7 points), as well as sharpshooter Buddy Hield (17.7 points), all seem to be improved, and the Kings are shooting better than 40 percent from 3-point range.

Memphis has been relying on Garrett

Will Z-Bo play?

The Kings will be playing the second game of a back-to-back against Memphis, and they’re coming off an encouraging 131-120 win over Oklahoma City last Sunday.

This will also be the first of twostraight showcase matchups for Jackson, who will go against Kings’ No. 3 overall draft pick Marvin Bagley III Wednesday night.

But perhaps the most pressing question for longtime Grizzlies’ fans is whether Zach Randolph will play for the Kings. The 37-year-old didn't appear in Sacramento’s first three games.

Will former Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger take Z-Bo out of the garage with his old buddies Gasol and Conley in town?