After Sunday's hard-fought win at FedExForum, the Grizzlies (25-18) play nine of the next 11 games on the road. And when they step on the court Tuesday night at Sacramento, forward Zach Randolph will be back in the starting lineup.
Randolph, who returned to action Friday after being out since Jan. 1 with a torn medial collateral ligament, has averaged 19 points and 9.0 rebounds off the bench the last two games.
"We're going to start Zach on Tuesday, and Mareese Speights (who had been the starting power forward) will back up Marc (Gasol)," Griz coach Lionel Hollins said. "Zach plays a totally different game than what we've been playing, but we need Zach's style."
Hollins said he told his team to "bear with me, there's some experimental things we'll be trying."
"It's not the chemistry as much as it is the synergy of how much you play Zach. How much do you go to Zach? What do you do with the guys that have been carrying us?" Hollins said. "It's part of the game."
Center Marc Gasol thinks Randolph will fit right in.
"I know where he's going to be, and Mike (Conley) and all the guys know where he's going to be," Gasol said. "You know he's going to be on the block, going for the offensive rebound. He passes the ball; he's really unselfish. Playing together shouldn't be an issue. We have to carry it to the road. On the road, you've really got to bring it.
