NBA Sundays preview: Memphis Grizzlies vs Phoenix Suns

Former NBA coach Neal Meyer takes a look at Sunday's big game

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Another exciting game lined up for Sunday as the Phoenix Suns take on the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum in Memphis in a battle between two Western Conference teams jostling for NBA Playoffs spots. While the Memphis Grizzlies seem to be headed in the right direction after a difficult start to November, the Phoenix Suns currently sit one place off the NBA Playoffs and will be hoping for a win to help push their season forward.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies are once again proving to be a solid team and are sat near the top of the Western Conference. In fact, after a rocky first half of November, with five defeats in six games, the Grizzlies are now looking more confident winning seven of their last 10 games. Qualifying for the NBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive year seems to be an achievable feat for Memphis.

Player to Watch: Mike Conley Jr. – Now 28, Conley Jr. is in his ninth season in Memphis. His offensive contribution is fundamental to the team and is the second leading scorer after All-Star Marc Gasol. Crucially though, Conley Jr. does a lot more than scoring. He’s also a strong defender, a great passer and a veteran point guard who does a brilliant job setting up the Memphis Grizzlies offence.

Phoenix Suns

After a promising pre-season, including a victory over Championship hopefuls the San Antonio Spurs, the Phoenix Suns’ first month of the new season has been marked by ups and downs. With only two victories out of seven games in the second half of November, the Suns are now sitting in the middle of the tough Western Conference. Although qualifying for the Playoffs is not going to be an easy task for the Suns, if they play their cards right, they might well clinch a spot for the first time in five years.

Player to Watch: Eric Bledsoe – The 25 year-old is on his way to having the best season of his career. His explosiveness and aggression make him a prolific scorer, who has been able to average more than 20 points per game so far. He forms part of an exciting young backcourt with Brandon Knight and together the duo cause big problems for opposition defences.

Who wins? Tweet your prediction using #NBASUNDAYS

NBA Sundays on BT Sport 1 – a live NBA game every Sunday at 8:30pm. This week on 6 December the Memphis Grizzlies will host the Phoenix Suns on BT Sport 1

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NEAL MEYER'S NBA CV

October 94 - August 95 - San Antonio Spurs - Assistant Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 95 - July 97 - Denver Nuggets - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

August 97 - August 00 - Portland Trail Blazers - Video Coordinator & Camp Director, Basketball Operations

September 00 - July 02 - Portland Trail Blazers - Assistant Coach & Scout, Basketball Operations

October 02 - April 03 - Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors - Regional Advance Scout

August 03 - June 09 - Los Angeles Clippers - Assistant Coach & Director of Player Development, Basketball Operations

September 09 - October 10 - Cleveland Cavaliers - Video Coordinator/Coach, Basketball Operations

October 10 - present - Senior Director for the NBA's Basketball Operations across Europe, Middle East and Africa