Lakers-Grizzlies matchup: Five things to watch

1. Can the Lakers finally correct their road struggles? Sorry for being redundant, but the Lakers have yet to solve a season-long problem. Their 7-14 road record featured two losses last week against Eastern Conference basement-dwellers in Detroit and Washington. Of course, part of the blame pointed to a lack of focus and letting up after holding double-digit leads. Memphis, which has won eight of its last 10 and holds a No. 4 playoff seed, should inspire the Lakers to play with more urgency. But there’s no predicting with this team.

It’s easy to dissect the home-road disparity in total offense (97.3, 91.5), field-goal percentage (48%, 42.7%), assists (23.7, 19). It’s harder to figure out why, beyond the team’s development and initial disparity among quality of opponents. Regardless of the reason, it’s imperative for the Lakers to get off to a good start. They have gone 19-5 when they lead at halftime.

2. The Grizzlies will be without Rudy Gay. Not everyone possesses the same ability to bounce back from injuries that Kobe Bryant has. He passed various agility, baseline and neurological tests and a game of two-on-two within a three-day span after suffering a concussion in the 2012 NBA All-Star game. Gay hasn’t had such luck. The Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Ronald Tillery reported that Gay will sit out against the Lakers after failing to pass baseline tests for two consecutive days after suffering a mild concussion Sunday against Denver.

Though Gay scored 19 points on nine-of-19 shooting in the Lakers’ 90-82 win Jan. 8 against Memphis. Lakers forward Matt Barnes made Gay work hard for his points. Metta World Peace has elevated his defense in the past week, holding both LeBron James and Paul Pierce under 50% shooting. This matchup would’ve given the Lakers a clearer gauge if World Peace’s defense will remain consistent or just show up in big games.

3. Lakers-Grizzlies will be a defensive battle. For the second consecutive game, it might not matter that the Lakers offense often looks ugly. So, too, does Memphis’, which ranks 20th in total offense (94.25), field-goal percentage (44.9%) and assists (19.65). That’s why it’s more likely the Lakers and Grizzlies will play a grind-it-out game. The Lakers’ defense has hinged on the frontline helping out on pick-and-roll drives, World Peace playing lockdown defense and the unit effectively communicating and executing on switches.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ seventh-best defensive unit (92.05) on a 12th-best 43.9% clip centers on everyone staying on their man, disrupting passing lanes and boxing out on every shot. Memphis’ defense also largely carries its offense, thanks to grabbing 10 steals and forcing 17.6 turnovers per game, both league highs. The Lakers were fortunate their 27 turnovers to Memphis in their last game didn’t cost them the win. But given the Lakers’ road struggles, repeating such a formula would likely derail their chances Tuesday night.

4. Pau Gasol vs. Marc Gasol. The timing of Pau’s trip to Memphis presents a few interesting twists. It could mark the last trip Gasol makes in a Laker uniform, though The Times’ Mike Bresnahan reported it’s unlikely the Lakers will trade him before Thursday’s deadline. It also marks just over four years since the Lakers acquired Pau from Memphis. It’s easy to overstate how much his uncertainty with the Lakers has affected Gasol, but he acknowledges it’s often on his mind. Visiting St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Monday and then playing against his brother should help keep his mind off things.

5. Kobe Bryant vs. Tony Allen. It’s presumptuous to think a changing of the guard took place when Bryant suggested Andrew Bynum get a look on the Lakers’ last play Sunday against Boston. But it highlighted Bryant’s increased trust in him. He may need to lean on that trust, if Allen gives Bryant fits. Still, it’s obviously good for Bryant to still look to score. With Allen having a good track record in making Bryant work hard for his points, the Black Mamba punished him the last outing in different ways. His 26 points on 11-for-22 shooting mostly came within his sweet spots on the elbows and on baseline drives. His court vision also proved unmatched with nine assists.

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