Grizzlies' Zach Randolph has torn MCL

Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph has a torn MCL and is said to miss at least six to eight weeks.

If the Grizzlies hope to build off their momentum from their strong playoff run last season, they will need to do it without the help of Randolph and his 14.8 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He tore his MCL in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' 104-64 loss at Chicago as he knocked knees with teammate O.J. Mayo.

The Grizzlies have been 1-1 since Randolph has been injured with the loss at Chicago and the win against Sacramento on Tuesday night. With the absence of Randolph's strong presence offensively and defensively, the team has looked upon center Marc Gasol and guard Rudy Gay to help lead the team.

Gay has been plagued with a shoulder injury since the last three months of last season and is still in the process of recovering to his full potential. He leads the team with 15.2 ppg, but is still in a shooting slump making only 6 of 23 shots in the past two games before performing well against Sacramento scoring 23 points on 10 of 16 shooting.

"This is a great opportunity for a team to show their character, show what their made of, show their mental toughness because I don't think you can have success or growth without some kind of adversity," Head coach Lionel Hollins said.