VICTORY 
Hornets at Grizzlies: What matters in Memphis’ preseason tune-up
By Victory Pulse · Published October 16, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026 · 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT · FedExForum
Memphis hosts Charlotte at FedExForum on Friday in preseason action. The result will attract attention, but our primary questions concern how possessions are organized and how different groups function before the regular season.
Separate useful pace from rushed offense
Watch whether Memphis reaches an advantage before taking the shot. An early attack is useful when the ball and supporting players arrive together. A hurried attempt without rebounding position or defensive balance can simply hand the next possession to the opponent.
Track the possessions between substitutions
Preseason combinations can change quickly. The useful evidence is how well the next group communicates, spaces the floor and closes a defensive possession with a rebound. Those details can reveal more than a short burst of difficult shot-making.
The Victory Pulse view
Judge the performance with the preseason context intact. Rotation experiments and minutes restrictions can shape the game, and confirmed availability should be checked before tipoff. Our focus is the quality of decisions, coordinated defensive possessions and whether Memphis produces repeatable advantages.
Sources & game information
Schedule details checked October 16, 2026. The sections above are Victory Pulse analysis. Times and broadcast information may change.