MEMPHIS – Ja Morant had no time for the nonsense.
How locked in are the Grizzlies for Game 1 of their opening-round playoff series against the Lakers on Sunday at FedExForum?
So much so, that Morant refused to respond to a relatively innocuous question about LeBron James’ level of greatness in the NBA playoffs. Morant would not be thrown off his focus, nor did he intend to have his comments thrown onto the headlines or bulletin boards.
“That sounds like click-bait to me,” Morant shot back. “So, I’m just going to be quiet on that.”
The Grizzlies have all the attention they need right now as they take on surefire Hall of Famers in James, Anthony Davis and the high-profile Lakers. Despite Memphis owning the No. 2 seed and homecourt advantage over the No. 7-seeded Lakers, this series is projected as arguably the most evenly matched clash in the first round of the playoffs.
The Lakers won two of the three regular-season meetings between the teams. But none of those matchups were played with both James and Davis available for the Lakers and Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. on the court for the Grizzlies.
So, when the series opens Sunday, they’ll essentially face one another for the first time. And both teams have gained their stride entering the playoffs.
The Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference for the second consecutive season, and look to advance on last season’s second-round series loss to eventual champion Golden State. The Lakers underwent a supporting cast makeover at the February trade deadline and have since posted the NBA’s second-best record over the last two months.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. “They made changes in the middle of the season to improve the team. LeBron and (Davis) are playing at elite levels. Trying to figure that out is going to be interesting. It’s going to be a great matchup.”
Although the national spotlight will be fixated on this series because of the marquee names, don’t expect any stargazing from the Grizzlies. Their sights are set on their ultimate goal down the line, but the immediate priority is taking care of business in Game 1.
“It sets an example for us and sends a message that we’re ready,” Morant said of the mindset entering Sunday. “We’re trying to get to the Finals and win it. But we’re locked in on right now. You can tell with the way practice has been going, how we’ve been in films study. We’re ready.”
So how do the Grizzlies get it done and unlock this series against the vaunted Lakers?
Here are my Grind City Media 5 paths to a first-round playoff victory.
1. CLOSE STRONG
Let’s start with the finish in mind. In a matchup of teams where the margin for error will be minuscule, it’s critical for the Grizzlies to close strong. Powered by James and Davis, the Lakers led the NBA in fourth-quarter production this season, averaging 29.6 points on nearly 50-percent field goal shooting and nine free-throw attempts in the final period of games.
With the Grizzlies ranked 27th in the league in fourth quarter scoring, no greater disparity between these foes exists in the NBA statistical rankings than in this category. The Lakers have outscored Memphis by plus-13 in the fourth quarter over three regular-season matchups, including a 41-point outburst to rally for a Jan. 20 victory.
2. DISRUPT, DICTATE TEMPO
The Grizzlies thrive when they activate their jetpacks, push the pace, and get out in transition. No team does this better or – just ask Morant – more emphatically than Memphis. The Grizzlies lead the NBA in fastbreak scoring at 18 points a game, which set a franchise record, is tops in the West and second overall. Memphis forced the Lakers into 51 turnovers in three games.
When you’re scoring on the break, it typically means you’re converting in the paint. In the Feb. 28 game the Grizzlies won, Memphis scored a whopping 86 points in the paint, which included a 33-15 edge in transition and a 41-9 advantage in points off turnovers. These teams inflict damage in the paint differently, but the Grizzlies must get it done their way, at their pace.
3. LIMIT THE WHISTLES
Although the Lakers went through a midseason roster transformation around James and Davis, one constant that remained was their ability to get to the free-throw line. The first step toward beating the Lakers is to approach them with something less than a foul mood. The Lakers take more free throws than any team in the league, leading the way at almost 27 attempts a game.
Not only does that lead to extra scoring opportunities, there’s also a punitive nature to the Lakers shoving opponents deeper into foul trouble. James and Davis are ‘and-1’ machines, and the Grizzlies can’t afford Jackson getting into early foul trouble amid limited frontcourt depth. The physicality of these teams will define this series, but Memphis must defend with discipline.
4. JA BE JA
The most dominant potential force in this series isn’t either of the sure-fire Hall of Famers wearing purple in gold jerseys. It’s No. 12 in Grizzlies gear. Morant is the one player in this series that the opposing team simply has zero answers for when he’s on his game. Morant can get anywhere he wants, any time he wants. Said Lakers coach Darvin Ham: “He’s a monster.”
Ham’s praise came after Morant’s 39-point triple-double earlier this season against the Lakers. The Grizzlies need Morant’s downhill attacking off pick-and-rolls and paint scoring. But his playmaking to set up shooters Luke Kennard, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama and Jackson will be critical if he’s consistent. Ja being Ja means unlocking the Grizzlies full arsenal.
- TAKE CARE OF HOME
The Grizzlies have home-court advantage as the No. 2 seed because they’ve been historically dominant at home this season. They’ve posted a franchise-record and NBA-best 35-6 mark at FedExForum, where four of the seven games this series will be played. Simply put: win the home games and you win the series. Ideally, Memphis will want to get it done before Game 7.
The three-game regular season series went the other way, with the Lakers hosting – and winning – the two games played in L.A. There’s been a stark difference in the Grizzlies at home and on the road. To reach their ultimate goals this postseason, the Grizzlies must find some success on the road. But for now in this series, all they must do is protect the home court.