Series preview: Grizzlies, Lakers renew budding rivalry

Do the Lakers have enough to slow Ja Morant and the No. 2 seed Grizzlies?

Spicy awaits as the resurgent, veteran-laden Lakers take on a young and brash (yet experienced) Memphis team that has no fear of LeBron James and the 2020 NBA champions.

I wouldn’t want to play LeBron in a seven-game series, Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks said Tuesday. [Its his] for the first time in the playoffs [since 2021]. Clear him immediately. They test us well. They have good songs, good players. It will be a good first round matchup for us.

NBA fans certainly won’t complain about this juicy opening round.

If you recall, the first signs of a spirited, budding rivalry between these teams appeared in January 2022, when Memphis guard Desmond Bane and James tangled. a little quarrel which quickly went viral.

We got where we got to be on the court,” Bane told NBA.com at the time.

The Grizzlies left the floor that night with their third straight win against the Lakers. But LA captured the next two of three in the series, including a 122-121 win on Jan. 20 that was marred by a heated situation involving Hall of Fame football player Shannon Sharpe, Brooks, Ja Morant and his father, Tee.

Regular season results:

January 20: Lakers 122, Grizzlies 121
February 28: Grizzlies 121, Lakers 109
March 7: Lakers 112, Grizzlies 103

3 things to watch

1. Brooks vs. James. For all of Brooks’ supposed antics, teams would love to have a player as competitive as the longest-tenured Grizzly. Brooks guarded James once in the three meetings between these teams during the regular season, as the latter only played in one of the contests. Brooks limited the four-time MVP to 8-of-21 shooting for 23 points and told everyone about it. I just made him leave the whole game,” Brooks said afterward. I have to play physical with him, keep hitting him and not let him take easy shots.

2. Depth. The Lakers improved in that department before the trade deadline, adding a pair of new starters in DAngelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt along with supportive backups Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley. Those reinforcements will be tested against the Grizzlies’ second unit, led by quality reserves Tyus Jones and Luke Kennard, who has shot 54% from 3-point range in 24 games since being dealt to Memphis in February. The Grizzlies are stretched thin in the frontcourt, forcing Santi Aldama to play more minutes with Brandon Clarke (Achilles) out for the season and Steven Adams (knee) reportedly out for the playoffs. Quality minutes from the reserves will factor into this series.

3. Anthony Davis. With the Grizzlies giving James extra attention, Davis will have to shoulder the bulk of the offensive workload. Conversely, Memphis will have a difficult task dealing with Davis, who has been 50% or better from the floor in five of his last six games against the Grizzlies. In 35 career games against Memphis, Davis has averaged 22.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game. Its expected Xavier Tillman will get the first crack at guarding Davis, and Kia Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. will serve as a backup at times. In the last meeting between these teams in March, Davis was unstoppable, scoring 30 points and grabbing a season-high 22 rebounds. Staying out of foul trouble is key for Jackson.

The X-Factor

Jaren Jackson Jr. looks to bring late-season offensive momentum into a first-round matchup against the Lakers.

Years Jackson Jr. He figures prominently in Memphis’ rebounding and defensive schemes, especially in Adams’ absence. But Jackson opens up the Grizzlies offense when he aggressively gets to his sweet spots on the floor. Jackson scored 31 points or more in three of his last four regular season games. When he’s aggressive, defenders have to respect him, just like Ja Morant, who finished ninth in scoring this season after leading the league in that stat in 2021-22. The threat of Jackson and Morant inside leads to solid looks for drop shooters like Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard. Pick your poison.

The number in the record

23.4 – The Lakers allowed 23.4 transition points per game, which is the fourth most in the regular season. LA ranked 12th in defense and they were third on that end of the floor (110.9 points allowed per 100 possessions) as they went 18-9 after the trade day. But this defense wasn’t great in transition, which could be a problem against this opponent.

With Desmond Bane (6.6) and Ja Morant (6.1) ranking fifth and seventh among individuals, the Grizzlies finished second with 25.8 transition points per game. Overall, Memphis took a step back offensively this season (ranked 11th after finishing fourth last season), but remained strong at the break.

LA won two of three regular season meetings. In their two losses (one without Morant), the Grizzlies totaled 17 fast break points. They had 33 in their February 28 win.

– John Schuhman

Selection

Los Angeles has a good chance given its talent and experience given the Grizzlies’ relative youth. And it’s always wise to bet against James. But now it’s Memphis time. This young, hungry team has gone a little further in each of their last two postseason berths and learned valuable lessons along the way to this streak. Grizzlies in year 6.