In this Western conference where each poster smells of powder and is likely to give birth to a surprising result, there is no doubt that the confrontation between the franchises of LeBron James and Ja Morant makes more than one salivate. A clash of extremes, between a large and a small market.
Back in the playoffs after a year’s absence, the Lakers are dressed in the costume of outsiders, they who have just come out of a laborious play-in match, won against Wolves. The essentials have been acquired, but the visual impression left on Tuesday clearly did not reassure the most skeptical, who are still waiting to see Los Angeles to compete with a cador, and to perform, despite being the best team in the West since the All-Star Break.
Still, home advantage in this series belongs to Memphis. Backed by a new regular season with over 60% wins and an almost impregnable fortress, the young and reckless Grizzlies come forward as favorites on paper, despite damaging injuries on the inside to challenge Anthony Davis. To see if their passion, coupled with the lessons learned from their failures in the last two playoffs, will be right for the Californian experience, symbolized obviously by LeBron James.
PRESENTATION OF THE GRIZZLIES
Holders: J. Morant, D. Bane, D. Brooks, X. Tillman Sr, J. Jackson Jr
The substitutes: Ty. Jones, L. Kennard, J. Konchar, Z. Williams, S. Aldama, D. Roddy, J. LaRavia, K. Lofton Jr.
Absent : S. Adams, B. Clarke
The coach: T.Jenkins
Even if the absences of Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke will undoubtedly change a lot of things in this 2023 campaign, the Grizzlies remain equipped with a deep and homogeneous group, which will allow Taylor Jenkins to rely on a solid rotation of 9 /10 players. Inside, it may not be as solid as usual, leaving the “small-ball” option on the table, but the All-Star Morant/Jackson Jr tandem, supported by the potential X-factors that are Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks, must be able to hide the weaknesses of the team and allow it to cross, as a year ago, the milestone of the first round.
STRONG POINTS
– A defense that fuels the attack. Very aggressive, with the activity of Jaren Jackson Jr, Dillon Brooks or Desmond Bane which generates counterattacks and interceptions, the Grizzlies take advantage of their defensive base looking like a launching pad to project themselves quickly in counter-attack, in the wake of Ja Dying of course. A Ja Morant relayed effectively by Tyus Jones, who constantly dictates the tempo without failing to attack the circle to the limit either. What make Memphis dangerous both in transition and in the paint, but also with its shooters, because it is one of the best balanced teams in the country.
– A FedEx Forum hard to take. Home-field advantage is likely to come into its own in this series, as the Grizzlies have the league’s best record at home: 35 wins in 41 games! Suffice to say that winning in Tennessee, in front of the boiling public of Memphis, is not given to just anyone and we can thus expect that the room reserves a “warm” welcome to LeBron James and his teammates. With Dillon Brooks who will not fail, either, to heat his fans and fuel their hostility…
WEAK POINTS
– A weakened racket. Without Steven Adams or Brandon Clarke, the Grizzlies find themselves weakened in the paint, since Jaren Jackson Jr. will have to hold the interior sector of his team in the company of Xavier Tillman Sr and Santi Aldama, even rookies David Roddy, Jake LaRavia and Kenneth Lofton Jr. Not optimal, when you know that Anthony Davis stands on the road to Memphis and that Taylor Jenkins’ men have, thanks to the Adams / Clarke duo, imposed themselves among the best formations in the league in rebounding – offensive or defensive – and in the racket.
– The 3-dot address. Less comfortable on placed play than on the counterattack, but dependent on their ability to dominate in the paint, the Grizzlies will nevertheless need to be more successful behind the arc to go far in the playoffs, they who shoot 35% in this area since the start of the season. The arrival of Luke Kennard, to support Desmond Bane, has helped in this sense since the “trade deadline”, but it will take profiles like Dillon Brooks, Santi Aldama, Ziaire Williams, John Konchar or of course Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. do better in the exercise to raise the collective ceiling of Memphis.
PRESENTATION OF THE LAKERS
Holders: D. Russell, A. Reaves, L. James, J. Vanderbilt, A. Davis.
The substitutes: D. Schröder, Ma. Beasley, L. Walker IV, T. Brown Jr, R. Hachimura, W. Gabriel, M. Bamba, T. Thompson
Absent :/
The coach: D.Ham
Truncated by the injuries of each other, the Lakers season was however saved by the exchanges made along the way, which notably made it possible to obtain D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt or even Rui Hachimura. What surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with profiles more complementary to their game than were the Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and other Thomas Bryant. If we add the outbreak of Austin Reaves, one wonders if the workforce of Los Angeles has never been so well armed since the title in the “bubble” of Orlando, or squarely under the era -James…
STRONG POINTS
– The dynamic. Thanks to the work and audacity of Rob Pelinka, the Lakers have reversed a badly embarked situation from the “trade deadline”. So much so that they have established themselves as the best team in the Western Conference after the All-Star Break, while LeBron James has yet missed a month of competition. With effective defense and rising 3-point skill, the Californians have kicked off their season in earnest and they stand as the scarecrows of this table as they continue to be led by two of the top 10/15 players in the league, themselves supported by a fine army of “role players”.
– An interior sector provided. Unlike the Grizzlies, we can say that the Lakers are not to be pitied in the racket, with Anthony Davis of course, supported by soldiers with various profiles like Jarred Vanderbilt, Mo Bamba, Wenyen Gabriel and newcomer Tristan Thompson , without forgetting LeBron James and Rui Hachimura in a more “small-ball” configuration. Enough to allow Los Angeles to calmly consider the battles in the paint, generally bitter and decisive at this stage of the competition.
WEAK POINTS
– A fluctuating 3-point address. The arrivals of D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley have certainly brought them more danger behind the arc, but the Lakers are still capable of experiencing serious air pockets in this area, which obviously does not benefit their game which has need space, to let LeBron James and Anthony Davis maneuver properly. Since the All-Star Break, Los Angeles has shot 37% from afar (for 12 baskets), against 34% before (for 10 baskets). In progress therefore, but not yet at the level of the best teams in the league.
– Health. Since the establishment of their association LeBron James – Anthony Davis, the Lakers have won a title, failed in the playoffs when Davis was injured, then missed the playoffs when the physical glitches of LeBron and Davis have (re) surfaced. In full, we could therefore say that they have not yet found a stronger than them and, if they want to go far this year, they will have to hope that their major duo remains at 100% or, at least, on both legs long enough. Not impossible, but not guaranteed for all that, for these fragile profiles…
THE KEY TO THE SERIES
– The Battle of the Paint. Called to spend a lot of time facing each other at post 5, Anthony Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr. risk having the keys to this series, because whoever takes the lead in this duel will already offer a good benefit to his team. Still, “JJJ” will have to start by avoiding being confronted with foul problems so as not to leave Memphis even more helpless under the circle, while “AD” will have no choice but to be irreproachable on both sides. of the field so as not to weigh down the chances of Los Angeles. A great fight in perspective, between two of the most complete interiors of the moment.
REGULAR SEASON
Los Angeles 2-1
– January 20: Los Angeles –Memphis (122-121)
– February 28: Memphis – Los Angeles (121-109)
– March 7: Los Angeles –Memphis (112-103)
VERDICT
Very difficult to predict the outcome of this series, already because Memphis has the advantage of the field and collective guarantees, then because Los Angeles is surfing on a positive dynamic and relies on LeBron James and Anthony Davis in its ranks. Many have been crying “upset” since this poster became known, but let’s not sell the Grizzlies skin too soon.
Certainly diminished in the racket, Ja Morant’s teammates have been used to playing together for months and the machine is therefore not oiled from yesterday. Their canes of fire and their recklessness risk doing damage against a Californian formation which, like its leader, is not the most comfortable when it multiplies the races. Especially since one wonders who will be responsible for slowing down the elusive Morant.
For Los Angeles, qualification will undoubtedly go through a total “alignment of the planets”, that is to say a LeBron James – Anthony Davis duo on both legs for seven games, maximum control of the rhythm of the series and Davis’ XXL performance against the opponent’s racquet. Not impossible, but far from obvious, as the Tennessee players seem to us to have a little more room for error than the “Purple & Gold” currently. Especially with four meetings scheduled at home.
Memphis 4-3
CALENDAR
Game 1: in Memphis, Sunday, April 16 (9:00 p.m.)
Game 2: in Memphis, Wednesday April 19 (1:30 a.m., Wednesday night to Thursday).
Game 3: in Los Angeles, Saturday April 22 (04:00, on the night of Saturday to Sunday).
Game 4: in Los Angeles, Monday April 24 (to be determined, on the night of Monday to Tuesday).
Game 5*: in Memphis, Wednesday April 26 (to be determined, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday).
Game 6*: in Los Angeles, Friday April 28 (to be determined, on the night of Friday to Saturday).
Game 7*: in Memphis, Sunday April 30 (to be determined, on the night of Sunday to Monday).
* If necessary.
