Serial number two ball for the Lakerswho have the opportunity to reach the conference semi-finals in the event of a victory over the Grizzlies. Except that, unlike Wednesday evening, it is no longer outside but at home that the “Purple & Gold” have the opportunity to complete this first round.
Very quickly, we felt that Los Angeles was not there to give hope Memphis in this Game 6, both the teammates of D’Angelo Russell (31 points), LeBron James (22 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) and Anthony Davis (16 points, 14 rebounds, 5 blocks) dominated the debates and imposed their law on those of Ja Morant.
On arrival, this gives a success in the very large widths (125-85) for the Californians, but above all a ticket for the second round! Incidentally, this is only the second time after Spurs in 2010 that a #7 seed has knocked out a #2 seed in the best of seven games…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— An end-to-end demo for Los Angeles. It only took three quarters – if not two and a half – for the Lakers to submit Memphis and qualify for the next round. Revanchists after their defeat in Game 5, Darvin Ham’s men started timidly, before accelerating with an impermeable defense and the scoring of D’Angelo Russell, then driving the point home with a most serious and applied collective, end to end. In what is arguably the Purple & Gold’s best game this season…
— Memphis impaled on Anthony Davis. Defensively, the Lakers’ interior series was worthy of what a Defender of the Year can offer and this Game 6 is undoubtedly the perfect illustration of his dominance in defense. Unplayable near the circle, he thus attracted, deflected and modified the trajectory of a flurry of shots from the Grizzlies. The latter kept coming his way in the racket and Davis continued to sicken them, almost single-handedly derailing the entire Tennessee franchise offense. A literally suffocating performance on his part, therefore.
— LeBron James doesn’t miss two chances. With a record of now 40 wins and 12 losses in games where he has the opportunity to conclude a series, the “King” is not one to miss when he can finish an opponent. Even less at home, because he is now 16-3 in his career and because he hasn’t lost since April 2008, or even less when he already misses once, because that hasn’t happened to him again. losing two consecutive closeout games since his first playoff campaign in 2006.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ D’Angelo Russell. And if “D-Lo” had been internally motivated by the presence in the stands of Kyrie Irving, often linked to the Lakers in recent months? Not impossible, because he simply had his best career playoff game! Quickly inspired by shooting and scoring, the leader of Los Angeles launched his team in the first quarter, before allowing him to take off definitively on the return from the locker room with his multiple 3-point baskets. A performance of choice, just to leave behind his failure of a year ago, against these same Grizzlies.
⛔ Memphis. Difficult to retain a player more than another Grizzlies side, as the failure was collective. From Ja Morant to Jaren Jackson Jr, via Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks or Xavier Tillman Sr, without forgetting Tyus Jones off the bench, it was all the major elements of Taylor Jenkins’ rotation that collapsed at the worst time. Nothing to remember, everything to throw away.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
