Let’s be very candid for a second: the Grizzlies have to take at least one of the two games in Los Angeles. Otherwise, this series is done. Home court advantage was important not only because the Grizz were 35-6 at home during the regular season but because it is fucking hard to win in LA.
So, what do we have to do to make this happen?
First of all, it should be laughable that we’re sweating at all as the #2 seed against an aging, tired, old #7 (barely) Lakers squad. Somebody needs to wheel out the iron lung for the Lakers, but it’s difficult to say who is going to do this.
After all, such is the double-edged sword of the Grizzlies. On the one hand, we clearly have some of the best young talent and bench depth in the NBA. How else do you explain how well we perform without Ja Morant? But how do you explain how well we perform without Ja Morant?
This is the elephant in the room: aside from his ongoing scandals, we have to truly reflect on the statistical realities of our record without Ja on the floor (both this year and last year). In order for us to win Game 3, Ja needs to play, and he needs to play in a way that works in tandem with the dynamic of the rest of the team.
Easier said than done, right? Especially with Adams and Clarke out, right?
But we already know (or knew) what needs to be done: fast-paced ball with fast-break points that wear the Lakers down, coupled with gritty, grinding defensive effort. Ja has always fit into this program, so it’s just a matter of him making sure that such a record is an anomaly.
They don’t love us? We don’t love them! We say, fuck them!
We still have the Grizzlies winning the series 4-2.
