Los Angeles Lakers: Breaking down the potential first-round matchups
Los Angeles Lakers: Matchup one – Memphis Grizzlies
Since they are currently the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 32-33 record, the Memphis Grizzlies and rookie sensation Ja Morant are up first.
The Lakers won the season series against the Grizzlies three games to one, however a one-point victory back on November 23 could’ve very easily been a one-point loss as well. The Lakers won the other two games by double digits but did close out the series with a 105-88 loss in Memphis on February 29.
Looking at positional matchups for the starting five (LeBron James will be considered a small forward regardless of his ball-handling), the Grizzlies seem to hold advantages at point guard and center. The Lakers have a very clear advantage at both forward spots, with two top-five players in the game on the court at the same time. At shooting guard, Danny Green and De’Anthony Melton are two very similar players this season, we’ll call it even.
Memphis does not have the same slow pace, wear you down defensively style team they’ve had for many years. They boast lots of young talent and rank in the top six in pace of play so far this season.
What truly separates the Lakers from the Grizzlies (aside from the obvious and previously mentioned two top-five players) is the heavy rebounding advantage the Lakers have over Memphis, along with the much stronger defense of the two. The Lakers have without a doubt a top-three defense in basketball, with Memphis being more so in the middle of the pack, if not in the bottom 12 teams in the league.
Much respect to likely Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, but the Grizzlies will not be able to keep up with the much more experienced Lakers in a playoff series. The defense will be much more important as games slow down, lineups shrink a bit, and the size and tenacity of Los Angeles will be overwhelming, to say the least.
The Grizzlies could for sure win a game in this series as they did on February 29, however, anything more than that would likely come as a bit of a surprise to many people.