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Clippers vs Grizzlies Preview: First Look at Memphis
The Clippers play the Memphis Grizzlies for the first time this year, a very difficult contest on the road against the second-best team in the West.
Game
Information
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
When: 5:00 PM PT
How to Watch: FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected
Starting Lineups
Clippers: James Harden – Norman Powell – Kris Dunn – Derrick Jones Jr. – Ivica Zubac
Grizzlies: Ja Morant – Desmond Bane – Jaylen Wells – Jaren Jackson Jr. – Zach Edey
Injuries
Clippers: Kawhi Leonard Out (Knee), Terance Mann Out (Finger), Kobe Brown Out (Back), PJ Tucker Out (Away from team), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League)
Mavericks: Jay Huff Out (Ankle), Marcus Smart Out (Finger), Vince Williams Out (Ankle), GG Jackson Out (Foot)
The Big Picture
The Clippers could really use Kawhi Leonard on offense. The superstar’s return remains somewhere between “close” and “imminent”, with potential for a comeback as soon as this week, but no guarantees anywhere. Until he returns, the Clippers will continue to have games like Saturdays against the Mavericks, where James Harden is taken out of things and the rest of the team can’t get into a real rhythm as a result. For as good as Norm Powell and Ivica Zubac have been, neither are playmakers for others. Kevin Porter Jr. may have been cooking as a scorer in that game (for once) but has been singularly unimpressive as a guy who can run an entire unit. Kawhi’s ability to draw two and to create consistently decent shots for himself in the midrange will help the Clippers’ offense immensely, even if he’s likely not going to be close to the rampaging All-NBA player we saw most of last year. The Clippers’ defense has held together very well without Kawhi, and will be even better when the Klaw returns. Hopefully we will see Kawhi on the court much sooner than later.
The Antagonist
The Grizzlies rank 2nd in the West at 20-9, and their advanced stats might be even more impressive. In fact, the Grizzlies are the only team in the NBA to rank in the top five in both Offensive Rating and Defensive rating, placing 4th on both sides of the ball. That well-roundedness is a very good sign for the team’s long-term potential, especially since the Grizzlies have dealt with numerous injuries so far and overcome them with flying colors. The Grizzlies have star-level talent with Ja and Jaren Jackson, great supporting talent, and a lot of depth. You can make arguments against their playoff chances based on their sometimes shaky shooting and Ja not being a top-10 player, but they’re a damn good regular season team and are absolutely rolling right now.
Notes
Facing Edey: There are very, very few NBA players who can make Ivica Zubac look small, but Grizzlies center Zach Edey is one of them. At 7’4, 305 pounds, the rookie big man is the largest player in today’s NBA, and presents unique matchup challenges and opportunities. His size combined with his hands and touch make Edey a very good low post scorer – he scores 11 points per game in just 20.9 minutes and shoots an excellent 62.4% from the field. There are few guys who can cover him one on one, and it remains to be seen if Zu is one of those guys. On the other side of the ball, Edey’s bulk makes driving directly at him a fool’s errand. He can, however, be exploited in the pick and roll, as he has slow feet guarding out on the perimeter and recovering on defense. James Harden has historically been a player adept at attacking slow-footed big men, so we will see if Harden can play him off the court before he inflicts too much damage on the other end.
Dunn on Ja: The game’s most important matchup, however, is probably going to be Kris Dunn guarding Ja Morant. As good as Jaren Jackson Jr. has been this season as an offensive hub, the Grizzlies’ offense goes largely as Ja goes. He is averaging 21.2 points per game (just behind JJJ at 21.4) while dishing 8.1 assists a contest. Morant is as explosive as ever while playing more under control than he did in his younger years. If Dunn can limit Morant’s drives to the rim, it will get the Grizzlies out of their paint-and-spray offense, which all too often will result in open threes for shooters such as Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, and Santi Aldama. Forcing Morant to take jumpers (he’s shooting just 30.9% from three on 4.8 attempts per game) is still the best way to stop him. Dunn is well equipped to guard Ja, but it is still one of the toughest assignments in the league due to Ja’s explosiveness and speed. The Grizzlies have other ways to win, but if Morant is able to get going downhill the Grizzlies’ offense will probably be too good for the Clippers to hang with.
Clippers vs Grizzlies Preview: First Look at Memphis
Robert Flom