Over the last few years under Ja Morant, the ambitious Grizzlies’ blueprint has been to grow incrementally, let maturity flow, climb the ranks, and now take the next step.
So what do you do with your feet when you’re standing on the edge of a cliff?
After he won 51 in the regular season and finished second in the Western Conference, the Grizzlies found the Lakers this morning that he was on the verge of a first-round winning streak. Now he’s 3-1 against the smarter, more traditional franchises. In NBA playoff history, teams leading 3-1 win about 95% of the time.
Yes, there are exceptions. Remember the harsh realities LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers went through in his 2016 NBA Finals? – And the Grizzlies are now hoping to integrate into the company of choice and make a comeback. With the series moving to Memphis and facing a do-or-die decision for the home team, they have no choice.
Throughout the season, the Grizzlies’ maturity was questioned, and at times more positive on-court results were overwhelming. It’s a tricky concoction, and now a mistake by this team threatens to cut the season short.
There was a Ja Morant suspension and Dillon Brooks chose to wear a black hat, but the Grizzlies still won. Even their coach, Taylor Jenkins, said the team needs to learn how to get there, admitting they’re “not quite there yet” when it comes to this run.
Memphis is now facing a possible playoff run for LeBron, and the Lakers team is in a bad mood after having a troubled start to the season.
Here are his five points from his 117-11 overtime win for the Lakers and their winning streak so far.
Lakers’ Game 4 win vs. Grizzlies
1. The Lakers Are Suddenly Lurking
If you’re not taking the Lakers seriously as a team that could make it to the Conference Finals or his NBA Finals, you might want to reconsider.
Two things to admit: No one has looked unbeatable in any of these playoffs in the West (or even the East, where the Bucks are about to lose to Miami), and the Lakers are arguably the best they’ve seen in the last two months. Hot team. When they had to play a play on Monday, they did. When they had to react to a run from Memphis, they did. When they needed to step up a Legend, he did.
LeBron put in an impressively restrained performance in Game 4: 22 points, 20 rebounds and 7 assists. Really, though, the effort has been collected from February (when the Lakers made a number of key trades and moves) to this streak. bottom. D’Angelo Russell marked the Lakers’ rally with a great 4th quarter, hitting his 3-pointer in three straight runs before fouling.
The Lakers’ defence used to be a problem, but the Grizzlies shot 39.6 per cent overall and he shot 21.4 per cent from 3-pointers. Suddenly, his 11th-place team before the All-Star break not only deserves to make it through the first round and beat his second-place finisher, but these Lakers have legs, and for the rest of the West, they’re worth it. It’s a terrifying sight.
Lakers’ Game 4 win vs. Grizzlies
2. More Hot and Cold by Davis
No Lakers were more relieved by this latest win than Davis. After enduring a tough night, he was rescued by his teammates, who managed to get off the ground shortly after being edge-challenged by Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. but kept his hips and back on. He didn’t hit his second basket of the game until midway through the fourth quarter. On the track, he missed a crucial free throw.
He fought off Desmond Bain with five minutes remaining and was whistled for an offensive foul as the Lakers were down four. He finished with 12 points and 4 turnovers. At least Davis delivered an important block from Morant just before the fourth-quarter buzzer sounded, but he was just as good as he was two games ago when he finished with 13 points in the only Lakers loss of the series. He was flawed. Davis rebounded in Game 3 with 31 points and he had a dominating performance with 17 rebounds. If this pattern continues, the Grizzlies will have their hands full in Game 5.
Lakers’ Game 4 win vs. Grizzlies
3. Air Morant responds to forced landings
Morant either reaches the edge or dies. At least that’s what it looks like when he blows up. That’s why he injured his wrist last week, missing a game and spending a terrifying chunk of Game 4. Morant survived two falls. The last one was particularly insane, nearly going into a somersault after colliding with LeBron about a mile high in the air, and the game was tied at 99. Unique in attacking the rim with conviction. He puts his body at risk all the time and doesn’t worry about the consequences.
He only adjusts as needed, repeating on Monday when he preferred his left hand to his right hand, which is naturally sore for dribbling penetrations and shots at the quarter buzzer. If you want to know how Morant is doing and what he thinks about the game and this series, don’t hold your breath. After the game, he offered a moment of silence to the reporters, saying, “See you tomorrow.”
- Dillon Brooks blames everyone but himself for his perception as an NBA villain
Lakers’ Game 4 win vs. Grizzlies
4. LeBron owned a moment of truth
The beauty of LeBron is how he reads the game and decides how to manage it. He spent much of the night delegating to teammates (Reeves, Jared Vanderbilt) and others (Davis, Russell). LeBron didn’t force matters or panic when the Lakers stumbled, he picked his spot and came to the rescue.
For example, he sat on 16 points until the 4th quarter demanded more points from him. His driving layup that beat the fourth-quarter buzzer was the first goal of the quarter. Then a benched LeBron took charge of his OT after Russell fouled his sixth, interrupting his game win with his three points against Brooks, which LeBron was particularly pleased with ( And his primitive scream said it all). Oh, and remember LeBron is in his 20th season and all profiles have been worn in his run-deep playoffs.
“He still has the passion and courage to lead his team to the top,” Lakers coach Durbin Hamm said. That’s what he’s all about, making the right game. He will do whatever it takes to make his team successful. “
- Lowest Scoring Quarter in NBA Playoff History
Lakers’ Game 4 win vs. Grizzlies
5. Bane of the Grizzlies
The best player on the Memphis floor wasn’t what you expected, and it’s not that Desmond Bane’s Game 4 production was a big surprise. But that’s how he delivered on Monday. He was aggressive all night and repeatedly beat the Lakers. His speciality was his 3-pointer mid-range he wasn’t shooting, he was jumping the range and driving not dribbling to the basket. Only 3 of his 13 shots were from the deep. The Lakers apparently read the scouting report correctly, but he didn’t expect Bain to make the switch, so he kept the Lakers on their heels.
So all things considered, his 36 points and his 7 rebounds were the best playoff game of his career. The Grizzlies have yet to get anything from Brooks in this series – he shoots less than 40% of his shots despite the Lakers opening him up, and he shoots less than 30% from deep. be. One night, the Grizzlies had someone more productive than Morant. And in the end, it meant nothing.
If you are referring to a player who had a significant impact on the Lakers’ Game 4 win against the Grizzlies, here are five possible takeaways:
- Dominant Performance: One of the Lakers’ players might have had a standout performance, dominating the game against the Grizzlies. This player could have scored a high number of points, made crucial plays, or controlled the game on both ends of the court.
- Defensive Presence: The Lakers might have employed a strong defensive strategy that disrupted the Grizzlies’ offence. They could have been successful in limiting the Grizzlies’ scoring opportunities, causing turnovers, and securing defensive rebounds.
- Three-Point Shooting: The Lakers might have had a strong shooting performance from beyond the arc, making a significant number of three-point shots. This could have provided them with a scoring advantage and forced the Grizzlies to adjust their defensive strategy.
- Rebounding Dominance: The Lakers might have outrebounded the Grizzlies, securing crucial offensive rebounds and second-chance points. Rebounding dominance can often lead to extra possessions and momentum swings in a game.
- Bench Contribution: The Lakers’ bench players might have made a substantial impact, providing valuable scoring, defence, or energy off the bench. A strong performance from the bench can help maintain or extend leads and provide the starters with much-needed rest.
Please note that without specific information about the Lakers’ Game 4 win against the Grizzlies, these takeaways are purely hypothetical. It’s best to refer to reliable sports news sources for accurate details and analysis of the game.
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