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Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers – Game 4 Preview
Is Game 4 a must-win for the Grizzlies?
By Parish Sharkey - April 23, 2023, 9:59 pm - 2 comments
WHO: Memphis Grizzlies (51-31, 16-25 away) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (43-39, 23-18 home)
WHEN: 9:00 P.M. CT
WHERE: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN: TNT/Bally Sports Southeast/92.9 FM ESPN Memphis
INJURY REPORT:
MEMPHIS: Steven Adams (Out, Right Knee PCL Sprain), Brandon Clarke (Out, Left Achilles Tear), Jake LaRavia (Out, Rigth Calf Soreness)
L.A. LAKERS: LeBron James (Probable, Right Foot Stress), Anthony Davis (Probable, Right Foot Soreness), Dennis Schroder (Probable, Right Achilles Soreness)
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS:
MEMPHIS: Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman Sr.
L.A. LAKERS: D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis
The Memphis Grizzlies enter Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers in a near must-win territory, as they face the potential of being down 3-1 after losing Game 3 to fall behind 2-1 in this best-of-7 first-round series. The record of NBA teams that have fallen behind 1-3 in a series is 13-258. The Grizzlies themselves are 0-3 in this scenario including losing last season to the Golden State Warriors in the 2nd round and the 2021 playoffs against the Utah Jazz in the first round after falling behind 1-3 in those series. How can the Grizzlies avoid this hole?
Forget the 1st Quarter of Game 3
Everything that could go wrong did go wrong in the first quarter of Game 3 for the Memphis Grizzlies. The team missed a plethora of shots both inside and outside beginning the game shooting 3-25 (12%) from the field including 0-14 from three. Factor in that the team turned the ball over six times in the first quarter, and all of this led to the Grizzlies falling to a very early 26-point deficit to end the 1st quarter trailing 35-9. Considering the team outscored the Lakers by 16 points the rest of the way to lose by only 10 points, ultimately that first quarter was what lost the Grizzlies that ball game. Forgetting everything that happened to begin Game 3 is the best method for moving forward.
Get Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane going early
The Memphis Grizzlies have a “Big 3,” but two of those members were no-shows in the first half of Game 3. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane combined to shoot 1-6 to go along with a combined 5 turnovers and 6 fouls (3 each) in the first half of Game 3. That simply cannot happen if the Grizzlies want to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in this series. Missing 2 of your top 7 guys in Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke, your star players have to carry the load almost every single night in the playoffs. While Ja Morant did the best he could playing with his own injury, your 2nd and 3rd guys have to help out early and often. Getting Jaren Jackson Jr. involved early in the halfcourt offense should do the trick as that can relieve the pressure on the guards to have to create for everyone against the stifling Lakers’ defense.
The Prediction
Considering the level of play the Grizzlies displayed in the 2nd through 4th quarters in Game 3 combined with the near must-win nature of Game 4, this sets up to be the Grizzlies’ best all-around performance in this series. Ja Morant finally looked completely like his dominant self especially in the 4th quarter when he scored 22 consecutive points for the team and both Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. played up to par in the 2nd half of Game 3. Also, Taylor Jenkins is known for his game-to-game adjustments, so expect to see a lot of the success that the team had in the 2nd half of Game 3 on full display in Game 4. They’ll return home in Game 5 tied 2-2, as the older Lakers team will not have the benefit of two days rest again for the rest of this series.
MEMPHIS 106, L.A. LAKERS 102
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Comments
You can’t just “forget about the 1st quarter” of game 3 as if it didn’t happen. There are very clear reasons that we failed and if you ignore those, then it will repeat itself–if not to that extent. They have to:
–Make sure that Dillon does not shoot those open uncontested unguarded shots from 3 early on. There’s a reason he’s open. The Lakers want him to shoot, and for some strange reason, our coaches and Dillon fall for the bait every time. Dillon should not have more shots than any of the big 3.
–what is almost as egregious as 0-14 from 3 is the fact that they actually took 14 three attempts in the 1st quarter. If they are packing the paint and daring us to shoot, then put the ball in the hands of Bane again and again, or even Kennard who can be brought in early. Also, maybe try running some plays, setting some screens, and getting us some good looks in the paint, whether it’s Ja or Jaren. Downhill Des seems to be a thing of the past, Bane is a mere shell of himself this series and he needs to finally wake up
–Play some defense. It is inexcusable that the Lakers ran the same double drag play 6 times and scored on every one of them in the first quarter. Coach Jenkins has been abysmal and needs to actually coach
Even with our injuries, we are a better team than they are, we just need to act like it.
I agree – I said to my friends this could be the first time a coach is fired at half time during the playoffs. He has to be better. What is up with Tyus Jones getting a goose egg? I dont want to single him out but this is his time to shine, with everything we been thru with Ja this year and others struggling. The Lakers have a bunch of GLeague graduates out there – time to show what we’re made of. We are just too much talented and stronger. And we are experienced. No “young and hungry” excuses. We have to back it up now we talked the trash and we been here before. We nearly blew it to the Wolves in 7 games last year that was pathetic. I almost lost my marriage over that series. Now learn from the mistakes and get this back to Memphis for the W.