Insider Insights: Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Lakers

That was the best all-around game of the year, hands down.

The Grizzlies started their three-game road trip by traveling to LA for a matchup against their West Coast rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams came into last night needing a win.

Memphis’ last bout was a loss against the Toronto Raptors which took their record to 11-23 and the Lakers’ last game was a loss to a Jimmy Butler-less Miami Heat team, which downed their record to 17-18.

This was a big game for Memphis. They were walking into a place where in their last 10 regular season meetings in LA, they were 1-9. The last time they played, the Lakers gave Memphis one of the worst losses of the year in a 134-107 blowout.

A game in which they lost Marcus Smart to an ankle injury in the process. On top of that, Memphis was playing the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season.

Even without the added combustible element of Dillon Brooks in the equation, these games are always physical and there is no love lost between Memphis and LA. However, Memphis responded in a big way.

The game was competitive the whole way. In the first quarter, both teams were trading buckets for most of the quarter. Both teams came out hot from deep with Lebron hitting four threes in the period and Marcus Smart and Ja Morant each making a three of their own.

The Lakers closed the quarter from the 3:07 mark on a 10-5 run to bring the score to 38-29. At the start of the second, the Lakers were able to push their lead as big as 13, but the Grizz would not stay down for long.

Morant picked up three fouls in the first half, so his minutes were limited. As a result, the team leaned on Desmond Bane, Smart, and Jaren Jackson Jr. to keep them afloat and they did. This core led Memphis with a comeback effort to chip away at the lead to cut the deficit to one with a 59-58 lead for the Lakers.

Those three combined for 26 of the 29 total points scored in the quarter.

The second half saw the new age core 4 of Morant, Bane, Smart, and Jackson Jr. assert their presence. They helped Memphis to outscore LA 69-54 in the second half. Those four tied the Lakers total by themselves by combining for 54 in the half. The game was tight up until six minutes left in the game when Memphis eventually pulled away.

Smart hit every big three they needed down the stretch. Bane and Jackson Jr. were working the Lakers from inside and out. Ziaire Williams even came off the bench and scored 12 of his 15 points in his half and Morant was there, directing it all like a maestro.

With two back-to-back Smart and Bane three-pointers along with a Williams lob in between for emphasis, the Grizzlies routed the Lakers for a big 127-113 win. Memphis set a franchise record in the process made with 23 made threes in a road game.

Jackson Jr. had a team-high 31 PTS with 9 RBS and Smart was close behind with 29 with eight threes made on the game. The backcourt of Morant and Bane put in 21 and 24 points respectively and both dished out 7 and 13 assists.

Now for the takeaways:

The Swag was Back.

I don’t know what Memphis had for a pregame meal, but they need to have it every night. Maybe it was the fact they were playing on national television on ESPN or the fact that the Lakers knocked them out of the playoffs last year, but they played with the swag, energy, and confidence we haven’t seen in a few games.

After the post-game presser against Toronto, head coach Taylor Jenkins said they he needs to be better at preparing the team because their energy was flat from the jump. He made the needed adjustment because this team looked different from the team we saw against the Raptors.

Jenkins even received a technical foul for running on the court and disrupting play after Lebron James and Jaren Jackson Jr. got tied up over a loose ball. The tech had little impact on the game, but that was the energy the team was playing with all game.

When that energy is rolling it can be infectious which can lead to good basketball. The group of Morant, Williams, Bane, Smart, and Jackson Jr. scored 120 of the Grizz 127 points. That’s the product of five guys being on the same page and playing with confidence.

Memphis’ movement on the offensive end was fluid and full of life as they recorded a season-high 33 assists. They also out-rebounded LA 44-35 last night. Those are two categories that Memphis has been struggling in all year. But, this production is a by-product of playing with more tenacity and intention on that end of the floor.

This is the best win all year and is something they need to build on.

Welcome back Marcus Smart, we missed you.

Over the last three games, Smart was averaging 7.6 PTS while shooting 23.5% from the field on 0% from three. He was a combined 0-13 from the three-point line. Even on the defensive end, he was playing uncharacteristically.

In the game against Toronto, one of his assignments, Immanuel Quickley went off for 26 points and in the New Year’s Eve game against Sacramento, Malik Monk and De’aaron Fox scored 27 and 24 points a piece.

You usually don’t see opposing teams guards having big nights against the former DPOY, but he was definitely in a slump over the last few games. He has also been dealing with a hand injury on his non-shooting left hand.

But last night, Smart came to play in a big way. His timely buckets kept Memphis in the game and despite James’ 32 points, those 32 didn’t come easy for the King. Memphis needed every one of his 29 and his eight threes made this his best game since becoming a Grizzly. He had a +13 plus/minus while on the floor.

The Grizzlies have been missing his production on both ends over the last few games and it was needed last night. What’s gonna push this team over the edge is Smart being that fourth guy that can flat-out go behind the big three of Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr.

You’re never going to question his defensive effort, but if he can produce consistently on the offensive end, the league will need to watch out for Memphis.

Optimistic/Pessimistic

What to be optimistic about?: The Grizzlies got a big win over a team above them in the West, which matters in the standings. Also, triple J made have overcome his Anthony Davis sized-demons as he outplayed Davis, who normally dominates him.

What to be pessimistic about?: We’ll take the win, but it is unlikely Memphis will shoot like this again. So try not to get used to it. Also, having 17 turnovers is not going to cut it, win or lose.