Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game Preview

WHO: Memphis Grizzlies (38-25, 12-20 away) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (31-34, 16-15 home)

WHEN: 9:00 PM CT

WHERE: Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California

HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN: TNT/92.9 FM ESPN Memphis

INJURY REPORT:

MEMPHIS: Jake LaRavia (Questionable, back), Steven Adams (Out, knee), Brandon Clarke (Out, Achilles), Ja Morant (Out, not with team), Vince Williams Jr. (Out, shoulder)

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Anthony Davis (Probable, foot), D’Angelo Russell (Questionable, ankle),Mo Bamba (Out, ankle), LeBron James (Out, foot)

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS

MEMPHIS: Tyus Jones, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., Xavier Tillman Sr.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS: Dennis Schroder, Malik Beasley, Troy Brown Jr., Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis

The Memphis Grizzlies are still in Los Angeles – a situation that perhaps under different circumstances would be a bit more fun for the team. But after the turmoil that Ja Morant’s absence from the team has brought about and the injury to Brandon Clarke that has cost him the rest of this season (and likely much of the next one) the Grizzlies are probably looking forward to making their way home to Memphis as soon as possible.

Before that return trip to the friendly confines of the Bluff City, the Grizzlies must take on a Lakers team that continues to play better basketball after their major trade of a month ago. Even with the injury to LeBron James, the additions of D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley have added legitimate depth to the Lakers roster and amplified the impacts of the team’s superstars – but right now the superstar solo in Anthony Davis.

L.A. is fighting for their play-in lives. Memphis is striving to maintain their hold on the #2 seed in the Western Conference. Something’s gotta give.

Some keys to the game.

Be better on the glass

While the Grizzlies will never be mistaken for rebounding savants without Steven Adams in the lineup, the gap between themselves and the Clippers in the latest Memphis collapse…er…game…is unacceptable. Memphis only snagged 26 rebounds against the other L.A. team while the Clippers grabbed 53 boards. That is a massive gap – the Clippers were able to limit Memphis to multiple one-shot possessions while generating 11 extra looks for themselves on the offensive glass (13 to 2!)

Against the Lakers, things could potentially be as bad with a force like Anthony Davis on the floor in the front court. Davis had 19 rebounds in the last game for L.A. against Memphis. But fortunately while the Lakers won the rebounding war in that game as well the advantage was not as pronounced (56 to 47).

Unfortunately? Two of the Grizzlies best on the boards in that game were Ja Morant (10) and Brandon Clarke (5). The likes of Xavier Tillman, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, David Roddy, and Dillon Brooks are going to have to commit to a team-rebounding effort to try to replicate what is lost without Morant and Clarke on the floor to grab boards.

Set up Dillon Brooks for success

Dillon Brooks returns from a one-game suspension in this one, likely focused on making a statement with his play (and hopefully less of one with his mouth). For every two technical fouls the rest of the season, Brooks will be suspended once again. Part of Dillon’s productivity is that tenacity – it is hard to turn it off.

But it can be focused – at least for long stretches. And that needs to be a priority, with Brooks being the 3rd best Grizzlies player taking part in Memphis-Lakers.

Early in the contest getting Brooks to the paint/rim for easy looks, using his frame to draw early fouls, and enabling him to find his spots on the floor to find a rhythm should come relatively often. That’s not to say he should force looks (as he is prone to do). It is to say that Dillon’s ability to score off the dribble and get his own looks is especially valuable in the absence of Ja Morant – nevermind what he will bring as a defender on the ball, which was missed terribly against the Clippers.

Brooks is having a career-worst shooting season. If that continues without Morant and Clarke, the Grizzlies likely will not be able to win. The better looks he gets early, the better.

The Prediction

Memphis is only a 2-point underdog in most sportsbooks, which is mildly surprising. Perhaps the showing against the Clippers, plus the reality of LeBron James’ absence, leads to hesitance to go all-in on the Lakers. But on a grander scale, the return of Brooks enables Memphis to be a bit more sound defensively while also finding more “regular” rotation patterns.

Will that continue to bite the Grizzlies in the 4th quarter? Perhaps. Taylor Jenkins must come to terms with the fact that regardless of players, these collapses are happening. Even with Dillon in the fold, opportunity exists to mix things up and put new looks and lineups together to shake up not just the final frame, but the entire game.

Disrupting the Lakers flow both in terms of game plan and defensively will give the Grizzlies enough offense to win – and at least earn a happy plane ride home after a rough road trip.

Memphis 116, Los Angeles Lakers 111