NBA followers might need been clamoring for the top-seeded Utah Jazz to tackle Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors within the first spherical of the 2023 playoffs, however the Memphis Grizzlies earned their manner into the matchup — and we needs to be simply as excited for it. Ja Morant is without doubt one of the most electrical younger gamers within the league, coming off a memorable efficiency in Friday’s elimination sport, and the Grizzlies are taking part in a few of their finest basketball of the season.
On the opposite aspect, you’ve gotten the well-oiled machine that’s the Jazz, who completed fourth within the league in offense and third in protection whereas compiling the NBA’s finest report. This shall be an excellent check of momentum, as Memphis is coming off of three video games with playoff depth, and shall be able to go from the opening tip. Add in the truth that Jazz star Donovan Mitchell is recovering from a severe ankle harm, and this could possibly be a a lot nearer 1 vs. 8 matchup than we’re used to seeing within the NBA.
Right here’s the whole lot you should know concerning the Jazz-Grizzlies opening-round sequence.
No. 1 Utah Jazz vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
All instances Japanese
- Recreation 1: Sunday, Might 23, 9:30 p.m. | TV: TNT
- Recreation 2: Wednesday, Might 26, 10 p.m. | TV: TNT
- Recreation 3: Saturday, Might 29, 1 p.m. | TV: ESPN
- Recreation 4: Monday, Might 31, 9:30 p.m. | TV: TNT
- *Recreation 5: Wednesday, June 2, TBD | TV: TBD
- *Recreation 6: Friday, June 4, TBD | TV: TBD
- *Recreation 7: Sunday, June 6, TBD | TV: TBD
*If crucial
Featured Recreation | Utah Jazz vs. Memphis Grizzlies
1. How wholesome is Donovan Mitchell?
Mitchell mentioned he plans on suiting up for Recreation 1 after lacking the ultimate 16 video games of the common season with a sprained proper ankle, however there’s an enormous distinction between being on the courtroom and having the affect that Utah wants him to have. He led the crew in scoring whereas placing up career-highs in assists (5.2) and 3-point accuracy (38 %), and is without doubt one of the few Jazz gamers able to creating his personal shot in late-clock conditions. Mitchell scored 35 factors in every of the 2 video games he performed in opposition to the Grizzlies this season, each Jazz wins.
However we’ve seen how gamers, specifically LeBron James, have struggled to return from these extreme ankle sprains. Even when he can keep away from a setback with the ankle itself, it’s going to take at the least a few video games to get his conditioning again to playoff degree. If that’s the case, the Grizzlies might steal one of many first two video games in Utah to shift the panorama of the sequence.
2. Ja Morant’s playoff debut
Morant is coming off one of the best efficiency of his profession within the greatest sport of his profession, and should be completely brimming with confidence getting into this sequence. He scored 36 and 32 factors in two of the video games this season in opposition to the Jazz, placing up simply 12 factors in 26 minutes in a blowout loss within the third matchup.
The Warriors sagged off of Morant within the closing sport of the common season and he struggled mightily from 3-point vary. They tried the identical tactic in Friday’s elimination sport, and Morant made a career-high 5 3-pointers in 10 makes an attempt, en path to 35 factors. Utah will possible make use of an analogous technique within the pick-and-roll, dropping Rudy Gobert into the paint to stop penetration. If Morant can proceed capturing properly from deep, it might power Quin Snyder to at the least barely change the Jazz’s defensive method.
Both manner, will probably be enjoyable to observe Morant function in what is going to possible be the primary of many playoff sequence in his profession.
3. Contrasting kinds
That is going to be a battle of extraordinarily totally different kinds of play. The Jazz had been first within the NBA in the course of the common season in 3-pointers tried and made, whereas the Grizzlies had been twenty third in makes an attempt and twenty fourth in makes. In the meantime, Memphis led the league with 55.8 factors within the paint per sport and the Jazz completed twenty fourth with 44.2. Utah additionally allowed the ninth-most factors within the paint per sport this season. It’s no secret how every crew goes to attempt to win: The Jazz will attempt to dominate the 3-point line, whereas the Grizzlies will attempt to dominate the paint.
Large man Jonas Valanciunas has been wonderful of late, placing up 29 factors and 16 rebounds within the regular-season finale in opposition to Golden State, then a monster line of 23 factors and 23 rebounds within the Grizzlies’ first play-in sport in opposition to the Spurs. However he hasn’t needed to match up with the likes of Rudy Gobert, who could possibly be on his solution to a 3rd Defensive Participant of the 12 months trophy. The contrasting kinds from Utah and Memphis ought to make for a enjoyable matchup within the opening spherical.
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