Grizzlies Stare Down Elimination from the Playoffs
Last night couldn’t have fared any worse for the Grizzlies. Coming off two blowout losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder by a combined 70 points, the second most over a two-game span in Playoff history, the Grizzlies headed back to Memphis with the hopes of igniting a spark to get back in this series, and this is exactly what happened. Right out of the gate, the Grizzlies had more energy and more drive. They were making their shots, sharing the ball, and virtually shutting out the Thunder with their stellar defense. All this amounted to a 29-point lead late in the first half, but then disaster struck. Going up for a high-flying layup, Ja Morant came down hard and suffered a left hip contusion. Following his exit, the Thunder erased the 29-point deficit en route to claiming victory and going up in the series 3-0 leaving the Grizzlies, and their fans, awestruck and devastated.
Now the Grizzlies face a win-or-go-home scenario tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. EST. As of the writing of this post, the status of Ja Morant remains uncertain following his left hip contusion. If the Grizzlies are to have any hope of salvaging this series, or at least winning a single game, they will need Morant to be playing. Last night the Grizzlies’ guard had 15 points, five assists, and zero turnovers in the first half alone, powering them to a 29-point lead. It was no surprise the team folded upon his exit as Morant is not only the best player on the team, but their leader as well. If Morant does manage to return, that bodes well for the Grizzlies, if he doesn’t, then the team will have to look elsewhere.
Logically the Grizzlies will turn to Jaren Jackson Jr and Desmond Bane to pick up the scoring as these players currently sit as the next two highest scorers on the team averaging 22.2 and 19.8 points respectively, although both of their numbers have been significantly down in this series. Scotty Pippen Jr, the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, also showed out in Game Three pouring in 28 points and shooting 60 percent from three. He will need to replicate these numbers in the absence of Morant. Players such as Luke Kennard and Zach Edey will also be expected to contribute. If Edey, the Grizzlies’ rookie center, can dominate on the boards alongside Jackson Jr, their size together may be able to block out the paint and force the Thunder to score from deep.
If Morant does happen to be a no-show, It would also be beneficial for the Grizzlies to slow down the pace of the game. Without their top scorer, the Grizzlies must avoid getting into a fast-paced atmosphere as they could find themselves down by double digits quickly. Slowing down the game, reducing the number of possessions the Thunder have, and drawing up timely, well-executed plays may allow the Grizzlies to have a fighting chance. Regardless, the team must execute, and they have to play a perfect game, with or without Morant, or their season will come to an end.
