It’s Lakers! It’s Grizzlies! Winner gets Andre Iguodala! Well, if only the NBA actually worked that way. Still, the Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to face a Memphis Grizzlies team with a bright future and a couple of special young players in 2019 No. 2 pick Ja Morant and 2018 No. 4 pick Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies are fresh off of their first victory of the season, a thrilling overtime victory over Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets that included a block by Morant on an Irving jumpshot at the end of regulation. In addition to the clutch defense, Morant had his first big game of his young career with 30 points and nine assists.
Morant’s strong play at the point guard spot will be yet another challenge for the Lakers, who did very well against Utah’s strong backcourt on Friday and better job in the 2nd half against Charlotte on Sunday. A key in both defensive performances was Alex Caruso, who has yet to play a first half minute for the Lakers this season.
In addition to Morant, the Grizzlies may have one of the few big men in the league who is naturally adept at matching up with Anthony Davis in Jackson. Jackson has a 3-point shot and is very mobile at 6-foot-11. At the very least, this game has plenty of entertaining match-ups.
As for the Grizzlies themselves, not much is expected of this group in 2019-20. They have a lot of enticing young talent, as well as interesting veterans like Jae Crowder, Kyle Anderson and the aforementioned Iguodala, who may attract assets from playoff teams later on in the season.
If the Lakers bring the same kind of energy on defense they’ve showed in the last two games, with LeBron James at the controls and Davis finishing everything in sight, a third straight win will be theirs.
