(Text/Los Ajo-ri・Sakuragi eating watermelon)
Black Seven is a matter of extremely low probability.
Generally speaking, there is a grade gap between the second team and the seventh team, especially in a round of the series, even if it can explode one or two games, but under the consideration of a large sample, the two sides will still return to a relatively consistent state of their own combat level, which should not be played or not.
However, the situation of the Grizzlies and Lakers is a little different.
The Grizzlies' three main rotations on the inside Adams and Clark do not play, leaving only a single seedling 3J, and the top Tillman, Aldama, and Roddy have a clear gap with those two, especially Roddy, as a 22-year-old rookie, you can hardly expect much from his playoff debut, and the Lakers have exactly two offensive hammers that hit the Grizzlies' gap.
The Lakers ranked seventh in the West, which does not mean that they are the seventh level, after the big trade they once played an 18-8 record, 69.2% of the win rate is close to the level of the Celtics, although the sample is small, but it is still enough to see the Lakers' new appearance, is a hard stubble.
Under the trade-off, the gap between the two sides has actually been infinitely narrowed.
But even so, after all, the Lakers are challenging upwards as dogs, and they have to work harder and harder than the Grizzlies to find the glimmer of hope of winning the series. At least, the Lakers can't be like the playoffs, slow heat, mistakes, iron, and alignment disadvantages, after all, the Grizzlies are not like the Timberwolves, not only have the sharpness and sharpness of a newborn calf, but also have fox-like cunning and sharpness.
To beat the Grizzlies, the Lakers need to do at least three things!
First, change the alignment and amplify your own advantages
The Grizzlies' starting lineup is likely to be Morant + Bane + Dillon + Tillman + 3J, and the Lakers are not false in the height of the forward, and even have the advantage. The Grizzlies' counterpoint selection is easy to make, 3J vs. Bushybrow, Tillman vs. Van der Biao, Dillon vs. James, Bane vs. Russell, Morant vs. Rivers.
3J is indeed the most suitable candidate for thick eyebrows, height and size, mobility can match, but the problem with 3J is that he is a big foul, averaging 3.6 fouls per game this season, ranking first in the league. In last season's series with the Timberwolves, the winner or loser of the two sides was to see who he and Towns beat first. Once 3J does not control his foul and gets into foul trouble, and the Grizzlies' defense drops at least two notches, then Zhan Mei is really high and the sea is jumping, so the key is to play aggressively in this set of positions.
Dillon's defense is fierce, and given James' recent offensive ups and downs, this group of counterpoints is actually not very good to play; The same is true for Russell, the Grizzlies are only higher than the Timberwolves, and his ability to punish misalignment is actually limited. On the contrary, Morant's group will be a little better, Rivers/Russell can find Morant more on the offensive end, these two blocks the Grizzlies will definitely change defense, can consume him more waves.
The Grizzlies actually have limited options in the opposition, but the Lakers can do a little more, at least not again, like on the court, thick eyebrows pulled to the top of the arc by Towns, and then the basket is empty.
Compared with 3J (35.5% three-point shooting, averaging 1.6 three-pointers per game), thick eyebrows should go to Tilman (26.7% three-point shooting rate, average 0.1 three-pointers per game), which can liberate thick eyebrows' defense, frame protection ability, and the Grizzlies do not block guards who hold the ball (Bane belongs to half, but more like shooter positioning), even if Tillman is on the block, thick eyebrows can be closed behind, priority to protect the frame.
3J can be matched by Van der Biao, but in this way, James will take over Dillon, but Dillon's offense has been strong this season, shooting 39.6% from the field and 32.6% from three-point range, but this man is full of thorns, and James has to be more or less leisurely.
The series of thick eyebrows will probably be a dominant-level existence, but the premise is that Hamm must do his homework on the opposite position in advance and do not head iron.
Second, lay a "cheese trap" for Morant.
How to prevent Morant, this is indeed a headache.
After the big deal, the Lakers' defensive efficiency ranks first in the league, but most of their defensive resources are concentrated in the front court (thick eyebrows, van der Biao, the nearest Hachimura), although Rivers, Schroders, and Brown Jr. in the back court can run and bite, but in the face of a player of Morant's level, it is almost meaningful, let alone Russell.
Of course, Van der Biao can swing to the No. 1 position to take over Morant, but as mentioned above, he is going to go to the position of 3J and liberate the thick eyebrows, if Van der Biao goes to the opposite Morant, either the thick eyebrows take over 3J, or James takes over 3J, the latter is unrealistic and too consuming.
In fact, a more feasible solution is that Rivers/Schroder/Brown Jr. take turns to face each other, and then the thick eyebrows help prevent interference under the basket, like a tied bag, deliberately leaving a small hole, and after Morant drills out along this small hole, he finds that the thick eyebrows in front of him. However, with Morant's unscrupulous strength, with thick eyebrows in front of him, I am afraid that he will also jump up and cut the button. Such a defensive strategy requires thick eyebrows to control fouls.
Either pinch Morant, one is that the Grizzlies have a lot of space, except for Bane and Kennard, the projection threat of others is not enough, and some small open opportunities can be appropriately given. The second is that Morant's height is there! His ability to play the ball is also limited, and he may not be able to find an open teammate in the first place, so that the Lakers have enough time to rotate into position.
Whether it is a single defense + basket assistance, or a direct pinch shot, the Lakers need to show excellent execution and discipline, and whether their defense can withstand the test of a higher level depends on this round of the series.
Third, the game of the shooter group
Although the Grizzlies' overall shooting level is average, 23rd in the league in three-point field goal percentage and 16th in three-point field goal percentage, their two shooters are quite deadly. Bane, 40.8 percent three-pointers, averaging 2.9 three-pointers per game, and Kennard, 49.4 percent three-pointers, 2.3 three-pointers per game. Beasley, on the other hand, of the Lakers, shot 35.3 percent from three-point range and averaged 2.5 three-pointers per game; Russell, who shot 41 percent from three-point range, averaged 2.7 three-pointers per game.
At first glance, Beasley and Russell can still shoot! But the problem is that the two are too unstable, especially Beasley, and the CD period is too long. As for Russell, whether he can withstand the confrontation of the Grizzlies' group of muscle sticks is a matter of two words. When facing the Grizzlies in the playoffs last season, Russell averaged 12 points, 2.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point range.
The Grizzlies need the support of a group of shooters to punish when an opponent pinches Morant; The Lakers also need the support of the shooter group to open up offensive space for James, and also allow James to name the opponent's defensive weaknesses at key moments, but all this is based on the shooting feel of the shooter group that day, depending on who of the four can stand up.
Most of the season of chaotic ups and downs, stumbling after big trades, thrilling moments in the play-offs, the Lakers have walked so many roads and circles to get to the Grizzlies, but to climb over the mountains of Memphis and look farther into the landscape, the Lakers have to work harder, harder than ever, because every opponent you meet later, including the Grizzlies at this moment, is far stronger than the previous opponents.
If you want to win someone better than you, you have to fight harder than your opponent!