Do not sell the skin of the bear before killing it. Even if he has just been attacked by a pack of ferocious wolves on his own territory. The Memphis Grizzlies lost the first game at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday (117-130), already losing the home field advantage. But the series promises to be still long.
Difficult to establish real conclusions after a single meeting. One observation emerges all the same on this Game 1, and it could already be done even before the start of the series: the “star power” is in favor of Minneapolis. The sum of the two best Wolves players, Karl-Anthony Towns et Anthony Edwardsis “higher”, even if it remains abstract, than that of the two best Grizzlies players, And Morant et Years Jackson Jr. It is even more striking by adding D’Angelo Russell on one side and Desmond Bane the other.
Towns and Edwards too strong for Memphis
It seems that the defense wins in the playoffs. Perhaps. But that’s not completely true. Attack too. Even more at this stage of the competition. Relying on one hit KAT, one hit Ant, the Timberwolves have consistently found offensive solutions to undermine their opponents. That’s the benefit of “star power.” »
The Grizzlies have been much messier. Morant put his 32 points but essentially going on the line (16 of 20 in throws). The defense sometimes pressured him to drop the ball by doubling up on picks-and-rolls. And in these situations, the players of Taylor Jenkins are more feverish without a second alpha male to make a difference in solo. bane and Dillon Brooks are capable of it in sequence. But not on the whole of a series.
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This role, ideally, would go to Jaren Jackson Jr. The 22-year-old interior, fourth pick in the 2018 draft ahead of Trae Young, is quite a project. A kind of strong-winger-pivot of the future, a bit like Evan Mobley. A “two play player” in training. His defense is already on point and he is clearly among the best in this league in this area. His 7 blocks on Game 1 can also testify to this.
But for the offensive contribution, it still fishes. He is capable of flashes – still 16.3 points on average this season – without having completely developed an arsenal that would allow him to regularly bring around 20 pawns. He finished with 12 points, 4 of 13 shooting, 0 of 5 three-pointers and 4 rebounds in 24 minutes.
Jaren Jackson Jr, finally a real 2 way player?
His lack of moves penalizes him. He knows how to shoot three-pointers but without being a real threat from afar. It is long but does not necessarily dominate standing. He’s mobile but doesn’t punish the defense either. Except that he is able to do a little of all that. This is the perfect time to step-up. If he asserts himself as a credible second offensive option, it can unlock everything for Memphis. With a rather shaky Minnesota defense that should struggle to contain both him and Morant without leaving spaces for open shots from Bane and Brooks.
JJJ is a complementary attacker and that is not enough at this level of the competition. Especially since even in defense, he will have to try to do even more. He defended little on Towns, by choice of the coach, and he was hampered by fouls. As a result, the Minnesota pivot wandered around constantly taking Steven Adams of speed. Here too, Jackson Jr may have a role to play.
If some teams are classified as “regular season” specialists, it is often because they lack superstars. As a result, they raise their level of play a little less in the playoffs. There is no real secret, it is the main individuals who most often make the difference at this stage. So if the Grizzlies, who still won 56 games to finish second in the West this season, do not want to fall into this category, Jaren Jackson Jr will have to seriously confirm all the hopes placed in him. And quick.
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