Tag: Timberwolves

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Take Game 5

Ja Morant takes flight against Malik Beasley. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

The Memphis Grizzlies returned to FedExForum Tuesday night to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of their playoff series. The Grizzlies’ 111-109 victory puts them 3-2 in the series, with an opportunity to advance to the next round with a Game 6 win.

Let’s get into it.  

First and foremost, let’s just get this part out of the way — the Grizzlies started out strong in the first quarter and then stunk up the court until the fourth quarter. Obviously, they were able to grind out a win, but there were some troubling moments in which this Memphis team looked nothing like the team we have seen all season long.  

Ja Morant came up big in the fourth quarter, but Brandon Clarke was a true hero throughout the game, and throughout the series. Shoutout, Canada!  

However …

We need to talk about free-throw shooting, more specifically the lack of accurate free-throw shooting. YGTMYFT. Scoring with the clock stopped is invaluable, especially during games as closely officiated as this series has been. They literally cost nothing; it is right there in the name. Free throws. Free throws.

Missed free throws have been a thorn in the Grizzlies’ side most of the series, and missed free throws were a big factor in their Game 4 loss. Had the Grizzlies not managed to eke out a victory, they would have been a contributing factor in Game 5 as well. Thirteen missed free throws in a game y’all won by two? Can we please not?

By the Numbers:  

Ja Morant led all scorers with 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. And gave us the best in-game dunk of the series. It seems only fitting that the best in-game dunk of the series came during the quarter in which Morant went Super Sayan and put up 18 points. 

Desmond Bane dropped 25 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. Bane has been an offensive force during this series and one of the most consistent players on the court.

Brandon Clarke put up 21 points and 15 rebounds off the bench and once again proved he is an underrated and invaluable member of this squad.

Usher showed up to hang out with Morant. Please enjoy this amazing picture.

Things the Grizzlies need to advance to the semifinals:  

Twelve gotta be 12 — Ja Morant has come up huge in clutch moments but that does not negate the fact that he has struggled noticeably throughout the series.  

And 13 has to stop fouling — Jaren Jackson Jr. fouled out in the fourth last night. It was the second game in the series where he has fouled out, and he has spent nearly all of the series in foul trouble. With Steven Adams being sidelined due to a poor matchup against Karl Anthony Towns, Jackson must step up and assume the mantle of the best big man on the court.  

Dillon Brooks, please stop jacking up so many threes. Your shot has not been falling, but your defense has been on point. Please just drive to the basket more.  

Who Got Next?  

The Grizzlies are headed back to Minnesota, where they will play Game 6 against the Timberwolves. Tip-off time has yet to be announced.  

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to the Timberwolves 130-117 in Game One

Ja Morant rises for a slam dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Saturday afternoon your Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game one of their playoff series. To say it did not go well could be the most understated understatement in the history of understatements.  

Saturday’s game was four of the most frustrating quarters of basketball I have watched perhaps all season. The number two seed Grizzlies were dealt big work from the number seven seed Timberwolves, who beat Memphis, 130-117.  

Let’s get into it.  

The Timberwolves came out swinging in the first quarter and carried that dominant momentum throughout the rest of the game. The Grizzlies edged ahead in the scoring column twice but were unable to sustain a lead for more than a couple of possessions.  

Minnesota’s Karl Anthony Towns shut down Steven Adams completely for pretty much the entire game. Adams, the league leader in offensive rebounds this season, was held to exactly one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds. Four rebounds total. For the whole game.  

Adams was not the only Grizzly to struggle Saturday afternoon, not by a long shot. As a team, they couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, which was evident with 26 percent (7 of 27) three-point shooting, and 74 percent (32 of 43) free-throw shooting. With this being an Easter weekend game, I am glad it was played Saturday, so Jesus didn’t have to see them missing so many free throws.  

By the Numbers:  

Even aside from the aforementioned poor three-point and free-throw shooting, the Grizzlies were outcompeted on several fronts. Minnesota beat them on rebounding (46 to 35) and assists (32 to 25), two areas where Memphis tends to dominate.  

The Grizzlies were able to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 25 points off 18 Timberwolves turnovers.  

From an individual perspective, the numbers aren’t much better. Ja Morant finished the night with 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists — not too shabby considering much of Minnesota’s defensive strategy revolved around smothering Morant.  

Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 blocks, while Dillon Brooks ended up with 24 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. Brooks was responsible for 3 of the Grizzlies 7 made three-pointers.  

Desmond Bane had 17 points and 3 rebounds and was responsible for another 3 made three-pointers.  

These struggles were not limited to the starters — the Grizzlies bench was outscored 43 to 32.  

Brandon Clarke led the second unit in scoring with 17 points and led the team with 12 rebounds. Kyle Anderson finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Tyus Jones contributed 7 points and 6 assists.  

The only good news right now is that this is a potential 7-game series, so the Grizzlies do have time to watch film and make adjustments.  

Who Got Next?  

Game two against the Timberwolves tips off on Tuesday, April 19th, at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Playoff Preview: Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies

The Grizzlies just keep celebrating in this historic season. (Photo cred: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

As the Western Conference’s second-place finisher, the Memphis Grizzlies finished the season 56-26, led by a dynamic young core that plays at an exciting tempo.

On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in the Play-In Tournament to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference as they ended the season 46-36. 

The first game of the best-of-seven series between the two teams will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at FedExForum and be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast and ESPN.

The regular season head-to-head matchups between the two teams resulted in a 2-2 season series split, with each team winning at home. In contrast, Dillon Brooks did not appear in any of the four games.

During the regular season, the Grizzlies went 30-11 at home and 26-15 away from the FedExForum. While the Wolves went 20-21 on the road, they went 26-15 at home.

The NBA’s two top-scoring teams square off in this series — the Timberwolves averaged an NBA-best 115.9 points per game, while the Grizzlies set a franchise mark with 115.6. For the first time in Grizzlies history, the team finished in the NBA’s top five in scoring in the 2021-22 season.

It has been a record-breaking season for Memphis. On the strength of stingy defense, the Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals, and blocks since steals and blocks became official stats in 1973-74. The team also led the league in fast break points, offensive rebounds, points in the paint, and second chance points. 

Grizzlies writers Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer preview this series by answering questions that could determine whether Memphis advances to the second round.

In the season series, many have pointed out that the Wolves have held Ja Morant to an average of 20 points per game. Will the Wolves be able to hold Morant at bay?

Sharon Brown: The regular season is over, so forget about it. Morant is going to be all in on this one. He watches film and knows exactly what he needs to do. This is a player who will take advantage of any opportunity presented to him by the defense, and he can count on his teammates to step up when times get tough, just like they’ve done all season. Morant will put this team on his back if he needs to. I assume that Jenkins will have multiple ball-handlers in at times to take pressure off Morant.

Aimee Stiegemeyer: Not a chance. I have complete faith in Morant’s ability to switch into a higher gear, and I expect Playoff Ja to be next level. He takes winning very personally and plays with a chip on his shoulder, which will serve him well during the postseason.

Which matchup are you looking forward to seeing — Anthony Edwards against Morant or Karl-Anthony Towns against Jaren Jackson Jr.?

SB: It will be easy to say Morant vs. Edwards but I’m interested to see how well KAT and JJJ will match up. Will JJJ be able to disrupt KAT on defense? Jackson Jr. led the league in blocks per game (2.3), total blocks (177), and stocks, steals and blocks (250). Will JJJ be able to avoid being in foul trouble? Will he be able to get anything he wants on the offensive end? Jackson has to avoid getting into foul trouble since he’s the anchor on defense. If the Grizzlies are to advance past the first round, they will need to rely on his consistency on offense, his impeccable defense, and his availability to be on the floor. 

AS: Ja Morant vs. Anthony Edwards, and Dillon Brooks vs. everybody. 

When it comes to Memphis, who will be the team’s “x-factor”?

SB: One — The two-way play of Dillon Brooks is exemplary. He’s getting better at creating his own shots and finding open teammates when he passes the ball. In the Utah Jazz series last year, we saw that Brooks is a natural for the playoffs. Brooks scored 25.8 points per game.

Two — The impact of the Grizzlies bench. All year long the bench has stepped up when players have been in and out of the lineup. It can be either Tyus Jones, De’Anthony Melton, Ziaire Williams, Kyle Anderson, or even John Konchar.

AS: It will be a combination of Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks rather than a single player. This is the kind of matchup that Dillon the Villain thrives in.

Dillon Brooks (Photo cred: Grizzlies Twitter)

Who do you think will have the biggest impact off the bench for the Grizzlies?

SB: Jones — he has been so aggressive this season scoring the ball. He’s the best back-up point guard in the league and recorded the best single season assist-to-turnover ratio (7.04) in NBA history. Jones has the ability to slow things down when need be and make the right plays. He’s the anchor for that second unit. 

AS: If I have to pick one individual player it would be Brandon Clarke. His stats against the Timberwolves are slightly higher than his regular season stats, and his style of play matches up well against them. But the bench unit as a whole will continue to be a key point to success. This is the deepest Grizzlies team in history and the second unit has proven they can show up and fill in spots when the starters are resting. 

(statmuse link : https://statm.us/e/BaZnMUiXy) 

What do you think will be the outcome of the series?

SB: Grizzlies in 5 or 6.

AS: Grizzlies in 5. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Can the Grizzlies Keep the Streak Alive in Minnesota?

The Memphis Grizzlies are proud owners of their first winning streak this season, currently at three games after a win Wednesday night against the Minnesota  Timberwolves. Tonight, the Grizzlies get another shot against the Wolves, this time in Minneapolis.

The winning streak is particularly notable as it has occurred after reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant was sidelined with a left ankle sprain three games into the season.  

Brandon Clarke

 

There are some reassuring signs though – Brandon Clarke appears to have returned to his true form; Dillon Brooks is maturing into the player I always knew he could be. Tyus Jones continues to impact the game on both ends of the floor; Desmond Bane is just plain good. And Jonas Valanchiunas has become a double-double machine.       

 

Another notable mention: Shorthanded or not, this squad does not give up on the game. The clearest evidence of this came from their most recent win over Minnesota.

The Timberwolves cooked the Grizzlies for most of the first three quarters, and yet thanks to an extraordinarily strong fourth quarter, they came out with a win.     

 

I’ve included a visual recap of the Grizzlies win at Minnesota:

 

Three keys to keeping the winning streak alive:

  • Turning defense into offense. They will need to continue forcing turnovers and converting those into points on the offensive end. Keeping up with good ball security is also related.
  • Get the bench involved. The Memphis bench outscored the Minnesota bench by nearly 30 points and came away with the win. Bench performance was and remains a huge key to success.
  • Get in the paint. The Grizzlies had a franchise-record 80 points in the paint in their win over the Timberwolves. When the outside shots are not falling, drag your opponent into the paint and keep them there.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Postgame Notebook: Grizzlies 105, Wolves 88 — Good Signs, With an Asterisk

CREDIT: LARRY KUZNIEWSKI

Mike Conley helped lead a balanced, share-the-ball attack as the Grizzlies won comfortably against the depleted Timberwolves.

  • LARRY KUZNIEWSKI
  • Mike Conley helped lead a balanced, share-the-ball attack as the Grizzlies won comfortably against the depleted Timberwolves.

The Lead: The Grizzlies were facing a Minnesota Timberwolves team in a world of hurt, playing without Kevin Love and Andrei Kirilenko, among many others, and owners of exactly one road win this season without Love in the lineup. So there’s a limit to how much you can learn from this one.

But it did display two hopeful new facts of life for Grizzlies basketball following the Rudy Gay trade: Ball movement and depth.

The Grizzlies assisted on 30 of 41 baskets, with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley sharing the team lead with 8 each and Tony Allen, Jerryd Bayless, and Tony Wroten chipping in three each. The 30 assists was a season high.

The beneficiaries of much of the his passing largess were the team’s two new small forwards, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye, who combined to score 34 points on 14-17 shooting. (Prince was a perfect 8-8.) Don’t expect production quite like that ever again, but the contrast between Prince and Daye and the departed Rudy Gay is pretty stark. Some nights the Grizzlies’ will miss Gay’s isolation scoring. But with Prince cutting well off the ball and spotting up in the corner and Daye finding space for a potentially deadly catch-and-shoot game, they can help supply points without stopping the ball. In this one, nine of their 14 buckets were assisted. Two of the other five were tip-ins.

The Grizzlies’ assist rate shot up immediately after the trade. Improved scoring has lagged behind, but we’ve seen that this weekend. Hopefully it’s a trend and not a blip.

“The ball movement is getting contagious,” Lionel Hollins said after the game. “Everybody is moving the ball. It’s nice; giving goals to Zach, guys cutting. The whole team is just looking to make the extra pass and the extra play. When you make shots, the assists do pile up, but I think the willingness to pass is important, and we are doing that.”

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Sports Sports Feature

Grizzlies Blister T-Wolves, 109-80

The Memphis Grizzlies took an early lead and kept pulling away throughout the game to cruise to an easy victory over Minnesota at the FedExForum Saturday night.

Rudy Gay had 21 points, and Mike Miller had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Griz, who had six players in double figures.

For stats and a recap, go to CBS sports online.