- Analysis
- My 10* Situational Stunner is on the Memphis Grizzlies at 10:40 ET.
The Los Angeles Clippers will look to bounce back in the team's first home contest of the season Saturday against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies, after opening the campaign with a 115-113 road loss against the Golden State Warriors (Curry had 45 points). The Memphis Grizzlies are the opponent, coming in off a 132-121 home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Jaren Jackson Jr. came into the league when Memphis made him the No. 4 pick in 2018. The former Michigan State star has averaged 15.4 points in his first three seasons. Jackson missed the Grizzlies' first 56 games last year while rehabbing a knee injury suffered the previous season. He wound up taking the court just 16 times, the last two of which being arguably his best, when he averaged 18.0 points in losses to Utah in Games 4 and 5 of their first-round playoff series Jackson contributed 13 & 6 in the win but the star was none other than PG Ja Morant (19.1 & 7.4 APG last season), who scored 37 points and handed out six assists. Bane (22 points) and Melton (20) were surprise contributors, while Kyle Anderson added 10-7-4 and the team's new center, Steven Adams looked very good (eight points and 14 rebounds). Memphis shot 53.0% as a team, including 14 of 33 on threes!
Paul George finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a losing effort against Golden St but said his team will work to put the loss behind them and get a home victory against a tough Memphis team. "It was a good test for us in Game 1," George told reporters. "We know what we have to do going forward against these fast-paced teams. It doesn't get better than them (Golden State) in terms of how fast they play, and how much that ball is hopping around. All are aware that the Clippers are playing without superstar Kawhi Leonard, who suffered a partially torn ACL in his right knee during the playoffs last season and had surgery in July (he could miss the entire season). PG Jackson played excellently down the stretch and throughout the postseason last year but finished with just 11 points on 4-of-19 shooting in a loss. Some good news was that the Clippers got 22 points from new edition Eric Bledsoe. All five starters scored in double digits but it was not enough to overcome Steph's 45 points.
The Grizzlies' game against the Clippers is the start of a four-game Western trip for Memphis that includes games against the Lakers, the Trail Blazers and the Warriors. Memphis sur won't want to start off that trip with a loss. Meanwhile, the Clippers will play three straight at home, as after Memphis, they have games with Portland and Cleveland. My feeling is that the Clippers are going to need some time to develop a chemistry, while Memphis seems MUCH more settled. I know the Grizzlies' win came against the Cavs (not a real test) but the 'old and now' parts blend well. I'm taking the points.
Good luck...Larry
