As we inch closer to the regular season, let’s see how the Memphis Grizzlies match up against the Portland Trailblazers. Are Dame and McCollum too much?
After a surprising season in 2015-16, everyone thought Portland was going to take off. Behind the dynamic duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, they were set to contend with the Western Conference’s elite.
Instead, they disappointed out of the gate and skinned into the playoffs. They then met the buzzsaw of the Golden State Warriors and were swept.
After the midseason acquisition of Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers have a perfect third wheel alongside the star-studded backcourt. Maybe, his production and increased help from the role players will propel the Blazers to new heights.
Since the Memphis Grizzlies destroyed them in the 2015 playoffs, the series has been kind of even – with Portland winning four of their seven matchups since then. The Grizzlies will definitely miss key plugs in Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. Can their role players fill in for them to top this Western Conference foe?
Starting Lineup
PG – Damian Lillard
SG – CJ McCollum
SF – Mo Harkless
PF – Al-Farouq Aminu
C – Jusuf Nurkic
Advantages for the Memphis Grizzlies
- Backup point guard
For once, the Memphis Grizzlies have the advantage at the backup point guard spot. The Grizzlies have numerous options in Andrew Harrison, Mario Chalmers, Tyreke Evans and Wade Baldwin. Just about any of them should be enough to top Shabazz Napier. All of them have the size advantage over the smaller Napier. If they can bother him on defense and prevent him from running the offense, the Blazers will have trouble scoring from the second unit.
- Marc Gasol
The Portland Trailblazers don’t have any above-average big men — with the exception of Jusuf Nurkic. In saying this, JaMychal Green and Marc Gasol should be on their A-game. There’s no one in the frontcourt who has the defensive chops or size to stop them.
Gasol needs to play like “Aggressive Marc” for the Grizzlies to top Portland.
Advantages for Portland
- Lillard-McCollum duo
Mike Conley shouldn’t have much trouble stopping Lillard, but the Grizz don’t have a premier perimeter stopper without Tony Allen. CJ McCollum is just as dangerous behind the arc as his backcourt mate. If the Grizzlies don’t stop either one of them, they’ll be in for a long night.
- Dame Time
The Memphis Grizzlies can’t be in a predicament where it’s “Dame Time.” Lillard is one of the best players in crunch time, and he isn’t afraid of the big shot — just ask Chandler Parsons.
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- Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
- 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
- Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
- Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star
Closing Remarks
The Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trailblazers will be two teams duking it out for a playoff spot. When it comes down to it, one of these teams may not make the playoffs.
This matchup should be fun as always since Mike Conley and Damian Lillard — two of the best point guards in basketball — will be battling against each other. In addition, Jusuf Nurkic — a rising center in this league — will go up against one of the best centers in this decade, Marc Gasol.
Most importantly, we’ll finally see how Chandler Parsons bounces back since his Twitter beef with CJ McCollum.