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Memphis Grizzlies: 3 Keys to Victory Against Portland Trail Blazers

By AJ Salah

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 28: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 28, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 28: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 28, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Get Gasol the Ball

Marc Gasol has not exactly been himself lately. He has been averaging an anemic 9.8 points over the past five games, and regressing to the same poor shooting he began the season with.

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Getting him into a comfortable offensive rhythm early will be key versus the Trail Blazers, for a variety of reasons. First is the basic narrative that Memphis does not score very well, and struggles to keep up when either of Gasol or Conley is not firing. It puts too much onus on non-scorers. The Memphis Grizzlies needed 43 points from Kyle Anderson and JaMychal Green to barely beat the Pelicans last week.

The flipside will also be dragging Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic out of his comfort zone. Nurkic is a low-post bruiser who is more effective dominating the glass than chasing centers around the perimeter. If Gasol works the pick-n-pop game and gets hot from deep, he will open up a whole new advantage for Memphis to exploit.

Nurkic himself is playing the best ball of his career right now. Perhaps feeling the pressure from sophomore Zach Collins, he has uncorked career-highs in pretty much every basic statistic.

So get Marc Gasol’s best effort. Feed him some early touches; let him stretch the defense, exercise his offensive demons, and build some momentum for an important matchup.

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