Memphis Grizzlies: A position-by-position playoff matchup guide vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Memphis Grizzlies matchup No 1: Steven Adams vs Karl-Anthony Towns

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Stats: 24.6 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 3.6 APG, 24.21 PER
Size: 6’11” and 248 lbs
Experience: 6 years

Steven Adams, Memphis Grizzlies

Stats: 6.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 17.60 PER
Size: 6’11” and 265 lbs
Experience: 8 years

Steven Adams is going to have the most difficult assignment of any Memphis Grizzlies player during this playoff series.

Adams will be tasked with trying to slow one of the best big men in the entire NBA, Karl-Anthony Towns. The former Kentucky standout ranks in the top-15 among all NBA players in points per game, rebounds per game, and player efficiency rating.

Towns also excels at shooting the ball beyond the arc. Adams is going to be pushed to his limit by having to chase Towns to the three-point line frequently.

Adams may not be in a position to do what he does best in this series, which is rebound the ball. If he has to close out Towns at the three-point line, it will leave the door wide open for the Wolves to grab some offensive rebounds and get second-chance points.

The best chance for Adams to have success and be effective is to bait Towns into committing fouls, just like the Clippers did during the Play-In game April 12.

Towns is too gifted on offense to stop, but if Adams is able to out-rebound him and make him earn every basket, the Grizzlies will chalk that up to a win.

On offense, if Adams can continue to find his teammates with his excellent passing skills and set screens to get his teammates open, it’ll force Towns to help on defense and increase his risk of committing a foul.

Winner: Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves