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

Memphis Grizzlies matchup No 2: Jaren Jackson Jr. vs Jarred Vanderbilt

Jarred Vanderbilt, Minnesota Timberwolves

Stats: 6.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 15.35 PER
Size:  6’9″ and 214 lb
Experience: 3 years

Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

Stats: 16.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.1 APG, and 17.09 PER
Size: 6’11 and 242 lbs
Experience: 3 years

Jaren Jackson Jr. is going to be the x-factor in this series. The Grizzlies are going to need to exploit the Timberwolves at their most vulnerable position— power forward.

Jackson, a candidate for the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award, is going to have an opportunity to showcase why Memphis invested more than $100 million in him this past offseason.

Jackson can score from beyond-the-arc or in the paint. He needs to attack the basket and put his offensive gifts to work, especially with such a lopsided matchup.

Jackson has 2-3 inches and 30 lbs on Vanderbilt. He needs to go to work and go to work early in this series.

On defense, expect Jackson to keep an eye on Towns as he’ll likely have to help Adams early and often. Jackson has to be careful not to pickup any cheap fouls, though.

Vanderbilt is not much of a threat on offense. He’s scored 10+ points just six times since Feb. 6.

The Grizzlies have to win this positional battle each game. The team can afford no games in which Jackson gets outplayed by Vanderbilt.

Jaren’s ability to block shots, knock down threes and score in bunches gives him a dynamic skillset that Vanderbilt will have difficulty matching.

Winner: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies