RealGM

I wonder if the Grizzlies will start resting players since their seeding at #2 is secured, or if they'll put in some effort in order to influence the seeding of the teams below them so they could maybe get a more favorable matchup in the first round.

ESPN has Memphis ranked at number two in their Power Rankings this week. ESPN further notes that Memphis beat the regular Suns' starting lineup last game while playing with only one regular Memphis starter. Both Morant and Brooks are out tonight. Memphis has racked up 20 wins against only two losses playing without 27.6 ppg Morant. Forrest and Doke are out for the Jazz.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33662707/nba-power-rankings-week-25-risers-fallers-seeding-battles-heat-up

https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/nba-lineups.php

Jazz suck. We're full strength and they're missing their 2 Best players. This team is done. I'm done with Rudy Gobert amd his entitled ass. He's a role player

Sent from my SM-G986U1 using Tapatalk

Denver lost, so we're closer to cementing the 4th or 5th seed. Which means a second round exit for us at best.

We gave them all the opportunities of the world with our missed ft.

The game wasn't pretty when I waked up from naps , but I am glad to get the win, glad to see Gobert with a 20/20, including 6 orebs, and glad to see Gobert/Whiteside put up a combined 36 points on 18 fga with 31 rebs and 8 orebs.

Memphis is deep and playing well. They are 20-3 playing without superstar Morant. They have the second best win percentage in the NBA since the All Star break behind Boston. At this point, I am no longer feeling that potentially facing a healthy Memphis in the second round would be a heck of a lot more desirable prospect than facing a healthy Suns in the second round. Both the Suns and Grizz are heading in to the playoffs on strong, post All Star break play.

Ainge drafted Desmond Bane at number 30 after we drafted Doke at number 27. Maybe Ainge should have kept Bane, but he traded Bane to Memphis for multiple future picks a few months later in late November, 2020, with the point being he got some compensation for Bane. If we had to trade Doke now, we would have to throw picks in to move him, which was what seemed to happen to Lindsey a lot --- draining our cupboard of future picks.

I still have hope for the oft-injured Doke to turn in a good player, but using our first round pick on a project to play backup to Rudy with no outside shooting skills and little defensive skills away from the rim did not make a lot of sense.

At least Quin played House in the OT.

He should finish always the games and Royce should sit.

FJS wrote:At least Quin played House in the OT.

He should finish always the games and Royce should sit.

I've seen Royce passing up open shots in recent games with those possessions often ending with the Jazz taking more difficult shots.

We ask a lot out of Royce. He has played the most minutes on the team, and usually has to guard much bigger players. Playing the fresher House and Hernangomez a few more minutes and Royce a few less minutes would help keep the team energy up better. Royce may be a bit tired.

Anyone impressed with an OT win vs Memphis without Ja and Brooks? No? Me either.

Was is 4 or 5 missed layups in the first quarter? I lost track.

I rarely question rotations, but Gay in over Juancho? (..or Paschall, for that matter.) Come'on. Rudy G just isn't himself. Let's blame the surgery & hope he's better next season, but for now he's not giving the team anything.

I like House, but disagree he's a better overall option than Royce. However, Royce is in a tough stretch right now. They need him back to shooting 3's with 40% confidence. I have no issue with playing who's had a better game down the stretch, so that was a good call in this game.

3 games left to "get things right". Yikes. Love my Jazz, but ugh.

zero24gravity wrote:Anyone impressed with an OT win vs Memphis without Ja and Brooks? No? Me either.

Was is 4 or 5 missed layups in the first quarter? I lost track.

I rarely question rotations, but Gay in over Juancho? (..or Paschall, for that matter.) Come'on. Rudy G just isn't himself. Let's blame the surgery & hope he's better next season, but for now he's not giving the team anything.

I like House, but disagree he's a better overall option than Royce. However, Royce is in a tough stretch right now. They need him back to shooting 3's with 40% confidence. I have no issue with playing who's had a better game down the stretch, so that was a good call in this game.

3 games left to "get things right". Yikes. Love my Jazz, but ugh.

They were 20-2 without Morant and Brooks have only played 30 games (21-9)... so basically Memphis has gone 35-21 with Ja and 20-3 without him.
So I am Impressed, they are a good team.

FJS wrote:

zero24gravity wrote:Anyone impressed with an OT win vs Memphis without Ja and Brooks? No? Me either.

Was is 4 or 5 missed layups in the first quarter? I lost track.

I rarely question rotations, but Gay in over Juancho? (..or Paschall, for that matter.) Come'on. Rudy G just isn't himself. Let's blame the surgery & hope he's better next season, but for now he's not giving the team anything.

I like House, but disagree he's a better overall option than Royce. However, Royce is in a tough stretch right now. They need him back to shooting 3's with 40% confidence. I have no issue with playing who's had a better game down the stretch, so that was a good call in this game.

3 games left to "get things right". Yikes. Love my Jazz, but ugh.

They were 20-2 without Morant and Brooks have only played 30 games (21-9)... so basically Memphis has gone 35-21 with Ja and 20-3 without him.
So I am Impressed, they are a good team.

Record or not ... Are you suggesting they are better without Morant?

zero24gravity wrote:

FJS wrote:

zero24gravity wrote:Anyone impressed with an OT win vs Memphis without Ja and Brooks? No? Me either.

Was is 4 or 5 missed layups in the first quarter? I lost track.

I rarely question rotations, but Gay in over Juancho? (..or Paschall, for that matter.) Come'on. Rudy G just isn't himself. Let's blame the surgery & hope he's better next season, but for now he's not giving the team anything.

I like House, but disagree he's a better overall option than Royce. However, Royce is in a tough stretch right now. They need him back to shooting 3's with 40% confidence. I have no issue with playing who's had a better game down the stretch, so that was a good call in this game.

3 games left to "get things right". Yikes. Love my Jazz, but ugh.

They were 20-2 without Morant and Brooks have only played 30 games (21-9)... so basically Memphis has gone 35-21 with Ja and 20-3 without him.
So I am Impressed, they are a good team.

Record or not ... Are you suggesting they are better without Morant?

Probably more of a DeAndre' Melton and Tyus Jones are both starting caliber point guards kind of point. They clearly are a bigger threat with Ja, but they know how to win without him and the win is still impressive considering that. Also, Brooks has missed a significant chunk of the year and despite him being a fun player I don't think he elevates them much. He's probably the 6th best player on the team, at best.

zero24gravity wrote:Record or not ... Are you suggesting they are better without Morant?

Yes. They should trade Morant to the Jazz for Conley and filler.

Inigo Montoya wrote:

zero24gravity wrote:Record or not ... Are you suggesting they are better without Morant?

Yes. They should trade Morant to the Jazz for Conley and filler.

Absolutely. I mean, sounds like they are better without him.

No, they aren't better, but without him aren't a joke. What I am saying is that Grizzlies is a well rounded team, not dependent of his superstar.

zero24gravity wrote:

Inigo Montoya wrote:

zero24gravity wrote:Record or not ... Are you suggesting they are better without Morant?

Yes. They should trade Morant to the Jazz for Conley and filler.

Absolutely. I mean, sounds like they are better without him.

Right? I'll even be willing to throw in a young prospect like Butler to sweeten the deal. It's a steal for the Grizzlies really.