Round 1, Game 1: Utah Jazz vs Memphis Grizzlies

[Inigo Montoya]

I think we got the easier matchup between the Grizzlies and the Warriors, but that only means at least 4 extra trap games. I'll enjoy watching Morant, he's fun to watch.

[red4hf]

I really like the team that Memphis put together..... Look forward to the Jazz pushing them aside.......

But seriously Memphis is going to be good for years to come..... It's going to be interesting who's going to guard Morant, I'm guessing it will be Royce,he's been doing it all year, and how the Jazz are going to deal with Jackson Jr.......

[El Hespiritu]

Beware the Bear.

He looks young, cute anf fluffy.
He's not.
He's a bad motherfuqer with some tendence to evisceration.

[@ndrew]

I don't see Memphis as a problem. Maybe I'm cocky, but we are good for first round. I am really happy for Grizs, though. Always ready to fight.

[Crunch 99]

ESPN GameDay link:
https://www.espn.com/nba/game/_/gameId/401327721

Game preview:
https://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=401327721

Expected Memphis/Utah lineups at time of this post from Rotowire:
https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/nba-lineups.php

[Crunch 99]

Playoffs are a whole new, fresh season, but here are some miscellaneous Utah vs. Memphis stats below from the regular season. We haven't seen the talented, young Jaren Jackson yet this season, who is starting tonight and is in the process of regaining his form following a near season-long absence with injury. Memphis has excellent young talent to go along with their talented veteran JV.

Jazz head to head, team stats versus Memphis --- the Jazz stats first, the Grizzly stats second:



Utah player averages vs Memphis:
https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&OpponentTeamID=1610612763&TeamID=1610612762

Memphis player averages vs Utah:
https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=PTS&dir=-1&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&OpponentTeamID=1610612762&TeamID=1610612763

[Crunch 99]

Random observations from the regular season, Utah versus Memphis in head to head matchups:

Mitchell and Morant were both spectacular, but Mitchell was arguably slightly more spectacular, averaging 35 ppg on 20 fga with 6.5 apg over 2 games vs Morant's 26.7 ppg on 17 fga with 7.3 apg over 3 games. Tonight we've got Mitchell coming back from a five week absence, so getting the unstoppable version of Mitchell is low probability. The good news is that the Jazz are capable of winning with a more balanced offensive attack, winning with other guys stepping up like Mike Conley did in the third win over Memphis when Mitchell didn't play.

JV averaged 6.7 orebs/game against the Jazz. The Jazz averaged a near identical 12.7 orebs vs Memphis' 13.0 orebs in the head to head matchups, but the Jazz could do themselves a big favor by cutting down on JV's orebs.

Memphis only averaged 8.7 3PM on 27 3PA vs Utah, while the Jazz averaged 15.7 3PM on 42.3 3PA. Imho, Memphis will have to take and make a lot more threes/game to win a series against the three point shooting Jazz. Go Jazz!

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[Catchall]

I'm looking for Conley and Clarkson to take this game over. Bogdanovic is confident, but Kyle Anderson and Jaren Jackson Jr. might slow him down. Will be interested to see if Rudy plays all out or if he paces himself.

[tugs]

Bit worried about Tillman, really active on both ends

Also, can't help but think Jazz wilo be facing the college version of Grayson Allen

[Rauxcee]

Read a Facebook post from the Jazz about how Mitchell was feeling no pain and ready to go for game 1, and now he's not ready and cant play. That is very concerning to me. Not just for this series, but also through out the playoffs.

Just means Mitchell probably won't be 100% when he comes back and will be rusty. While I expect the Jazz to get past the first round regardless, the second round will be a problem.

[Crunch 99]

Read a Facebook post from the Jazz about how Mitchell was feeling no pain and ready to go for game 1, and now he's not ready and cant play. That is very concerning to me. Not just for this series, but also through out the playoffs.

Just means Mitchell probably won't be 100% when he comes back and will be rusty. While I expect the Jazz to get past the first round regardless, the second round will be a problem.

Wow, that's worrisome. Mitchell's game, with his dramatic changes of directions and stop-on-a-dime pull ups, puts more pressure on his ankles than any other Jazz player imo. It sometimes hurts my ankles just to watch him play. I hope he is ready to go soon.

With JJJ having recently replaced Grayson in the Memphis starting lineup and Mitchell initially projected to replace Ingles in the Jazz starting lineup, our projected starting lineup was going to be pretty small compared to Memphis' starting lineup. At least we gain a little size back with Rotowire's latest projected starting lineup comprised of Gobert, Bogey, Ingles, Royce and Conley. This lineup was +28.8 points in 135 minutes of action this season.

[tugs]

And here I thought Quinn will be rolling out a DM-JC combo off the bench. Lethal

[Rauxcee]

Bogey needs to get off the floor. He's putrid.

[AingesBurner]

Jazz playing like ass. Put Brooks on his ass.

[ForeverRDjazz]

Hard to believe the Grizz having closed the game out yet as bad as we've played. Like AZZ!

[Rauxcee]

Not sure if Mitchell is still injured, or if the Jazz gambled on more rest for him thinking the jazz can win, but if its the latter they are losing that gamble.

[ForeverRDjazz]

Refs are calling this game one way. Grizz have 8 players on the floor tonight. Some old crappy reffing.

[@ndrew]

Really don't want go get that ref card, but Its not good officiating

[BudTugly]

It’s not like we aren’t fouling, just that they are too.

Why do these refs even bother coming to our bucket? Just take a quick nap