CJ McCollum Says 'They Can't F--king Guard Me' After Clutch Shot on Ja Morant
Aug 15, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum reacts to a shot against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum schooled Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant on what it's like to play defense in an elimination game in a 126-122 victory Saturday.
During the Western Conference play-in game, McCollom repeatedly crossed up Morant in the fourth quarter, culminating with the guard taunting his opponent after hitting a jump shot with less than two minutes to play.
That McCollum was able to get on the court at all—let alone dominate—was an incredible feat. The 28-year-old is reportedly dealing with a fracture in his lower back after suffering the injury early on in the league's restart, per NBC Sports Northwest's Dwight Jaynes.
Still, the veteran helped the Blazers clinch the No. 8 seed Saturday with 29 points while going 11-of-19 from the field.
Morant (35 points) likely won't forget a few of those buckets anytime soon.
Damian Lillard, Blazers to Face Lakers After Epic Win vs. Ja Morant, Grizzlies
Aug 15, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum celebrates against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
The red-hot Portland Trail Blazers are officially in the playoffs thanks to their 126-122 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in Saturday's play-in game.
Portland came into this matchup as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference thanks to a 6-2 record in the eight seeding games. A loss Saturday would have forced the team into a winner-take-all showdown against the Grizzlies on Sunday.
Instead, the Trail Blazers will have two days off before they open their first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Jonas Valanciunas: 22 PTS (8-of-16 FG), 17 REB, 6 AST
Nurkic, McCollum Lift Blazers
One reason there was optimism around the Blazers coming into the restart was the return of Jusuf Nurkic. The Bosnian Bear didn't appear in any games before the season was suspended as he continued to rehab from the compound fracture in his left leg suffered in March 2019.
Per ESPN'sRamona Shelburne, Portland's plus-10.5 net rating with Nurkic last season would have been the best in the NBA if he had played enough games.
As the Blazers were making their run during the seeding games, all eyes were understandably on Damian Lillard. The five-time All-Star was scoring at an astounding rate, averaging 37.6 points and shooting 43.6 percent from three on 12.6 attempts per game.
But while Lillard was dazzling the world with his scoring proficiency, Nurkic was quietly rounding into form. He averaged 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds in the eight games played on the NBA campus.
Late in the fourth quarter on Saturday with the score tied at 111, Nurkic put the Blazers up by three when he converted a three-point play after grabbing an offensive rebound off a Carmelo Anthony miss.
After the Grizzlies got a basket to cut the deficit to one, McCollum did his best Lillard impression with a step-back three to extend Portland's lead.
After Damian Lillard has carried the Blazers to this point, it is Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum that are carrying them into the NBA playoffs. Remarkable stuff.
Anthony had a poor shooting game (5-of-15 overall), but he got involved during that late fourth-quarter stretch with a dagger three to put the Blazers up 122-116 with 20 seconds remaining.
The Blazers aren't going to win any awards for their defense, but the number of scorers they have on the floor at any given moment is enough to at least cause the Lakers some problems in a series.
The Grizzlies aren't yet a championship-caliber team—or even a playoff team, based on Saturday's result—but they are on their way to becoming one because of Ja Morant.
Every organization hopes to draft and develop their own superstar. Very few are able to do it for any number of reasons, not the least of which is because it's incredibly difficult.
Morant hasn't joined the top tier of superstars in the NBA yet, but he's been 21 years old for all of five days. Saturday's must-win game was an indication of why the Murray State product has all the tools to become a potential MVP candidate in the not-too-distant future.
While Morant was busy showing the world why he's the heavy Rookie of the Year favorite, his fellow first-year teammate, Brandon Clarke, provided the Grizzlies with an offensive spark off the bench.
Clarke had run hot and cold since the season restarted, shooting under 50 percent in three games and only attempting 12 threes in the previous eight games. He found a groove early and often against Portland's leaky defense.
I remember when Brandon Clarke struggled to make a free throw and mid-range jumper at San Jose State. Now the rookie has nailed four 3-point shots in a big game for the Grizzlies. Shows what comes with hard work.
The Grizzlies had to adapt on the fly one week into the restart when Jaren Jackson Jr. was injured. Things didn't look great much of the way, but head coach Taylor Jenkins was able to keep his team focused heading into their biggest game of the season.
Memphis' hopes coming into 2019-20 were all about developing Morant, Clarke and Jackson into significant contributors. That trio came together much faster than anyone could have predicted.
Despite Jackson's absence now, Morant and Clarke stepped up in the most important game of their NBA careers to show Grizzlies fans and the rest of the NBA what this franchise has in store for the future after all of the valuable experience they gained this season.
What's Next?
The Trail Blazers will play the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs on Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.
Fantasy Basketball 2020: Daily Fantasy Advice for NBA Playoffs Opening Weekend
Aug 15, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers' Carmelo Anthony, right, and Damian Lillard celebrate the team's win over the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Damian Lillard is the most reliable daily fantasy basketball option left in the NBA bubble, but he alone will not win you money in contests.
Because of his incredible run of performances, Lillard will be the first player chosen by most fantasy owners when setting lineups for the play-in series between his Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies.
To be in a winning position, you will have to rely on the scoring depth of both teams, and there are a handful of options that fill that category.
Gary Trent Jr. and Carmelo Anthony were solid in the eight seeding games for Portland. As was Dillon Brooks for Memphis.
Finding the right combination of stars and secondary scorers is vital to climbing the leaderboard Saturday and, if the Grizzlies win, Sunday as well.
NBA Daily Fantasy Advice
Build Lineup Around Damian Lillard
Lillard is the best player on both rosters, and he was the top performer in Orlando, Florida, over the past two weeks. Devin Booker is the only player who could challenge Lillard for that honor.
Even with Brooklyn putting two defenders on him at half-court, Lillard found a way to put up 42 points Thursday and place Portland in the play-in series.
No matter which defensive strategy Memphis utilizes, Lillard will put up shots. And given the way he has played, he will likely sink a majority of them.
During his eight-game run in Orlando, which started with 29 points against Memphis, Lillard has filled up the other stat categories as well. He had three games with 12 assists and chipped in a handful of rebounds and steals.
Although he will likely be the most expensive option in FanDuel and DraftKings contests, Lillard is well worth the high price tag. He has failed to reach the 25-point mark once in the bubble, and even in that game he was productive, recording nine rebounds and eight assists.
The tricky part of lineup-building will be finding the right supporting cast to help you rise up leaderboards with Lillard leading the way.
Find Value with Gary Trent Jr., Carmelo Anthony and Dillon Brooks
Trent, Anthony and Brooks are three of the best options among the second tier of players.
Trent has been one of the pleasant surprises from the Portland bench, hitting the 15-point mark in six of the eight seeding games.
That consistent level of production is impressive for a shooter coming off the bench behind a lineup that contains Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Most of Trent's success has come from three-point range. He knocked down four triples Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets and has done the same in each of his five other 15-plus-point outings.
Anthony is shooting in a similar vein of form as Trent, with five performances of 15 points or better and a sixth with 13 points. Even though he did not reach double digits Thursday, he chipped in with seven rebounds, an assist and a steal. If he fills up those columns and records a few more baskets Saturday, Anthony could end up as one of the best supporting pieces to Lillard.
Brooks has been nothing but consistent alongside Ja Morant and Jonas Valanciunas in the Memphis offense. The Oregon product lit up a depleted Milwaukee side for 31 points Thursday and had at least 14 points in the eight seeding contests.
Similar to Trent and Anthony, Brooks has made contributions in most stat categories to develop into a reliable fantasy option. He is averaging 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in the bubble, and he had four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in the July 31 meeting with Portland.
If you roster all or two of the three players, you should be able to get some support to surround the stars from each team.
The No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers and No. 9 Memphis Grizzlies are set to face off for the right to play LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in Round 1 of the NBA playoffs...
NBA Playoffs 2020: Grizzlies vs. Blazers Play-In Game Schedule, Live Stream
Aug 15, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots as Dallas Mavericks forward Dorian Finney-Smith (10) attempts to block during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
The Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies will face off in the NBA's first-ever play-in tournament to decide the eighth and final Western Conference playoff participant.
The first (and potentially only) game will take place Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET at ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida. ABC will be the television home for the matchup, which can be live-streamed on ESPN.
If the Blazers win, they will assume the eighth seed and face the first-placed Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, beginning Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET. If the Grizzlies win, Memphis and Portland will play another matchup Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET to decide the eighth seed. ESPN would broadcast that one.
Below you can take a look at how both teams got here in the lead-up to their pivotal Saturday matchup.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies, a rebuilding team based around an early-20s core of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., were not expected to contend for a playoff berth, especially after the Grizz went just 33-49 the year before.
The future looked bright with Morant, the 2019 draft's No. 2 overall pick, running the show, but anything resembling a top-eight seed seemed far-fetched.
Morant and crew defied expectations, however, as they went 32-33 before the NBA was suspended in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 21-year-old cruised to what should be a Rookie of the Year award with 17.8 points, 7.3 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, and Jackson improved upon a promising rookie campaign with 17.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks.
But the X-factor may have been the explosive Jonas Valanciunas, who produced points and rebounds in droves. He averaged 14.9 points and 11.3 rebounds in just 26.4 minutes of action, giving the Grizzlies some much-needed low-post scoring and propelling the team to a top-eight seed in the West before the restart.
Dillon Brooks pitched in as well, scoring 16.2 points per night.
The season didn't start well, with the team beginning 6-16, but the Grizz then went 7-6 over their next 13 games to move to 13-22 and avoid going into a tailspin.
At that point, the Grizz caught fire, winning seven straight and 11 of 13 to move to 24-24. After a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis broke past the .500 mark with four wins in five contests to go to 28-26.
However, a tough schedule loomed for the Grizzlies, and Memphis faltered down the stretch. The Grizz lost five in a row in late February and started the Walt Disney World portion of the schedule with four straight defeats.
However, the 3.5-game cushion they built over the ninth-place team in the West leading into the restart paid off, as the Grizz were able to split their last four games to sneak into the play-in game.
It's been a rocky regular-season finish for the Grizz, and they will have to figure out how to win a pair versus Portland without Jackson, who suffered a torn meniscus and is out for the season.
Win or lose, though, Memphis looks like it's about to become a perennial playoff team with Morant and Jackson, who should lead the Grizz to great heights through the 2020s.
Portland Trail Blazers
A trying season for the Blazers saw them splutter to a 5-12 start. The loss of center Jusuf Nurkic, who broke his left leg in March 2019, clearly hindered the team, as the Blazers were left without their dominant scorer and rebounder who had established an excellent rapport with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
Some reprieve came in the form of 10-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist Carmelo Anthony, however. The 36-year-old averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, one year after playing just 10 games with the Houston Rockets and finding himself unable to land with another team.
While the Blazers didn't propel themselves to the upper echelon of the West, Anthony helped stabilize the team and stop the bleeding, keeping them within striking distance of the playoffs.
All the while, Lillard did Lillard things, which is to say that he dropped buckets at will. He averaged 30.0 points and 8.0 assists and scored 60 or more points three times, including a 61-point effort Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks.
McCollum continued to be an excellent backcourt mate thanks to his scoring and ball-handling, and a few young players emerged in Gary Trent Jr. and Zach Collins.
Portland went into the restart with a 29-37 record but finished 35-39 overall after going 6-2. Their contests in Walt Disney World were highly entertaining and decided by an average of 4.6 points per game. Portland excelled on offense (although not so much on defense) and lit up scoreboard, scoring at least 110 points in every game.
The Blazers have taken on a new look in Florida too. Nurkic is back and has filled up the stat sheet with 17.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Collins, who missed 63 games with a dislocated shoulder, is back in the mix and providing valuable minutes, posting 7.0 points and 6.3 rebounds for the year.
And Trent has developed into a sometimes unstoppable force off the bench, nailing a litany of three-pointers and provided some scoring reprieve for Lillard and McCollum in the backcourt. He's averaged 16.9 points on 51.6 percent shooting (50.7 percent from three-point range) during the restart.
Despite its restart success, Portland needed to beat the Brooklyn Nets in its final game to make the play-in round. The Blazers did so 134-133 behind 42 Lillard points, and now they are looking to advance to the playoffs for the seventh straight year.
NBA Playoffs 2020: Explaining Play-In Format, Seedings and More
Aug 15, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (0) shoots the ball against Memphis Grizzlies Brandon Clarke (15) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, July 31, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via AP)
The final berth in the 2020 NBA playoffs will be handed out to either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Memphis Grizzlies.
Portland and Memphis fended off challenges from the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs to lock into the play-in series, which begins Saturday. The play-in series victor will take on the Los Angeles Lakers, who secured the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference inside the NBA bubble.
Fourteen squads are aware of their first-round opponents. The opening round of the postseason begins Monday, with Utah Jazz facing the Denver Nuggets.
NBA Postseason Seeds and Schedule
Play-In Format
As the No. 8 seed, Portland needs to win one game against Memphis to line up a first-round showdown with the Lakers.
Ninth-seeded Memphis must win two contests against the Trail Blazers to keep alive its season inside the bubble.
If the Grizzlies win Saturday afternoon's tilt, Sunday's matchup will be a winner-take-all contest.
Play-In Preview
Saturday marks the second time Portland and Memphis will face off in Orlando, Florida.
The Blazers opened their eight-game slate in the bubble with a five-point overtime victory against the Grizzlies. That result started Portland's ascension to the No. 8 seed and began a four-game losing run for Memphis.
Portland comes into the play-in series in better form and with the league's hottest player on its roster in Damian Lillard. The point guard's 29-point performance against Memphis was rather pedestrian compared to the totals he put up in the other seven games.
Lillard has eclipsed 40 points in four of the past five games, and he did so again Thursday despite the Brooklyn Nets focusing two defenders on him once he crossed the half-court line. He adjusted to the Nets' defensive strategy by extending his range, taking contested shots and relying on C.J. McCollum and others to knock down shots on some possessions.
Memphis could try to adopt that strategy Saturday, but it would leave itself exposed to McCollum's driving ability. McCollum finished with 25 points Thursday, which was his third-best total in the bubble. His top score in eight games was 33 against Memphis.
The drive-and-kick ability of McCollum and Lillard could also hurt Memphis, with Gary Trent Jr., Carmelo Anthony and others waiting to knock down open shots from the wing.
Ja Morant could also benefit from his penetration into the lane to create easy buckets or open opportunities for his teammates. The rookie point guard produced 22 points and 11 assists in the July 31 loss to Portland and has had at least eight assists in each of his bubble games.
In his past three contests, the Murray State product earned a double-double and he finished with a triple-double Thursday thanks to his first double-digit rebound game since February 9.
The biggest advantage the Grizzlies could have is with Jonas Valanciunas in the paint.
Although Portland carries more depth at the position in Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins and Hassan Whiteside, it struggled to solidify the glassin the fourth quarter against Brooklyn, which led to offensive rebounds for Jarrett Allen and second-chance scoring opportunities.
Valanciunas is coming off a triple-double against Milwaukee, which was his best performance inside the bubble. If he continues to be a force on the glass and adds 15-20 points to complement Morant, Memphis could have enough scoring to counter whichever total Lillard produces.
Containing the red-hot Lillard will be a tough task, but if Memphis is able to win other individual battles throughout the court, it stands a chance to force a second game in the play-in series.
NBA Playoffs 2020: Grizzlies vs. Blazers Play-In Game Schedule, Live Stream
Aug 14, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard reacts after making a 3-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kim Klement/Pool Photo via AP)
Twenty-two NBA teams were invited to play in the NBA bubble to finish the regular season and determine the seeding for the playoffs. As of Friday, five of them are preparing to go home, eliminated from contention. The weekend will see a sixth team join them.
The Portland Trail Blazers (35-39) and Memphis Grizzlies (34-39) will face off in a play-in series for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. The NBA added this wrinkle to add some intrigue to the restart, stipulating that a ninth-seeded team that finished within four games of the eighth seed would get a chance to steal their spot in the postseason.
Despite a furious 8-0 run by the Phoenix Suns inside the bubble, the Blazers and Grizzlies were able to get the wins they needed Thursday night to set up the matchup (no team in the East qualified for a play-in game).
Here's how the play-in works: The Grizzlies, as the ninth seed, have to beat the Blazers twice to make the playoffs. The Blazers just have to win once. If they win Saturday, there is no second game Sunday. The winner of the play-in will take on the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the postseason.
If recent form is any indication, the Grizzlies are in trouble. Sure, they notched an impressive (and necessary) 119-106 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, but overall they have gone just 2-6 inside the bubble. Memphis will also be playing without Jaren Jackson Jr., who tore his meniscus just three games into the restart.
To make matters worse for the Grizzlies, they happen to be running into the hottest player in the bubble: Damian Lillard. Portland's leading man has been brilliant over the past three games, scoring 51 against the Philadelphia 76ers, 61 against the Dallas Mavericks and then 42 points against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. The Blazers won all three games by three points or fewer. According to ESPN Stats & Info, no one has ever closed out a season like Dame Time:
Damian Lillard's scoring totals in the Blazers last three games: 51, 61, 42.
His 154 points are the most any player has scored in their final three games of a season.
He is also the first player in NBA history to end the regular season with 3 straight 40-point games. pic.twitter.com/SPIdWKPN2x
Lillard is the most valuable player in the bubble right now, even when he's taking shots that would be silly and wasteful in just about any other context.
It's not just scoring. The 30-year-old superstar is averaging 9.6 assists per game in Disney World, and he had 12 against the Nets on Thursday.
"The urgency, the energy, the pace, everything—just felt like something was on the line," Lillard said after the game, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
If he can keep the fire lit, Memphis likely won't make it to Sunday. The Grizzlies will have to assume Lillard is going to land his haymakers, and just hope they can contain his teammates. Blazer's shooting guard C.J. McCollum is playing through a back injury and has had some uneven performances, while Carmelo Anthony had just nine point against the Nets after three consecutive 20-point games.
Memphis' best hope is to turn this game into a shootout, as the Blazers have been playing some awful defense. Ja Morant and Jonas Valanciunas both had triple-doubles against the Bucks on Saturday (yes, both of them), and either player is talented enough to take over a game.
A true wild card is Grizzlies shooting guard Dillon Brooks. He stepped up to score 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting against the Bucks, making up for his previous two games in which he shot a combined 39 percent from the floor (including 21.4 percent from three-point range). If he can score efficiently, it would go a long way toward helping the Grizzlies upset Lillard and the Blazers twice over the weekend.
NBA Playoff Schedule 2020: 1st-Round Dates, TV Info and Projected Matchups
Aug 13, 2020
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in action during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Los Angeles Lakers were always going to stand out from the NBA crowd once Anthony Davis joined LeBron James in Hollywood.
Now, the Purple and Gold are unique for a different reason, as they are the lone postseason participant that doesn't know its first-round opponent yet.
The West's eighth seed is still up for grabs—as is the ninth, which comes with a ticket to this weekend's play-in tournament—making this the first round's sole undecided matchup.
After running through the current bracket and laying out the scheduling information for the opening round, we'll break down how the Lakers match up against their four possible first-round opponents.
Current Playoff Bracket
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
No. 4 Miami Heat vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers
No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
First-Round Scheduling and Broadcast Information
Play-In Game No. 1: Saturday, Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Play-In Game No. 2: Sunday, Aug. 16 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (if necessary)
First-Round Start Date: Monday, Aug. 17
First-Round Latest End Date: Sunday, Aug. 30
TV: ABC, ESPN, TNT and NBATV (Broadcast schedule to be determined)
It turns out, Orlando is in the Dame Time zone. The 30-year-old leads all bubble scorers at 37.0 points per game and has a ridiculous 112 points (on 55.0/44.8/97.1 shooting) to show for his last two outings.
A red-hot Lillard and a healthy-as-it's-been-all-season Blazers' supporting cast looks like L.A.'s trickiest potential first-round opponent.
It's tough to say what that label actually means—Portland has zero good defensive answers for LeBron James—but if the Lakers can't flip the switch (3-4 with a minus-5.6 net rating in Orlando), the Blazers might have the horsepower to run them out of the first round.
Phoenix Suns
If Lillard isn't the seeding-round MVP, then it's probably Devin Booker.
The fifth-year scoring guard has made good on his All-Star breakout and steered his squad to the bubble's only unblemished record (7-0 with a gargantuan plus-11.2 net rating). He's tied for fourth on the seeding round's scoring list at 31.0 points per game, and his 6.1 assists rank 15th overall.
Phoenix is a young team almost wholly lacking in experience, which could prove a fatal flaw against James, who has been to the Finals nine times. But a playoff test against a contender might help accelerate the development of this rising nucleus.
Saying that, the Suns won't just be happy to be in the first round. They've shown better balance than the Blazers (fifth on offense, fourth on defense in the bubble) and at least have players who could (sort of) physically challenge both James (Mikal Bridges) and Davis (Deandre Ayton).
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are the not-supposed-to-be-here member of this group, as their developmental schedule has been fast-forwarding all season.
At least, it was until standout sophomore Jaren Jackson Jr. was lost to a torn meniscus. Memphis is just 1-7 inside the bubble, which explains how the 3.5-game cushion for the eighth seed it brought to Orlando has completely evaporated.
The Grizzlies still have Rookie of the Year favorite Ja Morant, and he's capable of exposing some holes in the Lakers' depleted backcourt. But on paper, Memphis might be lucky to steal one game in a series with L.A.
San Antonio Spurs
While the Spurs stopped short of waving the white flag upon their arrival, they were prioritizing player development over trying to extend their 22-year playoff streak.
San Antonio's development program is apparently ahead of schedule, because it is 5-2 with the fourth-best net rating in Orlando, and the young core has its fingerprints all over this success.
DeMar DeRozan is still the team's scoring leader, but the 26-and-under quartet of Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker IV has each delivered double-digit points per game averages.
"The development has been off the charts," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters. "We're thrilled with it. It's a win-win, no matter what. ... But we've already accomplished what we thought we were capable of accomplishing. That's what's important."
Popovich and DeRozan have each had their playoff battles with James, but seeing some familiar faces might get the King into playoff mode at a rapid rate.
The Spurs could easily get swept out of the series, but the fact that they know they're playing with house money should alleviate a lot of the normal postseason pressure.
Why Blazers, Grizzlies Have Edge for NBA's Western Conference Play-in Tournament
Aug 11, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard (0) dribbles during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)
Let's call the NBA's race for eighth and ninth place in the Western Conference what it is: pure, total, brain-bending anarchy.
Which makes it awesome.
And also utterly confusing.
Removing the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings from the fracas has done little to simplify the range of outcomes. The Memphis Grizzlies (currently eighth), Portland Trail Blazers (ninth), Phoenix Suns (10th) and San Antonio Spurs (11th) enter their final two regular-season matchups with no more than a single game separating them from each other in the loss column.
Any one of them can technically finish eighth. Or ninth. Their potential paths to either of those spots are seemingly endless. John Hollinger of The Athletic did a fantastic job breaking down what needs to happen for each squad to crack the play-in tournament. I can't do it any better and won't bother trying.
Instead, given that labyrinth of logistics, I'm more interested in trying to answer the question everyone's been asking since the league unveiled the restart format: Which two teams are now best positioned to qualify for the play-in tournament?
4. San Antonio Spurs
Remaining Opponents: Houston Rockets (Aug. 11), Utah Jazz (Aug. 13)
Counting out the Spurs is for no-good nincompoops. They're the friggin' Spurs. They're working with 22 straight postseason appearances for a reason. They're here, alive for one of the play-in spots at all, because they're not the past-their-shelf-life pushover artists many painted them to be pre-bubble.
Yours truly was among those cretins predicting San Antonio's return to the lottery. Might as well stay consistent.
To be sure, this isn't me throwing wet toilet paper at the wall and hoping it sticks. Not entirely anyway. Their Disney World romp just doesn't feel sustainable.
Derrick White has been incandescent but left Sunday's win over the Pelicans with a left knee injury. Keldon Johnson hasn't missed a wide-open three since, approximately, the Tim Duncan era. Drew Eubanks is actually playing and party-crashing shots at the rim and hanging in space. Only the Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers are shooting a better percentage from three.
Losing or not having White at his best is enough on its own to doubt the Spurs. Even if he's fine, their most likely path to the play-in tournament includes winning out. That's...a medium-sized order.
Houston doesn't have anything to really play for but isn't sitting everyone Tuesday. James Harden and Eric Gordon aren't playing; Robert Covington, P.J. Tucker and Russell Westbrook should be.
The Jazz are more of a wild card. They so obviously have no interest in finishing fifth and playing the Rockets and subsequently taught a masterclass in mid-game tanking Monday. But if they want the sixth seed and the Dallas Mavericks have the chance to win out, they'll maybe, possibly, potentially care about the end result of Thursday's matchup with the Spurs, which, in turn, would be bad news for San Antonio.
3. Phoenix Suns
Remaining Opponents: Philadelphia 76ers (Aug. 11), Dallas Mavericks (Aug. 13)
Writing off the undefeated, Disney World-best Suns feels like basketball treason.
Mikal Bridges is erasing opposing players from the planet at will. Jevon Carter is picking up his defensive assignments outside their hotel room. Cameron Johnson is hitting threes and making quick passes and hardly serving as a stanchion in cement at the less glamorous end. Cameron Payne is actually one of the best shooters alive. Ricky Rubio is hitting 44.4 percent of his treys. Deandre Ayton looks like a viable No. 2.
Oh, yeah, and Phoenix has this Devin Booker guy. It turns out he's pretty good. He's averaging 30.3 points and 6.0 assists in the bubble on absurd efficiency:
nba players with a USG% > 30 and TS% > 60 at disney (minimum three games):
You can understand why this is such a tough call. It's even tougher knowing Booker played under 30 minutes in Monday's win and Ayton, who didn't join the Suns until after tip-off because he missed a coronavirus test, logged just over 17. They should be fresh for the second end of Tuesday's back-to-back against the Sixers, who will be missing Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and, potentially, a bunch of other people:
Other updates: - Tobias Harris is questionable with right ankle soreness. - Al Horford is questionable with left knee soreness. - Josh Richardson is out for rest.
The watchability of the game is questionable due to player availability. https://t.co/I3HuwmtUly
Whether the Mavericks decide to play at full bore Thursday depends on their desire and ability to snare sixth place. Avoiding the Clippers in the first round would register as a win, but Dallas has to win its final two games and needs San Antonio to beat Utah for that to happen.
Putting the Suns here is both a hedge against the Mavericks potentially caring about Thursday's outcome and, more than that, the sheer difficulty of going undefeated at Disney. Plus, they'll still need a little bit of help—from Memphis or Portland—to grab a play-in slot even if they go 8-0.
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Remaining Opponents: Boston Celtics (Aug. 11), Milwaukee Bucks (Aug. 13)
The Grizzlies juuust edge out the should-be-long-shot Suns, and I don't feel great about it. They're here by virtue of sheer convenience. They could lose each of their last two contests and still clinch a play-in bid, as Hollinger mapped out:
"Memphis will make the play-in with either a win, or losses by both Phoenix and San Antonio, or with two losses by Portland and one by either Phoenix or San Antonio.
"Memphis clinches the 8th seed with two wins, or a win and a Portland loss. More improbably, they're the 8th seed if Portland loses twice and Phoenix and San Antonio both lose at least once."
Perhaps this still overestimates the Grizzlies' chances.
They don't have Jaren Jackson Jr. (torn left meniscus) or Justise Winslow (hip), and Tyus Jones remains sidelined with his own right knee injury. Hardly any of their lineups make sense anymore. They have an Indiana Pacers West vibe to them, outperforming relative to the talent on the floor, but they're desperately thin on outside shooting, and Dillon Brooks is actively trying to give Grizz fans a heart attack:
last 5 minutes of a game, score within 5:
Dillon Brooks 3-21 fgs (14.3%) Last in the NBA, min. 10 fgas also, 9.8 fouls per 36
Dropping each of the next two games is a distinct possibility—and likely hinges on how the Bucks approach Thursday's showdown. The Celtics own the Grizzlies' 2020 first-round pick (top-six protection) and have every reason to go for the win. Milwaukee is already scheduled to face the Orlando Magic in the first round and has zero incentive to roll out a full cast against Memphis unless the recently returned Eric Bledsoe needs more reps with the starters.
Consider this a lukewarm guess that the Grizzlies figure out a way to go 1-1 over the next two games. Ja Morant's efficiency is way down, but he's still Ja Morant. Brandon Clarke and Jonas Valanciunas are much better than they've shown.
Maybe Kyle Anderson has a big game in him. Or maybe De'Anthony Melton forces 37 steals against a Bucks half-court offense that's possibly missing Giannis Antetokounmpo. I don't know. This stuff's hard. I regret everything.
It speaks to the fragility and Bol Bol-thin margin for error of this entire process that I'm most confident in the Blazers bagging one of the two play-in spots.
Like the Grizzlies, they control their own fate. Winning out secures their entry. Taking care of the Nets shouldn't be a problem. Their full-strength bubble roster isn't even half of their actual full-strength roster. The Mavs, on the other hand, have something to play for—insofar as they want to finish sixth instead of seventh. Things could get ugly for the Blazers if Dallas' offense is on point.
Then again, falling to the Mavericks wouldn't be the end of the world. Portland has other ways into eighth or ninth place—hypotheticals that become exponentially more likely should one of the Spurs or Suns lose Tuesday.
Perhaps the Blazers don't deserve the benefit of the doubt. They rank 20th in points allowed per 100 possessions since the restart and couldn't find a way to beat a Clippers squad that was kind of, sort of, definitely trying to help boost their postseason chances.
Still, Portland has Damian Lillard, a walking 40-to-50 piece. CJ McCollum is an offensive weapon in his own right. Jusuf Nurkic is already moving a lot better on the defensive end. Carmelo Anthony is shooting well. Gary Trent Jr. has never, ever, ever missed a three. Opposing offenses are swishing almost 46 percent of their wide-open threes against them. That should normalize immediately.
This team doesn't just seem like the most likely play-in entrant. It feels like the favorite to win it.
Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@danfavale), and listen to his Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by B/R's Adam Fromal.
NBA Playoff Picture 2020: Updated Postseason Bracket, Races to Watch
Aug 10, 2020
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, posts up against Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Monday, Dec. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
And then there were 19.
The NBA's bubble is shrinking, as three teams have now been eliminated from playoff contention. The Bradley Beal-less, John Wall-less Washington Wizards were knocked out last week. Then, the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans were bounced from the race for the West's eighth playoff spot Sunday.
The postseason picture is coming into focus, but there's still plenty to be decided before the playoffs tip on Aug. 17. After running through the latest standing and current postseason bracket, we'll examine two races that have our attention.
NBA Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks (55-15)
2. Toronto Raptors (50-19)
3. Boston Celtics (47-23)
4. Miami Heat (43-27)
5. Indiana Pacers (43-27)
6. Philadelphia 76ers (42-28)
7. Brooklyn Nets (34-36)
8. Orlando Magic (32-39)
9. Washington Wizards (24-46, eliminated)
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers (51-18)
2. Los Angeles Clippers (47-23)
3. Denver Nuggets (46-24)
4. Houston Rockets (44-25)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-26)
6. Utah Jazz (43-27)
7. Dallas Mavericks (42-30)
8. Memphis Grizzlies (33-38)
9. Portland Trail Blazers (33-39)
10. San Antonio Spurs (31-38)
11. Phoenix Suns (31-39)
12. New Orleans Pelicans (30-40, eliminated)
13. Sacramento Kings (29-41, eliminated)
NBA Playoff Bracket
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
No. 4 Miami Heat vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies
No. 4 Houston Rockets vs. No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Playoff Races to Watch
The West's Battle for 8th
This deserves the most attention because it involves the most teams and the highest stakes.
A six-team fight for this seed has been whittled down to four, all separated by just 1.5 games. The Grizzlies have the leg up for now, but the Blazers, Spurs and scorching-hot Suns are all breathing down their neck.
Memphis has lost four of five games since getting to the bubble and lost frontcourt centerpiece Jaren Jackson Jr. to a season-ending meniscus tear. The Grizzlies' most recent defeat—Sunday's 108-99 loss to the Raptors—ensured this race will be decided by an 8-9 play-in game. Their star rookie, Ja Morant, was unsurprisingly in no mood to discuss their new path to the postseason.
"I'm not worried about no play-in game right now," Morant told reporters after the loss. "Our focus right now is learning from our mistakes from this game against the Raptors and try to fix them when we go out and play Boston."
As disappointing as things have been for the Grizzlies, it's basically all come up roses for the rest.
The Suns are the only undefeated team inside the bubble. The Blazers and Spurs sport identical 4-2 records and plus-2.6 net efficiency ratings (tied for seventh overall), per NBA.com.
So, who will eventually emerge from this field?
Whoever snags the eighth seed will hold a huge advantage, since they'll only need to win one play-in game, while the ninth seed needs back-to-back victories to advance.
Phoenix is on a ridiculous roll, and it never seems the smartest idea to bet against San Antonio, but this should be Portland's race to lose.
The Blazers have the heaviest hitter in five-time All-Star Damian Lillard (who has at least 45 points in two of his last three outings) and the softest schedule going forward. They're down to just a Mavericks team that's nearly locked into the seventh seed and a Brooklyn club that's playing without almost all of its recognizable faces.
Maybe Devin Booker goes berserk, and the Suns keep rolling right into their first playoff trip since 2010. Perhaps Gregg Popovich and DeMar DeRozan lean on their veteran savvy to keep San Antonio's playoff streak alive. Maybe Morant does what he's done for most of the season and makes Memphis one of the league's biggest surprises.
But this feels like Dame Time.
The East's Fight for 4th
Normally, you don't have to be the Flint Tropics to see the significance of a fourth-place finish. It means hosting a first-round series and theoretically giving yourself the best chance of advancing.
But when home-court advantage has been wiped off the table as it has in the bubble, is there still a reason to race for fourth? That's what the Heat, Pacers and 76ers all have to ponder, as they're all within a game of each other for the fourth overall seed.
Miami controls its future. The Heat have the fourth seed in their grasp at the moment. They have already won their season series with the Sixers and are up 2-0 on the Pacers with two more games to play at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
The Heat also have the cleanest health report. They've been without All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler, but he's on the mend. The Pacers are playing without Domantas Sabonis, who doesn't sound anywhere near returning from a foot injury. The Sixers lost Ben Simmons to knee surgery and then watched Joel Embiid exit their last game early with an ankle injury.
If these teams were at full strength, this would feel impossible to predict. Since they aren't, the Heat get the benefit of the doubt. They have the clearest route to the fourth seed, provided that actually means something in this unique year.
