The Portland Trail Blazers No. 8 and the Memphis Grizzlies No. nine will compete for the right to play against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first of the NBA playoffs.
With all eyes on Damian Lillard, Ja Morant and the last tournament in the league, Bleacher Report asked five editors to wait for which team will progress and how many games.
Go to the B/R app to get a percentage of your own predictions before Saturday’s contest.
The Portland Trail Blazers have only noticed the Memphis Grizzlies twice this year, and only one of those games, a Blazers victory, has predictive value.
Portland’s five-point victory on July 31 included Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic, neither of whom were healthy for the only last game of the two teams, a seven-point victory over the Grizzlies on February 12. Worse still for Memphis, Jaren Jackson Jr. ., who scored 33 points in that defeat bubble against the Blazers, is advancing the year with a torn meniscus. Tyus Jones, a key replacement for a Grizzlies team that doesn’t have the Ja Morant game, hasn’t noticed an NBA game since March 10. If you are still healthy enough to play, expect a lot of rust.
The young Grizzlies have a great lack of delight in the entry circular as opposed to a team of blazers tested in combat led by veterans. In a disadvantaged position, the Grizzlies also face a lack of talent, mainly from injury. The Blazers’ defense made almost every and every opposing scorer a star, but Memphis didn’t seem to be in a position to fit the cubes with a locked Damian Lillard. Portland will take it off on Saturday.
Blazers advance in 1
—Grant Hughes
The Blazers play as a team of fate (perhaps lose in the first round, but that’s the story). Lillard has rightly attracted the highest attention for his 6-2 record and his attack on the highest sensitive bubble, but there is enough evidence to recommend that they beat the Grizzlies.
CJ McCollum’s production in Orlando has been overshadowed and underestimated. He averaged 20.1 problems, 5.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The return of Jusuf Nurkic is huge. Last season, Blazers, a Western Conference finalist, had more than 10.1 problems per hundred possessions (95th percentile) when he played with the All-Star Guards. Even Carmelo Anthony laughed with 16.5 numbers, 1.9 triples and a three-point percentage of 46.9.
But the biggest progression for Portland may simply be the appearance of Gary Trent Jr. For years, I’ve been wondering what Lillard would look like with a larger, more three-dimensional wing by his side. Trent can show us what it looks like. He averaged 16.9 problems and 4.33, firing at 50.7% depth. And he’s not afraid to take a defensive mission.
Blazers advance in 1
“Andy Bailey
It’s strange to even think Portland is in this entry game. The Blazers enjoy an extensive playoff game and are a star at the LEVEL of EL JMV.
Memphis has this arrogance of space to bring anyone down, but not twice. And not once in this specific situation. Despite how smart Ja Morant is, he has lately been unable to beat Damian Lillard without Jaren Jackson Jr. in the lineup.
And the Blazers look sound at Jusuf Nurkic back and Gary Trent Jr. suddenly have an effect on the scorer. Provides necessary Portland, an additional margin of error, in case CJ McCollum is not activated. The Blazers have too much firepower for the Grizzlies to overcome.
Blazers advance in 1
“Jonathan Wasserman
Choosing the Blazers to close the Grizzlies in a game will be plus a roll of dice. His first-place attack was complemented by a defense at the worst time that, while doing a decent task to get the groups off the three-point line, he struggled to return to transition after a missed shot.
However, the Grizzlies no longer have the look and feel of a team that belongs here. Congratulations to them for entering a weighty elegance that is higher than expected for the season maximum. But the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. has weakened his already shallow layoffs. Many of their lineup combinations now seem messy, and the Lakers achieved a smaller percentage of their three-point attempts.
Memphis has some disruptive defenders to throw, but not enough to neutralize Portland’s offensive depth. Damian Lillard, Carmelo Anthony and Gary Trent Jr. are playing lately on the planet, and CJ McCollum, while battling a back problem, has shown that their middle game will continue to frustrate the defenses.
Add an increasingly mobile Nurkic Jusuf, and the Blazers, while still on the brink of defeat, deserve the firepower needed to make this entry tournament a one-night stand.
Blazers advance in 1
“Dan Favale
Portland needed extra time for Memphis in the first game of the resumption. With Grizzlies’ second-best player Jaren Jackson Jr., absent during the season, that will no longer be the case.
The Blazers’ bubble team, another edition he fought in the normal season, with Zach Collins and especially newly healthy Jusuf Nurkic and making his defense absolutely. Gary Trent Jr. also caught his eye with his three-point shot and forged defense.
But it’s, as always, Damian Lillard, and I’m having a hard time opting for him after everything he’s done so far in Orlando. Ja Morant, on the other hand, was inconsistent in the resumption, firing less than 40% of the area in 4 of the Grizzlies’ 8 qualifying games and returning the ball at least 4 times during part of their games. As wonderful as he was as a rookie, I don’t accept as true with him as Lillard, and Jackson’s loss wonderfully weakens Memphis in the lead. Lady will do it one more time.
Blazers advance in 1
“Sean Highkin