The Portland Trail Blazers are at home for the fourth game of a long seven game home stretch to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. The Blazers are entering this game coming off of a pair of wins over the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards. Portland currently sits just three games outside of the NBA Play-In Tournament, but will need to get hot to end the season if they hope to make the final push if that is their goal.
The Grizzlies also sit just three games out of the Play-In, but on the other side. They hold the fifth seed in the Western Conference, but are fighting to stay ahead of the streaking Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. Memphis is looking to avoid a second straight loss after falling to the Sacramento Kings in their last game.
Portland Trail Blazers (30-39) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (43-26) Wed. March 19 @ 7pm Pacific
How to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network
How to watch via streaming: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; NBA TV elsewhere (also available on streaming via NBA TV on League Pass)
Trail Blazers injuries: Toumani Camara (questionable); Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III, Deandre Ayton, Jabari Walker (out).
Grizzlies injuries: Santi Aldama, Scottie Pippen Jr. (questionable); Ja Morant, Lamar Stevens, Zyon Pullin (out).
Reader Questions
From kacee:
Clingan vs. Edey: Both are starting and competing for ROY (unlikely either will win). How do their statistics and play compare? Is there a big advantage either way?
Both rookies are generally playing limited minutes for their team when everyone is healthy, so looking at the per-36 numbers paints a very impressive picture of efficiency. Edey averages 15.9 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. Clingan averages 12.0 points, 14.7 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
Clingan and Edey play very different styles. Edey has more of an ability to create his own points around the basket with his post play, whereas Clingan relies on the primary ball-handler to find him when he is open at the rim. In a matchup against each other, I am inclined to give a slight edge to Clingan mostly because of his defensive prowess being more able to shut down Edey’s game. However, as for who is better now, or will be in five years, it is almost impossible to say.
From GSM:
This team very easily handled the blazers twice this season. Which blazers player should be the X factor and raise his game to make this one at least close?
Ja Morant is listed as out. That means Jaren Jackson Jr. becomes the number one priority on the defensive gameplan for Portland. If Toumani Camara suits up, he will likely be the primary defender on Jackson Jr. If Camara sits out, that matchup will fall to Deni Avdija. If Jackson Jr. is playing alongside someone like Edey, the big frontcourt of Memphis will be a lot to handle. Making sure the defense can hold up against that will be a major factor.
From Knack:
Why is the team called the Grizzlies still after their move from Vancouver, when there are no grizzly bears in Tennessee? Is this a worse offense than the Utah Jazz?
I don’t think there is a worse offender than the Jazz. I will never understand the hold up on changing a team’s name to better fit the new area. I know at this point it won’t change and I know there are business reasons why teams don’t generally change their branding when moving. However, I still think the entire concept doesn’t make sense.
About the Opponent:
Parish Sharkey of Beale St. Bears talks about Zach Edey’s importance to the Grizzlies, and about how his weaknesses could hurt in the playoffs.
Coach Taylor Jenkins has kept Edey’s minutes low as he only averages 20.9 minutes per game, which ranks seventh on the team. Edey is the only true center on the roster so his impact will be important when the playoffs come around on both ends of the court, but the drop coverage defense may become a bigger hindrance in a playoff series.
Teams love to exploit weaknesses, and Zach Edey being switched onto a guard will be a nightmare scenario for the Grizzlies. General Manager Zach Kleiman’s statement about teams having to adjust to the Grizzlies with Edey on the floor hasn’t come to fruition this season, and likely won’t when the playoffs begin.