After defeating the Golden State Warriors in the play-in game, the Memphis Grizzlies take on the Utah Jazz in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. The Grizzlies earned themselves the eighth seed, while the Jazz are the top seed in the West. Utah finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA (52-20) while Memphis barely finished above .500 (38-34).
Utah will be the favorite to win this series, but with Donovan Mitchell's return unclear, Memphis could be more of a challenge than the Jazz would like to admit. The Grizzlies enter this game healthy, hungry, and determined after proving their worth against the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.
This first-round series might be closer than some people think, as these two teams match up against each other quite well. The Utah Jazz versus Memphis Grizzlies could be a thriller, as each team focuses on winning the series. With that said, here are three bold claims for the Jazz-Grizzlies matchup.
Jazz vs. Grizzlies: 3 Bold Predictions
(1) Jaren Jackson Jr. dominates the series
Power forward is where the Grizzlies have a mismatch advantage. Jackson Jr. missed a large majority of the regular season dealing with an injury but has been implanted back into the starting rotation. He's the defense presence Memphis has been missing all season long, and he showed that during Friday night's play-in game against the Warriors.
Utah's power forward position is their weak point. Royce O'Neale, Georges Niang, and Derrick Favors rotate the position, which should allow for Jackson Jr. to thrive. He's a much better athlete compared to these other three, and due to O'Neale and Niang's lack of offense, Jackson should be able to help and defend Rudy Gobert as well. This is a mismatch nightmare for Utah and they'll have to get creative to slow down the Grizzlies star.
The secret to negating Rudy Gobert in the playoffs has always been forcing him out of the paint. With JJJ posing a serious threat from downtown, he could find his footing and be the X-factor for the Grizzlies in this one.
(2) Dillon Brooks locks down Donovan Mitchell
It's unknown as to when Donovan Mitchell comes back from his ankle injury, but it seems he's likely to come back in game 1 of this series. When he does return, look for Dillon Brooks to be the one guarding him. Brooks has been a great perimeter defender since entering the league and could prove his defensive prowess with a great performance in this series.
Mitchell has been the driving force of Utah's success this season. Their best chance of winning a championship lies in his hands. However, Brooks will be sure to bother him throughout the series. If Memphis can prevent Mitchell from scoring at will, the Grizzlies will have a shot at shocking the Jazz in round one.
(3) Grizzlies beat Jazz in seven
It's rare when an eighth seed defeats the first seed, but we've seen it happen before. The Grizzlies are much better than what their record says and could pose a serious threat to the Jazz. This should be a tough matchup for Utah throughout, as Memphis has the tools to compete with anybody.
Memphis has the youth and determination to pull off the upset. Although the Jazz has been fantastic this year, they'll need to be on top of their game to move onto the second round. If Jackson Jr. can dominate the paint, Brooks locks down Mitchell, and Ja Morant performs like he did against the Warriors, Memphis can shock the world and defeat the Utah Jazz in seven games.
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