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Following the Memphis Grizzlies' massive 26-point comeback, momentum was clearly on their side heading to a pivotal Game 4 at Target Center. The Minnesota Timberwolves were still recovering from the devastating loss on Thursday night, but Karl Anthony-Towns and Anthony Edwards led the charge to tie the series with a 119-118 victory.
Ja Morant struggled immensely as he only tallied 11 points on 13 shot attempts. Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks were fantastic as the leaders of the scoring output for coach Taylor Jenkins and the Grizzlies squad. Even with the series tied at 2-2, Memphis was able to regain home-court advantage in Game 3, so they must remain confident with Game 5 at FedEx Forum.
Adjustments will definitely be instrumental for the Grizzlies as this turns into a three-game series, and here are some they must consider.
Grizzlies Adjustments for Game 5 vs. Timberwolves
Morant needs to dominate offensively
Morant cemented himself as a superstar during the regular season, but still has a lot to prove when the going gets tough in the playoffs. There have been two subpar games already for Morant in this series, but he was lucky that Bane and Brandon Clarke catapulted Memphis to that important Game 3 victory. Minnesota's defense is selling out to stop him, but Morant's assertiveness could still improve.
With Morant's success through pick-and-rolls and attacks to the rim, he could keep the pressure on Towns and other bigs if he constantly forces them to work defensively. Furthermore, it would lessen the defensive pressure on Grizzlies shooters like Bane, Brooks and Tyus Jones. The Timberwolves would also be forced to exert more effort defensively, making them run out of gas in the second half.
JJJ has been glaringly missing in this series
Being plagued by foul trouble has been a major issue since the beginning of Jaren Jackson Jr.'s career. He raised his defense to a whole different level this season, emerging as a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. He has not made an impact befitting that status in this series, though, as Jenkins has been forced to utilize the likes of Clarke, Kyle Anderson and Xavier Tillman.
It is not just on the defensive end of the court where Jackson Jr. thrives because he has also been showcasing his long-range shooting this season. Game 2 was his best outing with 16 points and four threes, but the other three games have been rough for Jackson Jr. If he continues to struggle with foul trouble, the Grizzlies' expectations of a deep playoff run could soon come to an end.
Defend the three-point line at a better rate
As one of the franchises that rely heavily on shots from behind the arc, Minnesota will be tough to beat on a night those shots are falling. Edwards, Patrick Beverley and Jordan McLaughlin led the long-range assault with four each for Minnesota in Game 4, accounting for 12 of the Timberwolves' 18 makes. When they are on a hot streak, it opens up the slashing lane for Towns and Edwards to constantly get to the cup, especially when Jackson, an elite rim-protector, is saddled with foul trouble.
When Minnesota has trouble converting from deep, its offense becomes more stagnant and predictable because they rely heavily on their core guys to create offense. Other guys like McLaughlin, Beverley and Malik Beasley become a non-threat offensively as Memphis will focus their attention on the Wolves' stars. Better defense will fuel the Grizzlies' imminently dangerous defense attack, too.
