Ja Morant in playoffs
Ja Morant has become the most spectacular player – and it’s appreciated – but it takes something else to make NBA history: winning a championship.
Selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, Rookie of the Year and All-Star, Morant has to prove to the basketball world that if the Memphis Grizzlies finished second in the West – above the Golden State Warriors – it wasn’t by chance.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who are motivated to qualify for the playoffs for the second time since 2004, are facing the Grizzlies.
1- Karl-Anthony Towns or Ja Morant? Who is more ready to step up in the Playoffs?
The point guard is the most solid pillar of coach Taylor Jenkins’ team and I believe that in the series against the T-Wolves his contribution will be fundamental to advance to the next round.
Another aspect is that Morant has a dynamic team that plays at the same pace, while KAT has a more experienced team, but slower in the transitions, that against the ‘light’ Grizzlies can be a factor against the Dominican center and company. (Rolando del Bosque)
2- The X-Factor in this series is….
Karl Anthony Towns was a rising star when he played his first and only postseason series in 2018. Four years later, this isn’t Jimmy Butler’s team; it’s a maturing Karl Anthony Towns’ team and a large percent of what Minnesota can accomplish will depend on him; more on what his supporting cast can do or what Patrick Beverley can avoid as the best defender Ja Morant can have in the entire playoffs.
3- Which team will we see in the second round?
The Memphis Grizzlies. They are so good, even without Ja Morant, they posted a 20-5 record. While the T-Wolves boast defense, the Grizzlies have Jaren Jackson, the NBA’s leader in blocks. He was a key piece in Memphis culminating as the team with the most blocks and steals in the league, joining the 2007-08 Denver Nuggets and 2016-17 Warriors. They also led the NBA in rebounds per game, becoming the first team to lead the league in rebounds, steals and blocks per game since 1973-74.
