Lakers Look For Redemption Against Grim Grizzlies

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SteemSports Presenter:@mateonav53

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SteemSports Editor:@scottybuckets

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The Los Angeles Lakers are looking to avenge their loss this Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies that they incurred back in January. Brandon Ingram will not suit up for the purple and gold, so this will be his 11th straight game in a suit. The Grizzlies may not play Andrew Harrison, who is listed as questionable. Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol sat out their previous game on Thursday, but there's no news yet on if they're sitting out Saturday's contest.

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The Grizzlies are on a 3-game losing streak and coming off an unbearably humiliating loss to the Charlotte Hornets by 61 points on Thursday night. Opposing point guard Kemba Walker had 35 points in the first half alone and finished with 46 total. The 140-79 defeat was the first time an NBA team lost by 60 since 1998 per ESPN. The NBA runs at a much faster pace now compared to the heyday of the Grit-n-Grind Grizzlies with Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley. Half of those guys are still on the team, but Conley has been injured almost all year which has contributed to their 19-53 record. That's good for 2nd worst in the Western Conference.

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The team isn't incentivized to bring back Conley given the way the NBA lottery system works. Why have a respectable record when you can tank and have a better chance of landing a young talent like University of Arizona's Deandre Ayton? It might be a little while before they return to relevance, but they're in better shape if they fall in a position to land Ayton and then get Mike Conley back next season.

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The Griz probably may not have to worry about a point guard going off on them on Saturday like Kemba did. Lonzo Ball has been in a little slump. He only scored 6 points on 2-15 shooting in the Laker's heartbreaking loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night and insisted on shooting the ball in crunch time when his shot wasn't falling all night. Even though they lost in such a disappointing fashion, I think it was a good sign that he was willing to step up and take the big shots when the opportunities were there. His career is still in its infancy, and not too long ago he was hitting those very same triples against San Antonio in a come from behind win when the game came down to the wire.

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Before the Laker's 4 game slump, he was actually showing a lot more promise from beyond the arc even though he still utilizes an unconventional shot form. He swings the rock around his left side and releases it from the left of his head. Sometimes it works to his advantage if a defender is closing out on him from his from his right side, that way his body is blocking the ball. Slumps like these only make the voices of his critics grow louder, calling for a reversion to a traditional shot form. There might be some truth to those opinions, but if his shot starts falling like it did a week ago I say let the kid do whatever he feels comfortable with. He doesn't shy away from hard work so if he gets even deeper into this funk, I'm sure he'll take steps to correct his form in the offseason.

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The Laker's and Grizzlies both look like dumpster fires at the moment, but the Grizzlies have a little more gasoline poured on them. Some players were seen laughing after the embarrassing 61 point loss to the Hornets, so that shows you how seriously some of them are taking the rest of the year. Even though the Grizzlies could use a shot at redemption, I think the Lakers will be a little hungrier for a win. The Laker defense has been atrocious lately, but Memphis doesn't have a lot of weapons on offense. All four of LA's frustrating losses were winnable games against playoff teams (GSW, MIA, IND, NOP), so I think they'll take advantage of the struggling Griz and emerge victorious 120-100.

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Thank you for following @steemsports and you can find me @mateonav53

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