FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies - Game 6 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Grizzlies – Game 6 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (43-39) | Memphis Grizzlies (51-31)

 

The Los Angeles Lakers advance to the Western Conference Semifinals after defeating the Memphis Grizzlies 128-85, finishing 4-2.

The Lakers vs Grizzles played at the FedexForum on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Lakers crushed the Memphis Grizzlies 125-85 to win the series in six and advance to the Western Conference semifinals, where they await the winner of the Sacramento Kings vs Golden State Warriors series. They’re just the sixth seventh seed in NBA history to defeat a second seed.

“This thing is just getting started,” Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said. “We passed level one, and now we got to start shifting our focus to whoever comes out of that game on Sunday.”

Anthony Davis put on a masterclass effort on the defensive end, blocking five shots, snagging 14 rebounds, and scoring 16 points (6-of-9 FGs).

“We set a standard for ourselves defensively,” Ham said if beating the second seed boosts the Lakers’ confidence. “This thing is just getting started. We passed level one. Now we gotta start shifting our focus to whoever comes outta that game on Sunday.”

Davis’ 24 blocks are the most by ANY player in a six-game playoff span since 2014.

“He was AD. Basketball guys know, the competition knows how dominant he is defensively,” LeBron James said of Davis defensively this series. “He was AD. He was spectacular.”

James himself put in a performance. He was 5-for-17 last game and vowed to be better on offense. This time out, James was better, with 22 points (9-of-13 FGs, 2-for-5 3s), five rebounds, and six assists.

D’Angelo Russell had a career night

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ham said of James. “For him to sustain that for all these years.”

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

James and Davis as a duo are now 5-0 in playoff series where they both played every game. In games they were both able to finish, they are 22-8 (73 win percentage).

“From the start of the game, we were just locked in on our game plan all the way until the final seconds of the game,” James said of the Lakers’ mentality.

D’Angelo Russell scored a career playoff-high 31 points (12-of-17 FGs, 5-for-9 3s) and four assists. Austin Reaves struggled with just 11 points (5-of-12 FGs, 1-for-7 3s), six rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks.

“It’s good to win the series, but the job’s not finished,” Reaves said.

For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant was suffocated offensively, only totaling 10 points (3-of-16 FGs, 2-for-7 3s), five rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

The end of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ first half. 

“I don’t mind,” Morant said of the “I’m fine in the west comments.” “I don’t care. I said it. I deal with it.”

The start of the Lakers vs Grizzlies’ second half. 

Teammate Dillon Brooks wasn’t much better despite his trash-talking, finishing with 10 points (4-of-11 FGs, 2-for-5 3s) and four rebounds.

“I think that’s what kind of happened with Dillon Brooks, but we just wanted to let our game talk,” Davis said of Brooks talking trash.

Brooks exited the locker room before the media was allowed to enter during postgame.

“People are going to talk. We’ve had some trash talk on the court in the series, but all the talk in the media and all that stuff, we just go out and let our game talk and play basketball,” Davis said of the Grizzlies talking trash. “We try not to get in a back-and-forth with guys; obviously, that’s how a lot of times guys kind of get themselves going. When guys are constantly talking, & you don’t say nothing back, they’re going to eventually stop.”

In the first quarter, the Lakers were 10-for-17 overall (58.8 percent) and held Memphis to 3-for-17 shooting since they hit their first three shots of the game. When this Lakers’ defense is locked in, Los Angeles takes control.

Davis typically sat in the final two to four minutes of the first quarter, but he played all 12 in this one, and that meant Jaren Jackson Jr. had to defend him. The Lakers screened Jackson with a guard, allowing Davis a free roll to the rim that was very productive.

Davis wreaked havoc on the Memphis offense, as the Grizzlies were 10-for-37 (27 percent), with the Lakers up 46-27.

The Lakers opened the second half with three straight 3s to stretch their lead to 23 points, 68-45, with 10:21 left in the third quarter. The Lakers were just 3-for-15 from 3 in the first half despite getting good looks. However, their defense and paint scoring remained.

The Lakers’ most considerable margin after three quarters in a playoff game came in 2009, in Game 5 against the Houston Rockets, when Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Co. led 94-54.

The final score of the Lakers vs Grizzlies was 125-85, Lakers.

The Lakers will await their next opponent between the Kings and Warriors on Tuesday, May 2nd.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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