Los Angeles Eyes Recovery After Tough Stretch, Memphis Seeks Consistency
Lakers vs. Grizzlies: Los Angeles Looks to Bounce Back, Memphis Aims for Consistency
In an early-season battle between two Western Conference teams, the Los Angeles Lakers (4-3) will visit the Memphis Grizzlies (4-4) on Wednesday night at FedExForum. Both teams are coming off tough losses in their previous games, but they each enter this contest with plenty of room for improvement. Los Angeles suffered a disappointing defeat to the Detroit Pistons, while Memphis was edged out by the Brooklyn Nets.
This game will offer an opportunity for both squads to regroup and regain their momentum as they look to establish their identities early in the season. Here’s a closer look at the current state of both teams and what to expect from this intriguing matchup.
Los Angeles Lakers: Seeking Recovery After a String of Tough Losses
The Lakers have been up and down through the first seven games of the season, with their most recent outing—a 115-103 loss to the Detroit Pistons—leaving them with a sour taste. Los Angeles has now lost three of their last four games, a stretch that has them tied for third place in the Pacific Division, two games behind the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns.
Against Detroit, the Lakers got off to a poor start, giving up a 14-5 run to end the first quarter and trailing by 14 at halftime. They managed to cut the deficit to six points after three quarters but couldn’t find a way to close the gap in the final minutes. Despite a strong individual performance from Anthony Davis (37 points, 9 rebounds), the Lakers struggled to contain Detroit’s offense and were outmatched in the rebounding battle, losing 55-37.
Offensively, the Lakers rank 9th in the league, averaging 116.1 points per game, but their defensive issues are a major concern. Los Angeles allows 118.4 points per game, placing them 24th in scoring defense. Their rebounding struggles are also evident, as they sit 26th in the league with just 41.6 rebounds per game. While Davis continues to play at an elite level, contributing 32.6 points and 11.6 rebounds per contest, LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura provide solid secondary scoring options. However, the Lakers need more consistency from their role players and a significant improvement on defense to find success.
The Lakers’ offense is efficient, ranking 10th in field goal percentage (47.2%) and 17th in three-point shooting (35.1%). However, they have been poor from beyond the arc in terms of volume, ranking 30th in the league with just 10.4 three-pointers per game. If Los Angeles is to rebound from recent setbacks, they will need better shooting from deep and improved defensive efforts on the road.
Memphis Grizzlies: Searching for Stability After Tough Losses
The Grizzlies have also struggled in recent games, snapping a two-game win streak with a narrow 106-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Memphis led by as many as seven points after the first quarter, but they were unable to maintain their advantage, ultimately falling short in a game where they allowed a late 5-0 run. Ja Morant (25 points, 9 assists) and rookie Zach Edey (25 points, 12 rebounds) were the offensive standouts, but Memphis struggled to finish their comeback attempt and turned the ball over 14 times in the loss.
With the loss, Memphis fell to 4-4 on the season, placing them second in the Southwest Division, just half a game behind the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks. Despite the setbacks, the Grizzlies have shown promise on offense, averaging 117.1 points per game (8th in the league). They also rank 7th in the league in rebounding, pulling down 47 boards per game, and sit second in assists with 30.5 per contest. However, Memphis has been inconsistent on defense, allowing 115 points per game (18th in the league), and they’ve had trouble containing opposing offenses during key stretches.
Morant remains the focal point of the offense, contributing 20.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 9.7 assists per game, while Jaren Jackson Jr. (19.5 points, 5 rebounds) continues to provide scoring and defense. Desmond Bane (18.8 points) and Santi Aldama (12.8 points, 7.6 rebounds) are key secondary contributors. The Grizzlies’ perimeter shooting has been hit-or-miss, with the team ranking 27th in three-point attempts (11.3 per game) and 19th in three-point percentage (34.4%). Additionally, Memphis ranks 24th in free throw shooting, hitting just 73.9% of their attempts at the line.
Defensively, Memphis has room to improve. Although they rank 4th in field goal percentage defense (48.6%), they allow teams to score efficiently from beyond the arc and have trouble locking down opposing offenses in high-stress moments. Coach Taylor Jenkins will look for more consistency, particularly in defending the perimeter and limiting turnovers.
Conclusion
Both the Lakers and Grizzlies have shown flashes of brilliance this season but have also been plagued by inconsistency. Los Angeles will need to improve their defense, particularly in rebounding, if they hope to compete with Memphis’ potent offense. On the other hand, Memphis must tighten up their defense and limit turnovers if they want to bounce back after their recent loss to Brooklyn.
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