NBA Playoff Preview – Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Grizzlies vs. Wolves: Spectacle and lots of trash talk guaranteed

With the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves, two young and still quite inexperienced playoff teams meet. The series promises a lot of spectacle, but it could also end very quickly.

Game 1 of the series between the Grizzlies and Timberwolves will take place on Saturday, April 16 at 9:30 p.m. German time. You can find the full schedule here. This game is also broadcast live DAZN to see.

NBA Playoffs – Grizzlies vs. Wolves: The initial position

The first division title in franchise history, breaking the winning record and Ja Morant’s rise to a genuine superstar in the NBA – the Memphis Grizzlies are THE surprise and feel-good story of the season. This young team impressed with fast, athletic play and a certain swagger, now Grizzlies fans are eagerly awaiting the playoffs.

The postseason was the goal of the Grizzlies, which now even succeeded as a 2-seed, but then came as a surprise. Not only Morant made a leap: Jaren Jackson Jr. developed into one of the best defensemen in the league, Desmond Bane turned out to be the ideal complement to Morant in his second season.

The trade for Steven Adams, which was initially viewed with skepticism, also worked out perfectly, the center fits the franchise like a glove with its toughness. Memphis plays extremely big but can play small ball at any time. The depth of the team was the great strength, so the Grizzlies also won 20 of 25 games without Morant.

But not only the grizzlies have a young exciting star. Minnesota are also headed into the playoffs with a tailwind after an electrifying win over the Clippers in the play-in. Ex-top pick Anthony Edwards impressed in the most important game of his career to date, replacing Wolves star Karl-Anthony Towns with D’Angelo Russell.

Something is happening in the far north with the Wolves, who have only reached the playoffs for the second time since 2004. Head coach Chris Finch gave Minnesota an identity in his first full season, and the Wolves are almost unrecognizable defensively with their aggressive style of play.

In combination with an explosive offense around the variable Towns, the Wolves are now anything but the cannon fodder of the past few years. Regardless of the game against the Clippers, KAT finally played a season at All-NBA level again, but at times his guards used it too rarely. Still, Towns in particular has a lot to prove in this playoff, his debut in the series four years ago with the Houston Rockets being forgettable.

ESPN Top 25 under 25: Can Doncic make the threepeat?

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Annually, ESPN ranks the top 25 players under the age of 25. Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks has led the rankings for the past two years. Will the threepeat succeed? Here comes the ranking.

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Experts Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz sorted the players and focused on the greatest potential. The current performance also played a role, but it was primarily ranked according to potential.

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All 3 experts also published their personal top 25, including the names of Josh Giddey (Thunder), Robert Williams (Celtics) and OG Anunoby (Raptors),

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The following players are out due to age: Domantas Sabonis (Kings), Mikal Bridges (Suns), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Ben Simmons (Nets), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz) and Devin Booker (Suns)

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25th place: JAREN JACKSON JR. (22 years old, Memphis Grizzlies) – Stats 21/22: 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks with 41.5 percent FG and 31.9 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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24th place: TYRESE MAXEY (21, Philadelphia 76ers) – Stats 21/22: 17.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists with 48.5 percent FG and 42.7 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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23rd place: JOHN COLLINS (24, Atlanta Hawks) – Stats 21/22: 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds with 52.6 percent FG and 36.4 percent threesomes – previous year: 22

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22nd place: DE’AARON FOX (22, Sacramento Kings) – Stats 21/22: 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists with 47.3 percent FG and 29.7 percent threesomes – previous year: 6

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21st place: JALEN GREEN (20, Houston Rockets) – Stats 21/22: 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists with 42.6 percent FG and 34.3 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked (rookie )

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20th place: TYLER HERRO (22, Miami Heat) – Stats 21/22: 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists with 44.7 percent FG and 39.9 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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19th place: DEANDRE AYTON (23, Phoenix Suns) – Stats 21/22: 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds with 63.4 percent FG and 36.8 percent threesomes – previous year: 20

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18th place: JARRETT ALLEN (24, Cleveland Cavaliers) – Stats 21/22: 16.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks at 67.7 percent FG – Previous year: 23

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17th place: DESMOND BANE (23, Memphis Grizziles) – Stats 21/22: 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists with 46.1 percent FG and 43.6 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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16th place: MILES BRIDGES (24, Charlotte Hornets) – Stats 21/22: 20.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists with 49.1 percent FG and 33.1 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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15th place: EVAN MOBLEY (20, Cleveland Cavaliers) – Stats 21/22: 15.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks with 50.8 percent FG and 25.0 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked (rookie )

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14th place: TYRESE HALIBURTON (22, Indiana Pacers) – Stats 21/22: 15.3 points, 8.2 assists and 1.7 steals with 47.3 percent FG and 41.4 percent threesomes – previous year: 21

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13th place: SCOTTIE BARNES (20, Toronto Raptors) – Stats 21/22: 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists with 49.2 percent FG and 30.1 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked (rookie )

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12th place: BRANDON INGRAM (24, New Orleans Pelicans) – Stats 21/22: 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists with 46.1 percent FG and 32.7 percent three-pointers – previous year: 11

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11th place: ANTHONY EDWARDS (20, Minnesota Timberwolves) – Stats 21/22: 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists with 44.1 percent FG and 35.7 percent three-pointers – previous year: 19

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10th place: SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER (23, Oklahoma City Thunder) – Stats 21/22: 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists with 45.3 percent FG and 30.0 percent three-pointers – previous year: 10

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9th place: DARIUS GARLAND (22, Cleveland Cavaliers) – Stats 21/22: 21.7 points, 8.6 assists and 1.3 steals with 46.2 percent FG and 38.3 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked

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8th place: BAM ADEBAYO (24, Miami Heat) – Stats 21/22: 19.1 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists at 55.7 percent FG – Previous year: 9

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7th place: ZION WILLIAMSON (21, New Orleans Pelicans) – Stats 21/22: not a single season due to a foot fracture – previous year: 2

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6th place: CADE CUNNINGHAM (20, Detroit Pistons) – Stats 21/22: 17.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists with 41.6 percent FG and 31.4 percent threesomes – previous year: not ranked (rookie )

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5th place: LAMELO BALL (20, Charlotte Hornets) – Stats 21/22: 20.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists with 42.9 percent FG and 38.9 percent threesomes – previous year: 3

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4th place: TRAE YOUNG (23, Atlanta Hawks) – Stats 21/22: 28.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists with 46.0 percent FG and 38.2 percent threesomes – previous year: 16

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3rd place: JA MORANT (22, Memphis Grizzlies) – Stats 21/22: 27.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists with 49.3 percent FG and 34.4 percent threesomes – previous year: 15

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2nd place: JAYSON TATUM (24, Boston Celtics) – Stats 21/22: 26.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists with 45.3 percent FG and 35.3 percent threesomes – previous year: 5

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1st place: LUKA DONCIC (23, Dallas Mavericks) – Stats 21/22: 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists with 45.7 percent FG and 35.3 percent threesomes – previous year: 1

NBA Playoffs – Grizzlies vs. Wolves: numbers and facts

Stat	Grizzlies	Timberwolves
Record Regular Season	56-26	46-36
Offensive Rating (Place)	114,3 (4)	113,8 (7)
Defensive Rating (Place)	108,9 (6)	111,0 (13)
Net-Rating (Platz)	+5,3 (5)	+2,7 (10)
Direct comparison	2-2	2-2

NBA Playoffs 2022: How the Grizzlies win the series

If the Grizzlies downplay their boot, they will win this series. Memphis was by far the best team on the offensive board over the regular season, while the Timberwolves at the other end were just 28th in defensive rebound. Morant will be pulling a lot of doubles and traps, messing up Wolves defense.

It will also be important that the point guard does not allow himself to be deterred by Patrick Beverley’s snares, but the first-time All-Star seems solid enough. It is also Morant who always sets the pace. Memphis is the best transition team in the NBA, while the Wolves reveal problems here and are therefore prone to take fouls.

It will also be exciting to see how the Grizzlies solve the Towns matchup. Adams is reluctant to defend at the perimeter so we may see more of Jackson Jr against the Wolves star, although the latter is likely to have a clear disadvantage in the post against KAT. At the same time, Memphis also has a lot of options to play smaller, so that shouldn’t matter.

NBA: The Memphis Grizzlies squad

Point Guard	Shooting Guard	Small Forward	Power Forward	Center
And Morant	Desmond Bane	Dillon Brooks	Years Jackson Jr.	Steven Adams
Tyus Jones	De’Anthony Melton	Kyle Anderson	Brandon Clarke	Xavier Tillman
	John Konchar	Ziaire Williams	Killian Tillie	Santi Aldama
	Jarrett Culver

NBA Playoffs 2022: How the Wolves win the series

It is clear that the Wolves cannot always compensate for Towns’ off-nights. The center tends to commit stupid fouls and throw himself out of rhythm, that can’t happen anymore. In general, the Wolves have a tendency to foul too much because of their aggressiveness. That urgently needs to be improved, also because Memphis exerts more pressure on the ring than almost any other team.

At the same time, as in the play-in, the Wolves will need constant production from Russell and Edwards. There are many indications of a shootout between the two teams, so the two guards have to score accordingly. Both are capable of this, only the consistency was often lacking over the season. Russell is dependent on his jumper if Adams plays drop coverage but should get space.

At Edwards, on the other hand, the right mix will be required again. If he decides to use the drive he’s almost unstoppable, that has to be the premise. D-Lo will also have to keep the bank going. Memphis have a clear advantage here and the Wolves need to balance these minutes if they want to get anything in this series.

NBA: The Minnesota Timberwolves Squad

Point Guard	Shooting Guard	Small Forward	Power Forward	Center
Patrick Beverley	D’Angelo Russell	Anthony Edwards	Jarred Vanderbilt	Karl-Anthony Towns
Jordan McLaughlin	Malik Beasley	Taurean Prince	Jaden McDaniels	Naz Reid
Leando Bolmaro	Jaylen Nowell	Josh Okogie	Jake Layman	Greg Monroe

NBA Playoffs – Grizzlies vs. Wolves: Who will win the series?

In the regular season there were heated duels, the matchups Morant vs. Beverley, Russell vs. Brooks or possibly Towns vs. Adams also give a lot in this regard. It should also be a very fast-paced game between two young, athletic teams, although there is a certain talent gap.

As beautiful as the Wolves’ history is this year, the matchup with Memphis is not a good one. Above all, the Grizzlies do well where Minnesota’s weak points lie. There are therefore many indications that this series will end sooner than many believe. Forecast: Grizzlies in 5.