This young team needs to grow up, but it learns from its mistakes.
This talented team often talks too much trash, but it remains justified with its confidence.
This immature team may shrink from the glaring spotlight, but it eventually returns to center stage and proves worthy of attention.
The Memphis Grizzlies showcased their resiliency once again. They secured a 116-99 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. They literally saved their season by staving off elimination. They reduced the Lakers’ series lead to 3-2 and forced a Game 6 on Friday in Los Angeles.
All of this happened two days after the Grizzlies spent the past week in LA struggling with almost everything. The Lakers overwhelmed them with championship depth and smarts. Lakers fans overwhelmed them with boos and insults. And the Grizzlies overwhelmed themselves with faulty execution and decision making.
The roles quickly reversed in Game 6. The Lakers looked worn down. The home crowd greeted Memphis with enthusiasm and cheers. And the Grizzlies showed resiliency.
Memphis Grizzlies turn the tables on the Los Angeles Lakers
After struggling all series with finding an offensive rhythm, Memphis guard Desmond Bane scored a team-leading 33 points while shooting 12-for-21 from the field and 4-for-9 from 3-point range. After showing mixed progress with his recovered right hand, Memphis guard Ja Morant stayed aggressive enough to post 31 points on a 13-for-26 clip.
Dillon Brooks’ trash talk on LeBron James may have backfired, as the Lakers star responded during their homestand with reminders on why he remains the King with his strength, smarts and hustle.
But in Game 5, the Grizzlies held a tired 38-year-old James to 15 points while shooting 5-for-17 from the field and 1-for-9 from deep and committing five turnovers. Lakers forward Anthony Davis had a bounce-back game with 31 points on a 14-for-23 clip along with 19 rebounds. But the Lakers’ role players could not hit enough shots, including Austin Reaves (4-for-13) and D’Angelo Russell (4-for-11).
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Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins continued to make adjustments. He limited Brooks’ playing time (30 minutes) amid ongoing struggles with his shooting (3-for-15) and with defending James. After Jenkins yanked Brooks late in the first quarter, Memphis went on a 15-4 run. Without Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke amid season-ending injuries, Jenkins relied on small lineups both to bolster Memphis’ 3-point shooting (14-for-40).
The guard-oriented lineup made up for its lack of size with quickness against the Lakers’ frontcourt and stayed close in the rebounding battle (Lakers won 54-52).
These developments should not surprise anyone.
The Memphis Grizzlies held the NBA’s best home record this season (35-6). They have excelled better at home than on the road in points per game (119.8, 114.0), field-goal percentage (48.5%, 46.4%) and turnovers (12.9, 14.3). No wonder the Grizzlies showcased the best version of themselves in their most important game before a supportive crowd.
Memphis has strung together plenty of bounce-back performances during adversarial moments. They reeled off an 11-game winning streak this season after losing two consecutive games. They went 5-3 without Morant when he served an eight-game suspension for posting an Instagram Live video of himself holding a gun while intoxicated at a Denver nightclub. No wonder Memphis thrived after facing its latest challenge.
Jenkins has largely supported his players both through their big performances and sluggish play. He has defended them publicly when they have acted out of line, but he has followed through on that vow.
Heftier challenges await, though.
The Grizzlies will soon return to a hostile environment. They will greet a Lakers team motivated to close out their first-round series. They will meet a more rested James. They will face pressure on maintaining the same execution, discipline and composure. They will face doubt on whether their immaturity will get the best of them again.
Memphis at least gave itself this opportunity, though, when it appeared it wouldn’t receive another chance to make amends.
Mark Medina is an NBA Insider for Sportsnaut. Follow him on Twitter and on Instagram.