The NBA playoffs are finally here and fans are eagerly awaiting the first round between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has weighed in on the series, stating his belief that Ja Morant is more trustworthy than Anthony Davis because of his potential to elevate those around him.
Smith’s Trust in Morant
Smith is bullish on Morant’s ability to impact the series in a big way, claiming that the young point guard has the potential to be the X-factor for his team. Morant led the Grizzlies to back-to-back No. 2 seeds in the Western Conference and has played well in the playoffs before. Smith thinks that Morant can carry this momentum into this year’s playoffs, making him an important player to watch.
Davis’ Expected Performance
While Smith believes in Morant, he does acknowledge that Davis will likely have a good series as well. Despite two Grizzlies players being out due to injuries, Davis will be up against some tough competition in Jaren Jackson Jr., who is a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
But even with Davis expected to perform well, Smith thinks that Morant could have more of an impact due to his ball-handling abilities and not having to share touches with LeBron James like Davis does.
Other Predictions and Expectations
There are many different opinions on who will come out on top in this series, with some insiders predicting a victory for either team. Austin Reaves, a Lakers player set to become a restricted free agent this summer, recently issued a statement about guarding Morant and acknowledged he will need to limit his performance.
An NBA executive and scout are predicting an upset by the Lakers over the Grizzlies in seven games, citing LeBron James as a key factor. However, they also questioned the residual effects of Morant’s late-season struggles.
Meanwhile, fans are eagerly anticipating Game 1 in Memphis on Sunday, April 16th. Despite the Grizzlies holding home-court advantage in the series, the Lakers will need to win at least one game on the road to win it all.
Final Thoughts
As the first round of the NBA playoffs gets underway, fans and analysts alike are excited to see who will come out on top between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers. For Stephen A. Smith, his trust lies with Ja Morant and his ability to impact his team even further in this series. But with so many variables at play, only time will tell if Smith’s prediction turns out to be correct.
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