In anticipation of Friday night’s Tyronn Lue matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Clippers, head coach Ty Lue shared insights into the game plan to contain the explosive Ja Morant, who earned Player of the Week honors immediately upon returning from a 25-game suspension.
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Tyronn Lue
Lue emphasized the necessity of a team defensive approach against Morant, acknowledging the difficulty of stopping him in one-on-one situations.
Speaking to ClutchPoints, Lue expressed his satisfaction with Morant’s return and praised the impact he brings to the game of basketball: “It’s gonna be more of a team defense. 1-on-1 is gonna be tough… It’s gotta be collectively… I’m happy that he’s back, happy that he’s doing well, and it’s good for the game of basketball to have Ja back.”
Morant has been exceptional since his return, solidifying his status as the franchise cornerstone for the Grizzlies. Across four games, he is averaging an impressive 28.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. In his comeback game, Morant secured a thrilling victory against the New Orleans Pelicans with a buzzer-beating acrobatic layup.
The Clippers face a challenging task in slowing down Morant, particularly given his electrifying performance, especially in transition. Lue highlighted the near impossibility of stopping Morant in one-on-one situations, emphasizing the need for a collective defensive effort from the entire Clippers unit. The Grizzlies have demonstrated Morant’s pivotal role by going 4-0 since his return, improving their record to 10-19 on the year.
Before the clash with the Clippers, the Grizzlies are set for a tough back-to-back, facing the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday. The outcome of these games will determine if Memphis can maintain its unbeaten record with Morant heading into Friday’s matchup.
