Phoenix Suns: 3 Most Important Games in Final Stretch Before Playoffs
Phoenix Suns at Memphis Grizzlies – Friday, April 1st
Given their stellar play over the past few weeks and an injury to Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, the Memphis Grizzlies now seem like the most probable opponent to meet Phoenix in the Western Conference Finals should they make it that far.
With that understood, the Suns will surely want to take one good long look at them.
The Grizzlies took down Phoenix earlier this year after Devin Booker traded his would-be game winner for one with Ja Morant on the next possession. Even with it being a fitting end to what was a rough few days for the Suns following a series of COVID-19 outbreaks, the contest was an absolute thriller and a joy to watch.
Again, the Suns have had no answer for Ja Morant all night. Grizzlies back up 1 with 0.5 seconds left pic.twitter.com/TFdXhdEZB2
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 28, 2021
But like the Timberwolves, Memphis’s players also found success vs the Suns this year aside from that team victory. To go with that game-winning shot, Morant averaged 29.6 points and 5.0 assists per contest in his two games vs Phoenix this year, never shooting worse than 52.0 percent from the field in either game as well.
Two guard Desmond Bane also hit six triples in Memphis’s latter matchup vs Phoenix this year—his second most in a game this season. The Suns have clearly yet to figure out Grit and Grind, and will want to study up during this upcoming throwaway game.
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Look for Phoenix to unleash a variety of different looks at Bane, Morant, and the other young Grizzlies just to see what works and what does not. With Memphis also being a younger team, they can keep tabs on those who do not look playoff ready—pegging them as easy targets to go after in the playoffs.