Warriors-Grizzlies result may be determined by specific matchup

Warriors-Grizzlies result may be determined by specific matchup originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

When the Memphis Grizzlies invade the Chase Center on Friday night, the Warriors won’t have to worry spectacular point guard Ja Morant. He is out indefinitely with injuries related to a hard fall last week.

The Warriors have to deal Jaren Jackson Jr. After missing the first two games of the season, the 6-foot-11, 240-pound forward/center is averaging 22.5 points on a team shooting 54.7 percent from the field and 39.2 percent from the deep.

The task of dealing with Jackson falls mostly on Draymond Greenwho is quite familiar with his brother from the Michigan State hoops family.

In 15 NBA games against Jackson, Green has limited him to 17.7 points and 5.1 rebounds, according to statmuse.com statistics. But the job gets harder as Jackson, 25, has become a star. His scoring is up as he averages 26 points per game. match over the last four meetings.

Green, just 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, defends Jackson in much the same way he attacks most opponents with a significant size advantage using leverage, anticipation and his usual freshness.

It also works in Green’s favor in another way: Jackson is historically error-prone. He led the NBA in fouls per game last season with an average of 3.6. He is 14th this season with 3.3 per game.

There is a possibility that the Grizzlies, whose players have already missed 70 games due to injury or illness, could bolster its roster Friday night.

Shooting guard Desmond Bane, who has missed the last seven games with a right oblique strain, was upgraded to questionable Friday morning. Forward Vince Williams Jr., who has yet to play this season while recovering from a tibial stress reaction, was also upgraded to questionable and could make his season debut. Forward Brandon Clarke, who sat out Wednesday night against the Lakers with toe soreness, is also listed as questionable.

Should any or all of these reinforcements show up, Jackson will have a lighter load.
Although Jackson is by far the most productive big man on the Memphis roster, Green and his teammates — namely Trayce Jackson-Davis and Kevon Looney — also have to contend with the likes of 6-foot-11 Santi Aldama, 7-foot-1 Jay Huff and 7-foot-4 rookie Zach Edey.

The result? Contain Jackson and force others to do more heavy lifting than usual.

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