Came across this read yesterday and thought it had some points that caught my interest even though it is a homer article for memphis:
"And maybe Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer can do a solid for his former protege, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins, and force Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, Brook Lopez and the rest of the Bucks’ usual starting lineup to sit with their star and help him learn a valuable lesson."
"The Utah Jazz didn’t sit any starters against the Grizzlies and then seemingly benched all of them the next game. The Raptors did the same, and the Celtics are about to join them. Meanwhile, Portland and San Antonio and Phoenix all have benefited from opposing teams sitting starters."
League wide plot
The top teams in the East and West have recognized the challenge Portland can bring to the Lakers. First of all out of all the play-in teams Portland has deep playoff experience from last year and a top 5 player in the league that can steal a game or two in a series. This could be a reason why these Eastern teams did not let the foot off the gas taking double digit leads and playing starters until the end. Memphis played its best quarters in the 4th those games but could not overcome the deficits. They made it a 3 point game against Toronto late.
Example: Doc Rivers being called out for helping Portland
Coaches Collusion
From Memphis Head Coach Jenkins Wiki:
"Jenkins worked as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks for 5 years (2013–2018) under head coach Mike Budenholzer. The Hawks reached the playoffs 4 consecutive years including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. Jenkins helped develop four of the Hawks 2015 starting five into NBA All-Stars (four starters appeared on the 2015 NBA All-Star roster). Jenkins later followed Budenholzer to be an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2018–19 NBA season. The Bucks finished with a league best 60 wins, and clinched the #1 spot in the Eastern Conference for the first time in 45 years."
1.) Does Budenholzer recognizes the league wide effort to keep his former protege from gaining the recognition he has earned for building this Memphis team into one of the biggest surprises with one of the brightest futures of young talent and a future super star in Morant?
2.) Does not having Giannis make this an easy game to say lets rest and get ready for the playoffs?
3.) Does Budenholzer think they still need some tuning before the playoffs and uses his line-up as usual minus Giannis?
Early Leans
Even if Memphis wins today they still have to get past Portland in the play-in game. With a loss they could be eliminated. I'm sure Budenholzer wants the Lakers to face Portland as well, but he can also right a wrong and let Memphis show what they are made of in a spotlight game for the play-in.
Line movement went from a Mem +3 to a -2.5 already this morning.
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