Lakers News: Has LeBron James Been Scouting Memphis Since Before LA's Play-In Game?

Was he looking ahead prior to LA's matchup with Minnesota?

Your 43-39 Los Angeles Lakers are set to square off against the 51-31 Memphis Grizzlies for their 2-7 playoff series matchup on Sunday, after LA barely eked out a 108-102 overtime victory against a Minnesota Timberwolves club missing top starting defenders Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert, plus key reserve Naz Reid.

In the win over Minnesota this past Tuesday, All-Star Los Angeles small forward LeBron James scored 30 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the floor, grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out six dimes.

Afterwards in his postgame remarks, James made it clear that he was very much looking ahead to this impending Grizzlies series, after first noting that LA had made quite the rally from its miserable start to the season, featuring a mismatched bunch of role players clogging up the paint and failing to defend a paper bag.

.@KingJames on the #Lakers journey to get to the #NBAPlayoffs, his early thoughts on the Memphis matchup and overcoming AD’s close out foul on Mike Conley. pic.twitter.com/PboFoxGc7u

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) April 12, 2023

"Going 2-10 [to start the year], the analytics side said we had a 0.3% chance of making the postseason, so all you ask for is a chance, I guess," James said of the team's progression to now qualifying for the playoffs.

Then, he delivered a surprisingly detailed response when asked about the Grizzlies.

"Just [a] really good team, very well coached, very well balanced. I mean obviously the head of the snake is Ja Morant," James said. "But another All-Star in Jaren Jackson who is up there in [being a candidate for] Defensive Player of the Year, his ability to block shots [is valuable], offensively he's very dynamic as well. Tyus Jones, the point guard off the bench, has led the league in assist-to-turnover ratio the last six years. So he compliments them very well."

"Desmond Bane, I think [is] in his third year, but he plays like a veteran. His ability to shoot the ball from the three-point line, and also his ability to attack in early transition [is huge for Memphis]. Dillon Brooks, another opportunity to go out there, and you can't disrespect him 'cause he can make shots. Xavier Tillman [starting for injured center Steven Adams] has been playing good basketball obviously he's been well coached all the way from his college days [at Michigan State] with Coach Izzo to now. And so on and so on. They've got Luke Kennard, who broke my scoring record in high school, he passed me in high school. There's a reason why, because he's a laser from the three-point line, his ability to shoot the ball is uncanny. And they've got so many other guys also off the bench you can't disrespect 'cause they will make you pay."

"Obviously I haven't thought about Memphis one minute," James joked after that very, very thorough rundown.

Clearly, when the game tips off on Sunday at noon, a certain 19-time All-Star will be ready.

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