3 things Lakers need to do to get favorable Grizzlies matchup in first round

The Los Angeles Lakers' best bet to have an easy first-round matchup is if they play the Memphis Grizzlies.

3 things Lakers need to do to get favorable Grizzlies matchup in first round

Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic

Ever since LeBron James came back from injury, the Los Angeles Lakers have lost three games and won three. Those results will not work in their favor as they look to cling on to fourth spot in the west. However, they still have the time to ensure their first-round playoff matchup is as favorable as possible.

The Lakers could have won their game against the Chicago Bulls. If not for two uncharacteristically costly mistakes from James, they could have tried to move up to third. However, if they were to finish third and the Golden State Warriors finish sixth, it is not as favorable a matchup as they would like.

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The Lakers have defeated the Warriors on quite a few occasions. However, the Warriors are an unknown quantity for them ever since Jimmy Butler brought a different dimension to that squad. Along with his reputation in the playoffs, the Lakers are better off not entering a guessing contest.

They will square off on April 3rd, but Steve Kerr could mask their actual gameplans as he knows how LeBron James thinks. Instead of second guessing, it is better if the Lakers face off against the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round. But for that to happen, they have to ensure the standings remain as it is.

Play chess with the rest of the schedule

The Los Angeles Lakers have seven games left on their schedule. Amongst those games, three are easily winnable. The New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers are easier to deal with considering the sleuth of injuries they have.

Then they have a rematch against the Houston Rockets. It is at their home and if the Rockets do cement 2nd place by then, they should ease off too. That leaves the three games, one against the Warriors and two on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder have already locked up the top spot. On top of that, they will also play a road game immediately after the second of their clashes against the Lakers. It would be a good time to rest their star players, and it is likely that the Lakers will do so too.

That leaves the two games which they have to try and win. Here, the Lakers have to play chess. With each passing game, they need to look at the Grizzlies and play accordingly. As in, they should drop games to avoid playing the Warriors and win games to stay in fourth place.

Handle minutes restrictions for LeBron James and other starters

After their recent losing streaks, head coach JJ Redick has tweaked the rotation to favor their starters. That means, the burden is greater on LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. It looks as if it might be a desperate attempt to reel in the losses.

He might not change the lineup or rotations for those three important games against the Warriors and the Thunder. But for the rest of the games, Redick has to bring the bench into play. For starters, it bodes well if the bench gets playing time ahead of the playoffs. Dalton Knecht for instance, is barely seeing the floor.

It might be a ploy to keep opposition scouts guessing. But JJ Redick will need Knecht, Shake Milton and the other bench players to get a feel of the game. He should use them to give James, Doncic, Reaves and Rui Hachimura some rest. Only then can they be fresh for the playoffs.

Hope the Memphis Grizzlies stop losing games

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a difficult spot. They are fifth in the West. On the other hand, they finished the month of March with two major problems. One is their form, having finished 6-10 last month, their 2-7 record from their last nine games is more concerning.

If they continue losing games, they will slide down the standings. The Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers are just one game behind. One or two losses and the Grizzlies will slide down to eighth place.

On top of that, the franchise just fired head coach Taylor Jenkins. Interim head coach Tuomas Iisalo now leads the team and going by theories that he was the one designing their offense, the Grizzlies should not have a problem.

However, if the players do not respond and their wretched form continues, they could lose out on the playoffs completely. Then the Los Angeles Lakers will likely face the Warriors in the 1st round. They should hope it does not happen, and that the Grizzlies find form. If all that happens, they will have a favorable 1st round matchup.