Without Ja Morant, the odds are stacked against the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 4

The Memphis Grizzlies have their backs against the wall heading into Game 4, and will likely be without Ja Morant. 

For the Memphis Grizzlies, it’s looking like they will be without their young superstar, Ja Morant, heading into a pivotal Game 4. He suffered a knee injury in Game 3 where Memphis lost 142-112, to the Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies will have their backs against the wall, already down 2-1 in the series, in Game 4.

It’s going to be extremely tough to win on the road without Morant. Memphis has a lot of talent on their roster, but nobody on that team can do what he does for his squad.

If the Grizzlies want to walk away with the series tied tonight, they are going to have to play close to perfect basketball for four quarters.

The Grizzlies have a deep roster and head coach Taylor Jenkins is going to have to shuffle some players around in Game 4. It will not be easy to replace the output that Ja brings when playing. Through nine playoff games this season, Morant is averaging 27.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 9.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game.

He almost averages a triple-double in the playoffs. I don’t know if any other player for Memphis is capable of carrying the team like that. Not having your best player can impact a series heavily.

An example of this is the 76ers vs. Heat series in the East. Philly’s best player Joel Embiid missed Games 1 and 2 due to injury and concussion protocol. The Sixers lost by a combined 30 points in those games. Embiid returned for Games 3 and 4, and the 76ers won both of those games by a combined 28 points.

Golden State needs two more wins to advance to the Conference Finals. The Warriors have a proven track record of playoff success, and it has shown in both series they have played in this postseason. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Head Coach Steve Kerr were all a part of the Warriors’ three championships in the past decade. Championship DNA plays a huge factor in winning.

Game 4 has become a must-win for the Grizzlies with Morant out. A loss tonight would put the Warriors up 3-1, but Game 5 shifts the series back to Memphis. The Grizzlies need to be seriously locked in if they want to win. Stealing a road playoff game against the Warriors is a difficult task.

The Grizzlies and Warriors want two very different results tonight. Memphis is desperate for a win without Ja Morant, and the Warriors want to throw their best punch at Memphis and show that they are on two different playing fields.

Do the Grizzlies have enough fight to try and win this game, or are the Warriors going to show them why they were, and could still be a dynasty in the NBA?