How T-wolves plan to slow down Morant in Game 2
Ja Morant’s Game 1 stats looked great against the Minnesota Timberwolves. But a closer look suggests the Timberwolves found ways to slow him down in their 130-117 win in the first round of the NBA playoffs Saturday.
Morant had 32 points and eight assists but shot 3-for-13 after the first quarter. The Memphis Grizzlies All-star guard got into the paint with ease but did little damage elsewhere, including missing both 3-point attempts.
The Timberwolves expect Morant to keep being aggressive in Game 2 on Tuesday at Fedexforum (7:30 p.m., NBA Tv/bally Sports Southeast). But a different strategy will be limiting his free throws since Morant made 16 of 20 in Game 1.
“We fouled him way too much, he’s getting downhill and getting to our paint,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said Monday. “He’s a heck of a player and he drives everything they do so It’s a full time task just to try to keep him contained so it’ll be hard to do.
Another tactic that worked was having multiple defenders meet Morant higher on the floor before he began driving to the basket. Patrick Beverley guarded Morant on the perimeter, but when Morant got free he rarely had 1on-1 chances at the rim.
The Timberwolves also blitzed him on screens, a common tactic Morant has seen for the past two seasons. He was successful splitting those double-teams in the first quarter Saturday but those looks got tougher as the game went on.
“He’s very versatile in his athleticism. (We’re) just trying to pack the paint, show bodies and make it hard for him,” Beverley said.
Usually Morant, who led the NBA in paint points this season, can turn to his floater as a counter when he drives. But Game 2 presents a new challenge for him as the Timberwolves try to limit his scoring.
Morant, however, brushed off thinking he needed to do anything differently besides adjust as he normally does after a loss.
“You look up the stats, I’m probably one of the top guys who got doubled the most in the league,” Morant said. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before or nothing they haven’t done since the regular season. It’s nothing new, just got to make the reads.”