NBA Western Conference Play-In Preview: Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers

Up by one, with the game-winning shot in the hands of Caris LaVert, the Portland Trail Blazers were an opposition bucket away from missing these playoffs entirely. CJ McCollum's on-ball defense was sound enough to cause a miss. By winning, they secured the 8th seed in the playoffs - a spot which, until today, meant a first-round playoff matchup against a 1st seed.

The Trail Blazers played two more games than the Grizzlies before the season went on hiatus, meaning that because both teams won less than 50% of their games, Portland had a better winning percentage. This gives them the advantage here, fair or not. 

The match-up here is almost like looking at a mirror. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in Portland's backcourt are the veteran Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks. Morant is still finding his confidence in pulling up from three, but he's an incredible playmaker and has elite NBA drive - all of which was said of Lillard in his rookie season. 

Similarly, the centers matchup very well with one another. Valanciunas on Memphis against a combination of Hassan Whiteside and Jusuf Nurkic should show similar statistics. The other bigs, Zach Collins on Portland and Brandon Clarke on Memphis, if I'm correct, is a tale of two Gonzaga Bulldogs going head-to-head, both very young with the only difference being that Clarke is in his first NBA season. But one might say they would rather have Clarke on their team regardless.

The Lillard/Morant match-up will be exhilarating to watch because Lillard has been clutch in Portland for several years and if you've seen Morant play, be it before the hiatus or when he played at Murray St., you know the amazing talent that will be showcased today. In my opinion, you won't see a better point guard duel the rest of this post-season, as short-lived as it could be. 

And the advantage here is significant. If Portland wins the game this afternoon - scheduled to start in thirty minutes (at 2:30pm EST) - they will advance to play the Los Angeles Lakers on Aug. 17. If they lose, Memphis must win one more time tomorrow in order to supplant Portland and the 8th seed.