Are the Memphis Grizzlies better off without Dillon Brooks in Lakers series and beyond?

LOS ANGELES — Game 3 against the Lakers didn't go so well for the Memphis Grizzlies, particularly that first quarter.

Now, the Grizzlies trail Los Angeles 2-1 in this first-round Western Conference series with a gigantic matchup Monday (9 p.m., TNT) at Crypto.com Arena.

That calls for another NBA playoffs roundtable, as Commercial Appeal sports columnist Mark Giannotto and Grizzlies beat writer Damichael Cole discuss some of the biggest storylines ahead of Game 4.

How can the Grizzlies win when Anthony Davis plays well?

Giannotto: They haven’t yet and it might not be possible. Davis aggressively hunted his shot in Game 3 and the Lakers are now 39 points better than the Grizzlies with Davis on the court in this series. But D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Malik Beasley out-scored Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones and Luke Kennard in the Lakers’ two wins. They didn’t in Game 2. Maybe that's the best path forward.

Cole: I don’t know if they can. Memphis will have to shoot lights out to overcome Davis, and the Lakers' defense has done a great job closing out on Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane. Davis is dominating the paint and will continue to get most of those looks. It’s a tough task with Brandon Clarke and Steven Adams sitting on the bench.

Are the Grizzlies better off without Dillon Brooks?

Cole: It’s trending that way. I have always believed his defense and leadership are major reasons for the success in Memphis, but it’s fair to question if those assets are worth the shooting liabilities as Brooks heads into free agency. Not to mention, getting LeBron James riled up turned out bad. Brooks needs to redeem himself the remainder of this series, or it won’t be hard seeing Memphis opting not to re-sign him this offseason.

Giannotto: In the short term, probably not. So the news about Brooks not being suspended for Game 4 is good. Rookie David Roddy isn’t ready to assume those minutes on defense full-time. But this postseason run increasingly feels like Brooks’ final games with the Grizzlies. The Lakers built their defense in this series around giving him the open shots he’s more than happy to take. He might be costing himself free agency money in these games, and it’s been costly for the Grizzlies.

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What Grizzlies player is under the most pressure to perform in Game 4?

Giannotto: The easy answer is Brooks after Game 3. But Desmond Bane, after pushing Memphis past Minnesota in the first round last season, has quietly had a frustrating series. He’s shooting just 38 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range. Foul trouble in Games 1 and 3 was a problem. But he could be on the verge of breaking out. He had 16 points and three 3-pointers after halftime Saturday.

Cole: I think it’s Dillon Brooks. He threw up a clunker in Game 3. If the Lakers continue to sag off him and give him 3-pointers, he must knock those shots down. If Brooks knocks down shots, it will open the floor up for Ja Morant and Bane and get the offense going.

Why can Memphis win three of the next four games in this series?

Cole: Morant is back, and he was electric Saturday. Getting a confident Morant combined with Jaren Jackson Jr. avoiding foul trouble will put Memphis in a great position. Defensively, the Grizzlies have played solidly most of the series. Jackson and Morant must play like stars, and timely contributions from role players can give Memphis the boost it needs if the defense continues to play at a high level.

Giannotto: This really comes down to Game 4. If Memphis can steal a win in Los Angeles, the series will be determined by whether the best home team in the NBA this season can win two home games. That seems doable. Morant, meanwhile, is the Grizzlies’ version of Davis to the Lakers – a player they can’t stop when properly motivated and aggressive. Now that Morant looks healthy enough to be that guy again, Memphis still has a shot.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Are the Memphis Grizzlies better off without Dillon Brooks vs. Lakers?