MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- LeBron James had a message for his teammates after the Lakers' final practice before opening their first-round playoff series Sunday afternoon versus the Memphis Grizzlies. It wasn't about unique methods to method or possible adjustments or anything advanced.

" Just go out and have a good time," James said Saturday. "Go out and hoop."

After playing 82 regular-season video games and another in the play-in competition, the Lakers weren't in a mood to overthink where they've been or how they obtained from a 2-10 record to open the season to a 10-2 closing mark to get to this point. They're here and that's all that actually matters.

" We've just got to head out and play complimentary," Lakers coach Darvin Ham said, expanding on James' post-practice ideas. "We've got our techniques, and our modifications, our initial protections, and so on and so forth, but at the end of the day, you've simply got to go out and hoop.

" It's a gorgeous time to be a part of NBA basketball. The postseason. Everybody doesn't get a possibility to do this. Everybody doesn't get to take part in it. And those people coming in for the very first time and with restricted experience or no experience, you've just got to remember who you are as a gamer and who we are as a team, and just head out and put your best foot forward."

The Lakers stressed the idea that the regular-season records and the seedings don't matter. Everybody is starting fresh-- whether seventh-seeded, as the Lakers are, or second-seeded, as the Grizzlies are. The games are up for grabs, and it depends on the Lakers to take full benefit, starting Sunday.

If the Lakers established a little a swagger during their sizzling end to the routine season, it was tough to tell Saturday. They spoke in reserved tones, calmly, confidently laying out some however certainly not all of their plans for the Grizzlies, a group they beat in 2 of three regular-season games.

There's been a slow buildup to their return to the playoffs. The days that it was a foregone conclusion before the start of training camp that they would get approved for the playoffs and make a deep run are long past, replaced by a various sort of assuredness that appeared Saturday.

" I'm really positive in our group and our group, with the people that we have, the coaching personnel that we have," Anthony Davis stated. "We do a great task of preparing, getting all set for groups. I'm not truly worried about the offending end.

" We've got to come out and safeguard, especially in this series. Their guys are playing with a lot of rate. Have a lot of shooting. Offensive rebounding. We've got to defend and rebound and attempt to limit their All-Stars. Their guys. And if we're able to do that, we'll put ourselves in an excellent position to win."

Naturally, it helps the Lakers' possibilities for what the oddsmakers and experts would consider an upset series triumph over the Grizzlies that James and Davis are healthy entering into Game 1. Many of the Lakers' ups and downs this season might be traced to their unavailability due to the fact that of injuries.

Officially, James (foot), Davis (foot) and Dennis Schröder were listed as likely for Game 1.

The Grizzlies are not at complete strength, with big guys Steven Adams (knee) and Brandon Clarke (Achilles) most likely sidelined for the rest of the season. It might provide the Lakers a healthy advantage in the paint for a best-of-7 series that's expected to be close and may go the distance.

" I imply, anytime me and Bron are able to be on the flooring together, our chances increase as far as winning basketball games," Davis said. "But ... (Memphis) is a great team. Missing out on some guys.
What: Game 1 of the NBA Western Conference first-round series

When: Noon Sunday

Where: FedExForum, Memphis