Author: Aimee Stiegemeyer

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Trounce Spurs 133-102

With a win over San Antonio Monday night, the Memphis Grizzlies extended their winning streak to seven games, currently a league-high, and a franchise-record 6-1 start on the road for the season. They moved up to 4th in the Western Conference standings.

Breaking records and making history: 

 

Grizzlies Trounce Spurs 133-102

The Grizzlies made all sorts of history during this game: First time winning three in a row in San Antonio, and the largest win over the Spurs in franchise history. 

A franchise-record nine out of 10 players finished with 10 points or more. In fact, John Konchar was the only player who did not score in double digits, finishing the night with 7 points and one of the prettiest chase-down blocks ever against noted Griz killer Patty Mills

Grizzlies Trounce Spurs 133-102 (2)

Gorgui Dieng had a team-high 19 points and has moved to the top 3-point shooting average in the league, overtaking Griz rookie Desmond Bane, who previously held the top shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

After the game, Dieng said, “We have a good system over here; we share the ball and we play hard and we emphasize that and if we play like that we can go against anyone on any given night.” Asked about his playing time, Dieng added, “It’s year eight for me, I have to stay ready no matter what happens. It’s a long season and I cannot be here crying about minutes. I’m a pro and I will do anything I can to help this basketball team — whenever my number is called I am ready to serve.”

Okay, Gorgui, we see you.

Brandon Clarke closed out the night with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists on 7 of 10 shooting.

Kyle Anderson continues to show off with 17 points and 8 rebounds.

De’Anthony Melton also finished the night with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc.

Tyus Jones had a career-high 14 assists, along with 11 points. Jones also tied the esteemed Brevin Knight for 2nd in assists off the bench in franchise history. 

Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant both finished with 13 points.

The Grizzlies once again continued their dominance around the basket, with 62 paint points. They also forced turnovers and converted them on the other end, scoring 30 points off 15 Spurs turnovers.

Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies are back in action again tonight and this time they will face off against the Indiana Pacers. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CST.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Can the Grizzlies Keep the Streak Alive in Minnesota?

The Memphis Grizzlies are proud owners of their first winning streak this season, currently at three games after a win Wednesday night against the Minnesota  Timberwolves. Tonight, the Grizzlies get another shot against the Wolves, this time in Minneapolis.

The winning streak is particularly notable as it has occurred after reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant was sidelined with a left ankle sprain three games into the season.  

Brandon Clarke

 

There are some reassuring signs though – Brandon Clarke appears to have returned to his true form; Dillon Brooks is maturing into the player I always knew he could be. Tyus Jones continues to impact the game on both ends of the floor; Desmond Bane is just plain good. And Jonas Valanchiunas has become a double-double machine.       

 

Another notable mention: Shorthanded or not, this squad does not give up on the game. The clearest evidence of this came from their most recent win over Minnesota.

The Timberwolves cooked the Grizzlies for most of the first three quarters, and yet thanks to an extraordinarily strong fourth quarter, they came out with a win.     

 

I’ve included a visual recap of the Grizzlies win at Minnesota:

 

Three keys to keeping the winning streak alive:

  • Turning defense into offense. They will need to continue forcing turnovers and converting those into points on the offensive end. Keeping up with good ball security is also related.
  • Get the bench involved. The Memphis bench outscored the Minnesota bench by nearly 30 points and came away with the win. Bench performance was and remains a huge key to success.
  • Get in the paint. The Grizzlies had a franchise-record 80 points in the paint in their win over the Timberwolves. When the outside shots are not falling, drag your opponent into the paint and keep them there.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Cavaliers 94-90

In what might be the worst loss of the season, the Grizzlies put on a disappointing performance on their home court against the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday. Unfortunately, there is no time for reflection, as the team plays again tonight, this time facing off against the Brooklyn Nets.  

 

But enough about that. First, let’s unpack this lopsided game from Thursday night. With such a narrow margin of defeat, little things here and there added up quickly to spell out big problems. 

 

What Went Wrong?

The short answer: Everything.

Turnovers – Memphis turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 24 points scored off turnovers for Cleveland. It is true that the Cavaliers also didn’t practice great ball security, as their 16 turnovers allowed for 20 points by the Grizzlies. But it’s hard to beat any NBA team with 18 turnovers.

Free throw disparity – This one stings a lot. The Grizzlies shot just 8 free throws, compared to the Cavaliers’ 16. What’s even worse, Cleveland only made 9 out of those 16. Losing a game where your opponent shoots 56 percent from the charity stripe is a bad look no matter who you are. 

 

Lineups – Perhaps the most questionable of a lot of questionable decisions were some of the lineups the Grizzlies had out on the floor. Being short of able-bodied players factors into those decisions, and some experimentation with rotations is to be expected, but this young Memphis team looked so lost at times against a mediocre Cleveland squad. Do better.

 

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will face off against the Brooklyn Nets Friday night to close out a four-game homestand. Tip-off is at 7 pm. 

 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Here’s How the Grizzlies Can Prosper in the New Year

New year, new energy. Here are a few things the Grizzlies need to leave behind — and a few things they need to carry forward into the new year. 

 

 

Things the Grizzlies Need to Leave in 2020


In honor of the new year, here’s a list of things I would like to see the Grizzlies leave behind in the Year That Shall Not Be Named.

In no particular order:

  • Foul Trouble — Specifically, stupid careless fouls that put a valuable player on the bench during crunch time. 
  • Turnovers — good ball security is paramount to success. Tell your friends.
  • Excessive shooting from three — When you are shooting 0 for 11 from deep after one quarter, it’s time to look at your choices. Drive to the basket and finish around the rim. Especially Dillon Brooks. If your shot doesn’t fall after 5 tries, stop shooting from outside and go to the basket.
  • Injuries — No further explanation needed.

 

On the flipside, here’s some advice for continuing success in 2021:

Jonas Valanciunas

Feed the large Lithuanian — Jonas Valanciunas needs to eat, early and often. The Grizzlies led the league in points in the paint last season, and they have the league’s longest streak of 40 or more points in the paint per game. In other words — drag them into the mud and beat them there. Let Valanciunas post up whenever possible. 

 

Start Desmond Bane You Cowards — With Grayson Allen out for however long, this appears to be happening now. Bane might be an NBA rookie but his composure and decision-making thus far reflects his four- year collegiate career. Say what you will about one-and-done players, but there is something to be said for honing the discipline required to have a meaningful impact on a team for four years. 

Kyle Anderson

Kyle Anderson needs to keep eating his Wheaties.

Slo Mo has been a force for the Grizzlies so far this season. I don’t believe we have yet had the opportunity to see full-strength Anderson in Beale Street Blue, but there is no time like the present. He looks to be fully recovered from the thoracic outlet decompression surgery he had in 2019 and is making a big difference on both ends of the floor.  

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Buzz Hornets in Charlotte 108–93


The Grizzlies got the new year started off right with a sound thrashing delivered to the Hornets, bringing them to 2-1 for the first road trip of the season. 

 

Injuries left Memphis with only nine available players against Charlotte. Despite the unfavorable odds, several players stepped up to fill the gaps in the roster. Six out of nine Grizzlies finished the game in double digits. Here’s the breakdown:

Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc. 

Kyle Anderson continues to be critical to the success of this squad, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. 

Brandon Clarke had his best night of the young season, looking a lot more like last season’s self, with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. 

Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Gorgui Dieng gave a much-needed spark off the bench and ended the night with 14 points and 8 rebounds. 

Desmond Bane, the rookie from TCU, got his first career start and finished with 10 points and 4 assists. 

Tyus Jones only scored 6 points, but provided a dozen assists as he made things easier for his teammates.  

 

The Grizzlies did all the right things, despite being short-handed, and it paid off.
They played smart defense, scoring 25 points off 19 Charlotte turnovers. And they sharing the ball well, with a team total of 34 assists. The performance in Charlotte is exactly what the Grizzlies need going forward. Everyone contributing something until the injured big guns — Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. — return.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies return home to face the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Tip-off is at 5 pm CST.  

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to Hawks 122–112, Move to 0–2 to Start the Season

There are no moral victories in the NBA and this game was no exception. Yes, it was exciting to watch two dynamic young point guards face off. But much less so when it’s your team that takes the L. 

Ja Morant

In the battle between Trae Young and Ja Morant, there is no denying who came out on top. Hint: it wasn’t Ja Morant. Say what you will about the officiating (and Morant did, earning him a technical foul late in the 4th quarter) but this was still a winnable game for the Grizzlies and they blew it.


Sloppy defense, careless turnovers, and poor shot selection — once again, these cost the Grizzlies the game.

Morant had this to say postgame regarding contact in the paint: “A lot of contact down there which resulted in me being off-balance when I shoot so I missed the shot. As you see I got a tech. If that’s what I got to do to get calls, then, oh well. It’s my second year. I let a lot of stuff slide, but I’m not going for that no more. Everybody who knows me knows I’m always smiling and laughing, and when somebody gets fed up that’s what happens.”


Morant is everything Memphis needed in a player. But the past two games have clearly demonstrated that while good, he cannot carry this team by himself. And this team cannot wait for the return of Jaren Jackson Jr. to start winning games, not if they want to stay competitive in a deep Western Conference. 

This means that everyone else on the team needs to come with their A game. What we have seen on the court in the past two games was at best a C+, and that is being extremely generous. 

The absence of De’Anthony Melton was surely felt, but that alone should not be enough to derail this team. Brandon Clarke looks like a different player than he was last year. While it is too early yet to panic about Clarke, it is concerning. Even more concerning is the Grizzlies’ bench play. For the second game in a row, the opponent’s bench outscored the Memphis bench by double digits. Nothing good can come from the bench being consistently outscored, much like nothing good can come from jacking up three-point shots five seconds into the shot clock. (Looking at you, Dillon Brooks.)

Here is a brief rundown of the second game of the season:

 

The good:

Kyle Anderson 

All five starters scoring double digits 

Fewer turnovers committed by the Grizzlies 

Grizzlies converting Hawks turnovers into points 

 

The bad:

Foul trouble 

Dillon Brooks shooting 3 of 11 from beyond the arc 

Grizzlies bench play 

Not driving to the basket

Let’s all hope that what this team needs is just to shake off the rust. 

 

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will face off against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, December 28th. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies?

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Larry Kuzniewski

Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies entered the NBA Bubble sitting nicely in position for the 8th seed.
They were ahead of the other Western Conference teams volleying for the final playoff spot by 3.5 games. Players such as Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen, who had been sidelined with injuries before the season was put on hold, returned from the hiatus healthy and ready to play. Trade deadline acquisition Justise Winslow was said to be healed and ready to be put into rotation.

So, entering the bubble, the squad was healthy, hungry, and ready to compete for their playoff spot. Things were looking up for a change, and the immediate future for the young Grizzlies appeared bright. Unfortunately, it was not to be meant to be. Much like the year 2020 itself, things have rapidly gone from bad to worse, health-wise, for this team.

Not Great:
First, there was Winslow re-injuring himself in practice and once again landing on the injured list. When he was signed, it was already expected that Winslow would not hit the court in a Grizzlies uniform until next season. Injuries always suck, and by all accounts, Winslow had been playing well in resumed practices. However, as disappointing as it was, it did not leave the Grizzlies any worse off than they were when the season was put on hold back in March.

Next came the series of scrimmage games, the Bubble’s version of a preseason. In those three scrimmage games, the Grizzlies finished 1-2. Again, not great but could be attributed in part to rust from the long hiatus.

Bad:
On July 29th Grizzlies PR informed us that guard Tyus Jones was experiencing knee soreness.

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies?

The Grizzlies went on to play the first of eight seeding games on July 31st — which they lost to the Portland Trailblazers in overtime. This loss can be attributed largely to poor decision making down the stretch and missing free throws.

Game two was a loss against the San Antonio Spurs. Game three was an even bigger loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Sensing the pattern here yet? Hint: It’s not winning.

The Worst:

Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks have both struggled with shooting in the games played so far. In fact, it has been Jaren Jackson Jr. who has been the biggest standout through the first three games. In a heartbreaking turn of events, it was revealed that Jackson Jr. had suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday’s loss to the Pelicans.

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies? (2)

There are still five games remaining in the season, in theory still time to stack some wins and hold on to their playoff spot. But the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. might be too much for this young team to overcome. The odds are not in the Grizzlies favor.
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Beyond the Arc Sports

Real Talk: Ja Morant Should Be the Unanimous Rookie of the Year


A combination of recency bias and media-fueled hype have derailed the conversation regarding the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year award. Ever since late January when he made his NBA debut, there has been talk amongst media about New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson being in contention for Rookie of the Year, despite being sidelined the majority of the season.

This chatter is growing increasingly loud and hard to ignore, hence why I am writing this today. All this for a player who has played in only 17 games this season, and who would at most play 37 games — provided he plays every game left in the season.

Ja Morant


Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have had the two best rookies in the league all season long in Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke. Clarke will likely remain unacknowledged, but Morant’s phenomenal play has been impossible to ignore. Morant has been the Rookie of the Year front-runner for most of the season, and for good reason. 

Even though it was widely predicted they would be hot garbage this season, the Memphis Grizzlies are light years ahead in their rebuilding process. In fact, the team that many predicted would have the worst record in the league has been sitting comfortably in the 8th seed since before Williamson played a single minute of regular season basketball. 

Moreover, the Rookie of the Year award is meant to spotlight achievement across the entire season. This would be impossible for a player who will have played less than half the season; it’s small-sample-size theater at best. It is unfortunate that Williamson’s rookie season has been marred by injury, but the fact remains that it has. 

There have only been four instances in league history of a rookie of the year recipient playing less than 60 games, and two of those were during lockout seasons: 

Kyrie Irving – 51 games – 2011-12 

Vince Carter – 50 games – 1998-99 

Patrick Ewing – 50 games – 1985-86 

Terry Dischinger – 57 games – 1962-63 

 

There is zero precedent for a player who has played as few games as Williamson has to be considered for Rookie of the Year, and now is not the time to start.

For the record, Morant isn’t stressing about this in the slightest. Recently, before the game against the Atlanta Hawks, Morant said, “I honestly don’t care about Rookie of the Year. They can give that to who they want.” The first year guard said he’s focused on getting the Grizzlies to the playoffs.



Morant has led a lottery team into playoff contention, no small feat for the first season of a rebuild. There has not been a player so dynamic and impactful so early in his career in a long time, and acknowledging Morant’s skill does not detract from Williamson in any way.  

Would this be a different conversation if Williamson had played since the beginning of the season? Possibly. But that isn’t how the season has gone, and there is no sense in pretending a comparison between Morant and Williamson would be equitable or accurate. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak

via Memphis Grizzlies Twitter


Ja Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies into battle against the Los Angeles Lakers and dealt the Lakers their first road loss to a Western Conference team this season. In their 105-88 victory, the Grizzlies exhibited some lockdown defense and held the Lakers to their season-lowest scoring. Saturday night’s game snapped both a five-game Memphis losing streak and a seven-game Los Angeles winning streak.


Beatdown on Beale Street
This was a nice preview for what a potential first-round playoff series might look like. While still missing some key players due to injury, the shorthanded Grizzlies squad showed no fear as they put their collective foot on their opponent’s neck and didn’t let up. It wasn’t a true wire-to-wire win, but the largest lead the Lakers held was two points in the first quarter, while the Grizzlies led by as much as 22. 

It was a much-needed win for a team that has been in a post-All-Star break slump and a powerful reminder of who the rightful Rookie of the Year should be. Morant had a game-high 27 points and was one of three Memphis starters to finish with 20+ points.

By the Numbers

Ja Morant: 27 points, 14 assists, 6 rebounds.  

Dillon Brooks: 24 points 

Jonas Valanciunas: 22 points, 20 rebounds

Highlights and History-Making
Jonas Valanciunas registered his 29th double-double of the season. He also had a career-high 25 rebounds last night against Sacramento and became the first player in franchise history to grab at least 20 rebounds in consecutive games.

Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak

Morant leads all rookies in double-doubles and is the only rookie this season to achieve a triple-double. Last night was Morant’s 11th double-double of the season with 27 points and 14 assists to go with six rebounds. He also became the second rookie in NBA history (Oscar Robertson) to record at least 27 points and 14 assists in a game against the Lakers.

Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (2)

Morant also gave a good-natured, post-game shoutout to a twitter user whose comment he says spurred on his phenomenal effort.

Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (3)


It was briefly the John Konchar show. The shortened roster allowed the two-way guard who has spent most of the season with the Memphis Hustle a chance to show out in his 10th career NBA game. Konchar finished the night with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 2-2 shooting, over 12:25 total playing time.  

 

Grizzlies Trounce Lakers, Snap 5-Game Losing Streak (4)


GrzNxtGen = 1st Team all-defense? The Grizzlies held the Lakers to a season-low 88 points, and Lebron James and Anthony Davis to 19 points and 15 points respectively. 

Last night’s win put the Grizzlies 2.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the 8th seed in the West.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies hit the road again for the next three games.
They will face off against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, March 2nd. Tip-off is at 6:30 PM CST

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Trial by Fire: Can the Grizzlies Survive Without Jaren Jackson Jr.?

CREDIT: via Memphis Grizzlies twitter

As the run-up to the end of the season approaches and the battle for the 8th seed in the West continues to heat up, the very last thing the Memphis Grizzlies needed was an injury sidelining one of their starters. But the injury bug is fickle, and it seems like no team is ever truly safe from its clutches. 

Trial by Fire: Can the Grizzlies Survive Without Jaren Jackson Jr.?

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s sprained knee and subsequent absence from the court are no doubt going to be problematic for the Grizzlies. However, it is not an insurmountable obstacle. Pushing through and continuing to stack wins without one of its best players will be a unique learning experience for the young squad, if nothing else.  

 

In the meantime, prepare for the inevitable wacky lineups that Coach Jenkins will employ to fill the nearly 7-foot void. Expect to see increased usage for both Brandon Clarke and Gorgui Dieng during Jackson Jr.’s absence. In addition to needing increased production from its bench unit, the Grizzlies will also need Jonas Valanciunas to be at the very top of his game. 

via Memphis Grizzlies twitter

Brandon Clarke posterizes Ian Mahinmi

It feels weird to be saying this in the first year of a rebuild, but every game from now until the end of the regular season counts if the Grizzlies want maintain their status as the 8th seed. The Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans are staring down the same stretch of games with the intention of eliminating Memphis from playoff contention.

A Brief Rant: YGTMYFT
Now, let’s talk about free throws. Did someone decide that the Grizzlies just aren’t making them anymore and I missed a memo?


In last Friday’s match up against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Grizzlies shot an abysmal 51.6% from the charity stripe. In a game that the Grizzlies lost by 12 points, leaving those extra 15 points worth of free throws on the floor really stings.

If I am Coach Jenkins, every member of the team would be shooting at least 100 free throws during the next practice. 

This should be the easiest shot on the floor, one that any player can practice ad infinitum. The atmosphere in each arena may change, but fundamentally the process of shooting (and making) free throws does not. Scoring with the clock stopped is a valuable skill for players to utilize.  


If ever there was a hill I was willing to die on, this is the one.
You’ve. Got. To. Make. Your. Free. Throws.


Moving along…


Who Got Next? 
The Grizzlies will once again be playing in Staples Center tonight as they face off against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers. Tip-off is at 9:30 pm CST, so be sure to grab one or more of your favorite caffeinated beverages beforehand.