Author: Sharon Brown

Sharon Brown is a University of Memphis graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies with a concentration in Legal Studies. Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta, Sharon is one of the Memphis Grizzlies beat writers for the Memphis Flyer. She has created a niche in the industry by co-founding All Heart in Hoop City — a unique community of women sportswriters.

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Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

Dallas Ends the Grizzlies’ Win Streak

Tyus Jones, Jaren Jackson, Jr. and Steven Adams during the game. (Photo courtesy of Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)

The Memphis Grizzlies’ five-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night as they were defeated 104-96 by the Dallas Mavericks. Before this game, the Grizzlies had not fallen behind in any of their previous 20 quarters of play. Memphis (14-11) maintains a 1.5-game advantage over the Mavericks in the Southwest Division (12-12).

The Grizzlies’ winning streak was largely due to their defense, which limited their last four opponents to 91 or fewer points. In the absence of Ja Morant, who is currently sidelined with a left knee issue and is currently under the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols, the group has kept the ship afloat. 

After the loss, Jaren Jackson Jr. talked about the team’s focus while Morant is out. “Everybody had to play more — everyone had a little more to give,” he said. “Everybody stepped up and found their rhythm. I am happy for everyone that they got to embrace that. I wasn’t surprised. I know the work they put in.” 

The team is also without Kyle Anderson (back soreness), Brandon Clarke (right knee soreness), Sam Merrill (left ankle sprain), and Ziaire Williams (left ankle sprain). 

Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. He talked about finding his spots during games lately. The Michigan State alum said, “I was trying to use my speed and physicality when I can. I know what they’re trying to take away from me but they have to respect my shot. I’ve been working on that and tried to implement that [in the game].”

Dillon Brooks has given the Grizzlies a lift since Morant was sidelined. To round out the stat sheet, Dillon Brooks had 15 points, four boards, and two assists. This season, he has scored in double figures in every game he has appeared in.

Brooks was ejected prior to the conclusion of the contest on Wednesday night after getting his second technical in a matter of minutes. Brooks was so upset he had to be restrained. 

After the game, he kept his wrath for the refs when he only answered one question on the officials during the press conference. A furious Brooks said, “As you saw in the game, we’ve been playing physical basketball for about a week now. And all of a sudden, new officials come in here and they call an inconsistent game. They want to call ticky-tack in the first half and then in the second half they want to call nothing.”

He continued, “And then you got guys getting undercut, getting hit on the floor, no call. There’s a lack of protection of the players and that’s the main thing, I felt like this crew came out there and just made it about them and that’s bull.”

In conclusion, Brooks said, “Obviously I can’t put it all on them. We got to get the 50-50 balls, you got to be able to rebound the basketball, you got to be able to hit shots in timely ways. But this crew did not protect the players. They just wanted to get the game over with and that’s bullshit. That’s bullshit from the very beginning. That’s bull.”

Brooks is surely to be fined by the NBA for those comments regarding the game officials. Memphis was called for 23 fouls against the Mavericks and received a total of four technicals in the final period. It was not the finest hour for the game officials. 

Jackson Jr. was frustrated by officials as well but he didn’t go on a tirade like Brooks. He was more subdued but did acknowledge how difficult it can be. He added, “It’s definitely tough when it’s like that. You just have to figure it out. Not everything is going to be perfect or simple. It’s going to get messy and weird, you just have to figure your way out of it. On their end, they made some plays down the stretch and some shots. In the midst of the chaos, they made some very timely shots and it helped decide the game.”

The lack of defense and the team’s loss of composure were more important than the officiating in this defeat. They must put all of that behind them, however, as they take on the Los Angeles Lakers on Beale Street tonight.

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Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

The Grizzlies Lost Their Mojo Against Atlanta

(via Grizzlies Twitter)

The Memphis Grizzlies did indeed have a “Black Friday” the day after Thanksgiving.

Memphis lost 132-100 to the Atlanta Hawks in a lopsided affair. With 3:12 left in the first period, the team’s most significant setback was losing Ja Morant to injury, which the team is now classifying as a knee sprain. Morant eventually made his way back to the bench in a black hoodie to show his support for his team.

After the game Taylor Jenkins was asked about the locker room mood regarding the loss and Morant’s injury. He stated, “I think the guys are trying to stay positive. Obviously, a really tough loss. Sticking together through all of this. Trying to find ways to continue to get better. Obviously not our night and hopeful for the best.”

Jenkins added, “I think seeing the way he [Morant] went off the floor sent shockwaves through the team. Obviously, the Hawks played really, really well tonight. We had a lot of looks that didn’t fall tonight so definitely the mojo was kind of lost.”

In the end, the Hawks made the Grizzlies pay for losing their mojo.

Back-up guard Tyus Jones also discussed the team’s mood after Morant went down. “Any time you see that, it kind of takes the wind out of your sail,” Jones said.

“We tried to rally together, but everyone knows how kind of a big deal that was. We fought the first half. Felt like we left some points on the board. The second half they just came out and hit us first. That was the difference in the game.”

Afterward, Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled to articulate his thoughts on Morant’s injury.

“It’s tough when you see stuff like that,” Jackson said. “He brings a lot to the game, he brings a lot to our team, to people who are riding for him. And for us, that’s our brother, I don’t want to see anybody hurting. I don’t want to see him hurting like this. I don’t want to see that.”

Both Jones and Jackson realize that the team must come together to deal with the loss of Morant.

“Ja’s going to be there every step of the way for however long he’s out,” Jackson went on to say. “His voice is going to be definitely around. He’s going to be supporting guys. He’s going to be telling everybody what they need to hear. We know that from the jump. That’s just his mentality. I just know that’s how he’s going to be.”

He continued, “In whatever he needs to do, he’s going to give it his all and work like how we know he is. We know that every single person in the locker room is a warrior too.”

“Everybody’s going to ride for each other. You’re supposed to lean on your brother so you can lean on each other. That’s what it’s going to be. It’s going to take a lot. There’s a gap there. You know what he brings. Everyone has to find a way to bring it. We all have to step up. It does have to be that mentality. That’s the mentality he would want. He would want us to just go out there and fight no matter what. That’s what we’re going to do. We’ve got a game in two days, so it’s time to lock in. Every day is a process. You’re not going to win the game during the game. Tomorrow we’re going to regroup and figure out what we need to do and be ultimately ready. It’s that time.”

For Morant’s return, there was no set timetable. It’s time for the Grizzlies to get their act together because they’ll be facing a hungry Sacramento Kings team on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT at the FedExForum. On Friday night, the Kings beat the Lakers in a dramatic triple overtime thriller.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

The Grizzlies Snap Skid With 136-102 Victory Over Rockets

Jaren Jackson, Jr. going up for the two-handed slam. (Photo credit: Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)

Memphis avoided a four-game losing streak on Monday night with a resounding victory over the Houston Rockets.

The Grizzlies’ defense had been shaky in their last three games, leading to losses by double digits.

Last season, the Grizzlies were known for their defensive prowess. They finished the season with the sixth-best defense in the league.

Fans were agitated following the three-game losing streak, and panic set in as if everything had fallen apart. In addition to those losses, the manner in which they lost was jarring and unsettling. 

The question is “Have they made a major shift in the right direction?” Winning masks a wide range of problems.

Defense Wins Games

“It was definitely a much-needed bounce back,” Taylor Jenkins said after snapping the three-game skid. “Obviously I’m really proud of how the guys came out with an edge in that first quarter, 20-point defensive quarter.”

Jenkins wasn’t too thrilled about giving up a ton of points to the lowly Rockets in the second period. He noted, “I got on them at halftime about giving up 36 points in the second quarter — there were too many breakdowns.” 

“We knew paint defense was a priority,” he added. “There were a lot of cutters, drives. Our one-on-one defense, our shifts weren’t there. I challenged them to re-find that edge.”

After halftime, his players responded to his call and gained a 40-point lead over the Rockets.

“They came out and it was a 15-point defensive quarter in that third quarter,” Jenkins continued. “Definitely a good bounce back, a mini step in the right direction for embracing our habits. Now we’ve got to get back to work tomorrow and the next two days before our next game.”

Triple J 🦄

On 7-of-14 shooting, Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 18 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Jackson rebounded from his four-point performance in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 112-101 loss on Saturday.

Jaren Jackson Jr. shot chart – 11/15/21 (via NBA.com)

His coach was impressed by Jackson’s performance. Jenkins said, “A lot of good work inside. I thought he [Jackson] found the right times to seek advantages with some of the small ball they were playing to post up. He shot the ball pretty good from the outside. Defensively, two blocks again. Rebounding, I thought he did a really good job with our pick-and-roll defense as well tonight. We didn’t change any coverages. The discipline to be in the right spots, to man the paint, man the rim, he did a really good job defensively.”

Energy and Effort

In his third game back from injury, Dillon Brooks had 16 points, three assists, and two steals on the night. 

Brooks delivered a strong message after the game about the team’s energy. He stated, “That should never die, the energy every single game, every single day, practice … your vitamins, your workouts. You should never lack energy. We’ve been together for so long that every game from now on we should have super energy to play, to prove something every time we come out there.”

The Grizzlies’ leading scorer had a productive and efficient night. Ja Morant netted 22 points (9-15 FG, 4-6 3P) with six rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes of action.

Brooks’ sentiments were echoed by Morant. “Just our energy and effort,” Morant said of the team’s defense. That was my message after the game — we got to play with that same energy and effort every game for a full 48 minutes.” 

Then he added, “I feel like tonight we had our brothers back. We didn’t leave anybody on the island. We had great run protection and rotations out of it. We just got to be like that, not saying we want to be in rotations all the time, but when we are, we got to make that run or whatever it is.”

Who Got Next?

Action speaks louder than words. Against the L.A. Clippers, Memphis has a chance to put the words into action on Thursday night. Memphis prevailed 120-114 in their first encounter on October 23rd.  Start time will be 7 p.m. CT at the FedExForum.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Suns Scorch Grizzlies, 119-94

Ja Morant goes for a floater. (Photo cred: Memphis Grizzlies on Twitter)

Tidbits from the Grizzlies’ 119-94 loss to the Suns. 

There’s a bit of a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde vibe going on in Memphis. The Grizzlies haven’t decided what type of team they want to be yet.

The Suns took a commanding lead from start to finish and were up by as many as 38 points.

Phoenix shot 48.9 percent from the field and 48.6 percent at the three-point line, while Memphis was 37.8 percent from the field and 21.2 percent at the three-point line. A season-high 18 3-pointers were made by the Suns in this game.

In the last four games, the Grizzlies have given up more than 115 points.

After the loss, Taylor Jenkins didn’t hold back. He said, “I’d just say we’ve got two versions of the Grizzlies: the six wins, we play disciplined basketball, we make shots, we do what we need to do defensively, and then outside of the Lakers game, the ones where we’ve gotten smacked, our defense hasn’t been disciplined and we’ve missed a lot of shots. You’re not going to win games when you shoot 38 percent and 21 percent [from the 3-point line].”

“I’m not going to use youth as an excuse or anything like that,” Jenkins continued. “It’s just a matter of just finding consistency and just going out there and just playing better.”

For the time being, Ja Morant appears to be the only consistent Grizzlies player. He finished the game with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists as the Grizzlies fell to 6-6 for the season. 

When he’s on the bench, it seems like everything goes downhill.

Just two points were scored by the bench in the first half. Nine shots were attempted, but only one was successful. The Phoenix bench outscored the Grizzlies bench 48-32, including a 33-7 advantage in the first three quarters.

However, Morant has a solution for the team’s problems. “Play harder, for 48 minutes,” he re-enforced. “Games we won, it is that simple, ready to play to the end, all four quarters.”

In addition to Morant, Jaren Jackson, Jr. was the only other Memphis player to score in double digits. Jackson tallied 19 points, four rebounds, and two blocks on 7-of-18 shooting from the field.

Two-year guard Desmond Bane shared his thoughts on what it takes for the team to get back on track. He said, “A strong defensive effort. I think we need to get back to enjoying playing defense and flying around for 48 minutes. I feel like our defense has let us down in the games we lose. We are better when we get out in transition, and are able to run, play at a faster pace. We have not been able to do that, because teams are scoring at a high rate.”

Bane continued, “It goes back to defense. We are not being consistent guarding, and we dig ourselves a hole. It’s tough to climb out [of]. We have had a tough start to the season, played a bunch of good teams. Almost all of our losses will probably be to playoff teams this year, or last year. We just have to bounce back, but we have a resilient group, so I think we will be fine.”

He went on to say, “It is a lack of discipline. It showed in the games we have lost. Whether it has been coverages, schemes, or game plan. When we are not making shots on the offense end, those things usually start to magnify.”

Bane scored nine points, grabbed eight rebounds, and blocked two shots.

The time has come for the group to step it up a notch. As a result, a faster start is required. In many cases, they often fall behind early and have to fight their way back. However, they’ve got another 70 games to work through it. Hopefully they’ll figure it out sooner rather than later.

Up Next

Even if things go south, there’s always hope for a turnaround in the NBA. The Grizzlies and Pelicans meet tonight at 6 p.m. CT in New Orleans for an early tip-off. The Grizzlies will face Jonas Valanciunas for the first time since he was traded to New Orleans. Valanciunas spent three seasons in Memphis.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Win Thriller Against Wolves

Brandon Clarke versus the Timberwolves (Courtesy Memphis Grizzlies)

The Memphis Grizzlies appeared to be dead in the water at the FedExForum on Monday night, while the Minnesota Timberwolves looked to be in command, ahead by 16 in the fourth. A 14-point deficit loomed over the Grizzlies with less than five minutes remaining.

When it was all said and done, the Grizzlies emerged victorious in overtime, 125-118, over the Timberwolves. With the most recent victory, the Grizzlies have now beaten the Timberwolves seven times in a row.

After the game, Taylor Jenkins talked about his team’s perseverance. He said, “The positive vibes throughout, the guys knew that [it’s a] long game, we have more to give. They went on a crazy run there. We went cold, down 16 in the fourth quarter. Just to hear the guys saying there’s tons of time left, there’s six minutes left, 12 point game, we knock down these free throws — it’s a 10 point game. Just that confidence and you get the result.”

Jenkins added, “Some crazy plays down the stretch that forced it to overtime, that will really test your resolve and your spirit going into overtime with a momentum play like that, but we’re the ones that jump out to the lead in overtime. I think a couple quick buckets and then we just made the plays. Our guys were dialed in on the fly defensively, offensively. Tons of credit. Hopefully, this is something that we can build off of. Find consistency. There’s lots of different ways to win a game. This is an impressive one for sure.”

Brandon Clarke, who had been the odd man out of the Grizzlies rotation, played a critical part in their comeback win with his best game of the season.

Jenkins applauded Clarke’s crucial contribution off the bench. “I’ve definitely got to shout out Brandon Clarke — he’s been out of the rotation for a while,” Jenkins said. “He was huge tonight early in the game and then he’s out. And then when Jaren [Jackson Jr.] fouls out, still it had been a really long time since he had been in the game, and now he’s got to read and guard one-on-one and a couple big time tip-in plays. He was huge.”

In 24 minutes, Clarke led the bench with a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds. Clarke was thankful about his return to the lineup. “I am just glad that coach had trust in me,” he shared. “I have been working on my game every day and training. I have been ready every game, so I am just glad that coach had that trust. I am just glad that coach saw me working, and that he knew when he put me in the game I would be able to be me. It is really just me bringing my energy. That really makes me.”

Clarke admitted it was difficult being out of the rotation. “It was kind of hard mentally,” the 25-year old said. “It was harder last year when I wasn’t in the rotation, because that was the first time that happened to me. I learned from last year not to get down and I knew how fast things change. It was really early in the year, so I was never really down mentally. I wasn’t happy, but I was never down. I was always putting in the work, and I felt like whenever I was given the chance, that I would just try to make the best of it.”

Tidbits
Ja Morant continues to amazes. The 22-year-old finished with 33 points, eight assists, and six rebounds on 10-of-24 shooting. According to the Grizzlies, Morant now ranks fifth in the NBA, averaging 5.3 points per game in “clutch time.” Take a look at two clutch plays.

Move over Morant — De’Anthony Melton has hoops too.

Melton chipped in 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the field.

The Grizzlies’ bench outscored the Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench 43-16 while shooting 61 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc.

The Timberwolves had three players with 20 plus points. D’Angelo Russell scored season-high 30 points adding seven assists and five rebounds. Anthony Edwards added 27 points with five rebounds and three steals, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double by 25 points and grabbing 13 boards.

Up next
On Wednesday, the Grizzlies will face off against LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets at the FedExForum. Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Jones and Morant Lead Grizzlies Past Nuggets

Desmond Bane (left) and Tyus Jones (Credit: Larry Kuzniewski)

This was the best performance by the Grizzlies’ bench all season, led by Tyus Jones (17 points), Xavier Tillman (12 points), and Kyle Anderson (nine points) as the Grizzlies’ bench exploded for 43 points.

Tillman was pleased with the second unit’s big night performance. He said, “It was huge. Especially since the Miami game. It felt like the bench was nonexistent, there were times in that game when they went on an even bigger run with us in there. For us to bounce back in today’s game and actually go on runs ourselves and set the tone was huge.” 

Tillman also praised Jones for his work on the floor. He added, “Even when his shots aren’t falling he knows where everyone is supposed to be. He knows what the defense is going to do on a specific play, so he’s able to put guys in the right position. Tonight was special because we talk about being ready to shoot at all times, and today he showed that for sure.”

Along with his season-high in points, Jones also had eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and shot 5 of 7 from beyond the arc to round out his performance as the Grizzlies defeated the Nuggets 106-97. The 25-year-old back-up guard made the most of his extended minutes. 

Having Jones and Morant share the court for so long was a gamble that paid off handsomely for Memphis.

It became clear during Taylor Jenkins’ postgame news conference why he decided to give Jones and Ja Morant more playing time together. He elaborated as follows: “I think it’s a combination of things. It’s something I definitely want to try. I want to see what those two guys can do together. It’s having more creators on the floor. It puts Ja in different positions, puts Tyus in different positions. 

Jenkins added, “Obviously, he shot the heck out of the ball tonight, that being Tyus. Also, just getting a feel for the game. I wanted to explore lineups with them together. He was playing great, giving us a boost on the offensive end, did some good things competitive on the ball defensively with a hot hand. He had a great game and it paid off for us.”

Jones appreciates having more time on the court with Morant. He said, “Me and 12 [Morant] talk about that all the time. I’m glad it happened tonight. We love it because it allows us to play fast and, having two point guards on the court who pride themselves on having a high basketball IQ, we try to make it easier for everyone else. It allows me to take some pressure off Ja and giving him different looks on that side of the floor. We love it and it worked for us tonight.”

For the past three years, Morant said he and Jones had discussed the possibility of playing together more often. He explained, “I definitely love it. I feel like we play with a way better pace — I don’t have to be on the ball. With Tyus  being such a good creator on the floor for everybody and also himself allowed me to just sit back so pretty much just getting stops, getting out and run, having another ball handler out there to be able to go into actions if teams try to take me away.” 

According to Morant, he and Jones are pass first point guards of the same pedigree. Morant added, “We both got a little switch we can turn off; tonight showed he’s capable of scoring the ball as well and as long as he continues to shoot it and force the defense to lock in on him more and it opens it up for everybody else. That’s how I look at it when I attack the game. As of late he’s been doing the same thing, shooting the ball really well — so you got to keep him aggressive and comfortable when he’s out there.”

Tidbits

With his first assist of the game, Morant surpassed the 1,000-assist mark for his career. The third year guard is in good company. 

Only Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Damon Stoudamire, and Trae Young have scored more than 2,500 points and dished out more than 1,000 assists faster than Ja Morant (137 games).

While on the subject of Morant, his early-season MVP performances continue to astound the NBA basketball world. 

The 22-year-old finished the game with a near triple double of 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

Anderson also reached the milestone of 1,000 career assists during the game.

Up Next

As part of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies and Nuggets will meet again at FedExForum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT to conclude their two-game series.

Desmond Bane (left) and Tyus Jones (Credit: Larry Kuzniewski)
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Beyond the Arc Sports

The Grizzlies Fall to the Blazers in Portland

Second year guard Desmond Bane (photo courtesy of Memphis Grizzlies Twitter account)

There was rain in Memphis on Wednesday night, and it disrupted the Memphis Grizzlies’ game in Portland, Oregon.

There was no flow to the Grizzlies offense; Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr. were both in foul trouble. To make matters worse, Portland did a great job of keeping Ja Morant out of the paint where he’s most efficient.

Morant broke down why there was a lack of execution on both ends of the court. He said, “They were blitzing and doubling me off ball-screens. We just had to make shots. I feel like we let our offensive struggles affect us on the other end of the floor and missing assignments. Really wasn’t locked into the game plan really that much. We just let our mistakes turn into more mistakes and they got hot and won the game.”

“It was just one of those games — we just felt like we didn’t really get rolling,” Grizzlies backup point guard Tyus Jones said of the defeat. “We are usually able to kind of hit a point in the game where we feel like we’re clicking, go on a decent run as well, and we just didn’t get to that point tonight. It was just one of those nights and luckily we play in 24 hours, so we get a chance to correct it right away.”

Memphis led 57-51 at halftime, but the Blazers outscored the Grizzlies 65-39 in the second half. 

“We didn’t play well tonight,” Taylor Jenkins said after the loss. We got an opportunity tomorrow. Our guys have always bounced back and competed [in] the next opportunity — so learn from it, get better, and play better tomorrow.”

Jenkins continued, “We knew they were an aggressive defense — give them credit — they played hard and turned us over but we still had plenty of opportunities to kill runs and stay in this ball game and we didn’t take advantage.” Portland forced 21 turnovers.

According to Jones, the Blazers’ defense, “were up on ball screens, showing hands, being active, and they just deflected a good amount of passes.” If the team is not extremely careful with the ball, precise with passes, they’ll force a lot of turnovers then they get out and run and hit shots. “They hit a lot of shots, a lot of contested shots so it kind of played into their hands a little bit. They were up on ball screens. We just got to do a better job capitalizing on that.”

Despite the gloomy conditions inside Moda Center, Desmond Bane was the bright spot for the Grizzlies on Wednesday night. The TCU alum led Memphis with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He continued his streak of connecting on multiple three-pointers while going 4-of-7.

After taking an accidental elbow to the head from Blazers forward Larry Nance Jr., Bane left the game late in the third quarter. Because of the blow, Bane’s blood spilled onto the court, and he needed six stitches to close the wound.

Bane is poised to take the second year leap. Through four games, the 6’5” guard is averaging 19.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 28.5 minutes of play for Memphis. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies will face the 4-0 Golden State Warriors, tonight at the Chase Center to wrap its four game West road trip. Tip-off starts at
9 p.m. CT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant Pushes Grizzlies to Victory in Season Opener

Ja Morant in the air (Photo courtesy of the Memphis Grizzlies on Twitter)

Season openers are not too kind to the Memphis Grizzlies, however, Ja Morant took care of business on Wednesday night to lift the Grizzlies past the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132-121. Morant’s performance was so impressive at one point during the game, the crowd chanted, “MVP, MVP, MVP.”  The Murray State alum admitted he was a little distracted by the chant but knew he had to make his free throws.

Morant showed off his out-of-this world athleticism on both ends of the court during the game. Take a look:

Massive Block

The 22-year old was stunned on how high he went in the air for the block. After the game he said, “I did surprise myself on the block, though. The layup was kind of high. When I had seen the replay I had to duck my head a little bit. My main focus right now is to try to be more active on the defensive end, and I feel like we’re a better team when I’m locked in.”

Eye-popping Dunk

In 34 minutes, Morant led the Grizzlies with 37 points while going 17-of-29 from the field to go with six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.

If Morant was Captain America during the season opener, then Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton were his Falcon and Winter Soldier. 

Bane put on a show with 22 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He’s playing with a lot of confidence and swagger that wasn’t seen in his rookie campaign. “Last year, I didn’t want anything to do with the paint,” Bane said after the victory over the Cavs. “I was strictly catch and shoot, getting out in transition every once in a while. Coach has given me more freedom. Darko [Rajakovic] and the whole staff, we worked tirelessly all offseason for positions like this and I feel comfortable for sure.”

“He’s in year three, I’m in year two. Hopefully, by year five or six, it will be something special,” Bane continued, touching on his connection with Morant. “Just keep chipping away and growing — both of us are obviously tireless workers. I think the chemistry will continue to grow. I’m looking forward to playing with him hopefully for a long time.”

The TCU alum went on to say, “He’s an electric athlete, and I can shoot threes. It takes a little pressure off of him and gives him space to work. When they decide to collapse, I’m there for an open look to shoot it, drive it, whatever. I think it’s a good fit.”

De’Anthony Melton knew what his responsibility was, and he didn’t disappoint. On his first start of the season, Melton said, “It felt great — my name was called and I knew the assignment. I knew go in, play my game, play hard, play defense, get stops and get out. I was just doing what I knew how to do.”

In his first start of the season, the California native finished with 20 points, four rebounds, and three assists. One of Melton’s assists was to Morant for a massive dunk. Melton spoke about a lob to Morant, saying, “I probably saw him around half. Once Ja starts full-speed sprinting, then you already know where he wants to go. I just threw it up there. If it didn’t get tipped, he was going to catch it. I just threw it high enough to where only he could get it. He did the rest with it.”

Tidbits

Morant shared a moment with Grizzlies legend Zach Randolph.

Jarrett Allen is a good basketball player and he still has a cool fro. Allen led Cleveland with 25 points while going a perfect 11-of-11 from the field. 

Up Next

They are going on a brutal four-game road trip out West. First up are the Clippers on Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

The Future is Bright for the Memphis Grizzlies

Mike Conley and Ja Morant embrace after Game 5 (via Grizzlies Twitter)

The Memphis Grizzlies exceeded almost everyone’s expectations in the second year of a rebuild with one of the youngest teams in the NBA. 

This team wasn’t supposed to be competing in the playoffs according to NBA experts and fans around the league. They had no business taking Game 1 in Utah against the Jazz. 

Regardless of what others think, the team had the kind of resilience and resolve that’s rarely seen in young teams. Their mindset is always to try to prove others wrong. They truly are a “bunch of hoopers” as Grayson Allen eloquently phrased after a victory against the Phoenix Suns in 19th Annual MLK Day Celebration Game.

The Utah Jazz did what they were supposed to do — defeat the 8th seeded Grizzlies and move on to the next round. However, those pesky kids didn’t make it easy for them. 

In Game 5, the Jazz ended the Grizzlies’ improbable playoff run 126-110 on Wednesday night in the elimination game to take the series 4-1. 

Something to build upon

The consensus after the game was, “We will be back.”

Taylor Jenkins said those were Ja Morant’s words to the team. Dillon Brooks and Jaren Jackson Jr. echoed them. Then Morant uttered them again.  

Taylor Jenkins shared his reflections on the season during his postgame press conference.

“This was an unbelievable season. Many people are saying  what a good season — this was a great season for the Memphis Grizzlies. So much individual growth and team growth, to get to this point. Every team in the NBA has gone through this unique season with unique challenges,  but our team has stuck together and put ourselves in this great position to play meaningful basketball at the end of season, push through and break through and make the playoffs to go up against the best team in the NBA.”  

Jenkins is a coach that values his young team and he is adamant they will become better. 

“And do some great things and do some things that are going to motivate us moving forward,” Jenkins added.  

“Just so proud of them — the togetherness of this team, the fighting components of this team, day in and day out. And we’ve got a bright, bright future ahead of us that I know if we continue to work on the things that we are capable of and we will work on any investment everyone’s put in, we’re gonna have just this bright future that I’m so excited about.”

During his postgame conference Dillon Brooks was pleasantly optimistic, “We will be back — I think the taste of the playoffs is on everybody’s mind, and this offseason got to be a special offseason for every single one of my teammates.” 

When asked about the team’s resilience to overcome all the challenges it faced during the season, Brooks said, “That’s how we’re built. We hit adversity and we hit it hard. Other guys had to step up, and that’s growth in itself. We fight it head-on, and we find a way every single night to battle. I don’t see a lot of teams playing as hard as us, and that’s contagious throughout our team.

“We hold the standard that when you come on the floor you gotta play just as hard. And we will be back.”

“I get to play with a bunch of guys that care so much about the game,” Jackson said after the game. “It’s so refreshing to be around, and they play so hard. I’ve seen them work so much behind the scenes. I get to see what you don’t get to see. It comes from a place of real joy and effort. It really translates through everybody. I’m so blessed to be a part of this team. They make it easy for me.”

For Jackson, experience is the best teacher for this young team. “We got a lot of guys who were young, so we got this experience of being in the playoffs,” he said. We had a little taste of it so we can build on that. We got a taste of what it’s like to lock in on a team multiple times and make adjustments and have to make adjustments quickly. Every possession matters and a lot of the late games we were playing because we’re fighting to get a good seeding and then we’re fighting to stay in the playoffs so those are the biggest things.”

He added, “That’s what championship teams have, they have that mentality that switches where it’s like okay every possession matters, they’re not coasting, they’re not checked out — they’re locked in every single time because they know that it matters.”

Jackson went on to say, “We’re young, so at the end of the day we can take this and take it all forward. We never want to use youth as an excuse. It never is, we don’t care. I don’t care who’s out there, we just love competing, but at the end of the day, experience goes a long way.”

Jackson has no doubts about the team’s ability to get back on the big stage. 

After being asked what he needed to work on this off season, Morant replied with one word, “Everything.” 

Morant had a breakout postseason and has put the entire NBA on notice with his performance. 

“I feel like throughout this series we had the fight and never gave up no matter what was going on,” Morant said about the positive outlook of the team. “That’s one of the biggest positives we had in the playoffs.”

Morant discussed the players shared mentality. He said, “It just shows everybody here is bought in and wants to be better. We all have that never-satisfied mentality -— we all want to work, to be better, for it to be everybody is a big plus. We just got to continue to do what we’ve been doing. Lock in this offseason and just be prepared for next season.”

With their play in the postseason, it appears to be just the beginning for this young, gritty, and hungry Grizzlies team. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Ja Morant’s Career Night Wasn’t Enough to Hold off the Jazz

Ja Morant going up top for the finish. (Photo courtesy of Grizzlies PR Twitter account)

Ja Morant left it all on the floor after playing 43 minutes along with the entire second half against the Utah Jazz. 

Morant’s performance on Wednesday night was nothing but spectacular. However, the 21-year-old isn’t satisfied with his record-breaking night after falling in Game 2 to the Jazz, 141-129.

He finished with 47 points on an incredibly efficient 15 of 26 from the field plus 15 of 20 from the charity stripe.

“It’s an honor to be able to do that. I’m blessed to be in the position that I’m in, be able to play the game at the highest level,” Morant said during the postgame media availability. “But that’s not on my mind at all. We lost, so obviously it wasn’t enough.”

Morant is getting whatever shot he wants as he drives through the lane off the dribble. The Jazz simply have no answer for Morant at this point. 

Even though the Murray State alum wasn’t just satisfied with his elite performance, his teammates took notice. “I looked up and I saw he had 47!’” said forward Kyle Anderson after the Game 2 loss. “I was like, ‘Wow!’ That’s big time — we kind of knew the player he was, and we knew he’s highly capable of it. He’s just putting you guys on notice now. You guys are getting to see it.” 

After the game Jaren Jackson Jr. was proud of Morant’s playing. I’m happy for him,” Jackson proclaimed. “That’s a good feeling, something he’s going to remember forever.”

Not only will Morant remember, but the entire NBA will never forget his coming out party on the big stage. The second year guard is in elite company. 

“It’s obviously an amazing feat in his early career,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “But I know all he will talk about is how he can’t wait to come back and get a win. That’s his focus. He’s all driven to win.”

Donovan Mitchell had to give Morant his props. “Honestly, it’s not that surprising,” Mitchell said. “He’s a gamer. He goes out there and competes — tonight, he was aggressive from the jump. At a young age, for him to be able to have that is definitely special. That’s something that I respect about him and about his game. He doesn’t quit.”

The old saying goes, “There’s no quit in the Grit.”

The Jazz evened the series but the night belonged to Morant who elevated his status as a bonafide superstar in Memphis who will back down to no one. 

Grizzlies fans, the team’s future is bright with Morant as the cornerstone. 

Run It Back

The series shifts to Memphis at the Grindhouse where towels will be waving from more that 10,000 fans as the capacity increased to 55 percent.

Memphis has a chance to go up 2-1 on Saturday night. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. CT.