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

Like Deja Vu: Grizzlies Stun Pelicans, Again

Ja Morant dribbles down the court in the games as the Memphis took on the New Orleans Pelicans on December 26, 2023 at Smoothie King Center (Photo by Derick Hingle/NBAE via Getty Images)

With the ball in Ja Morant’s hands and seconds remaining for the game-winning basket after trailing by double digits, the Memphis Grizzlies faced the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, December 26, making it like a familiar situation from only seven days before.

Only this time, it took several reviews and overtime for the Grizzlies to walk out of New Orleans with a 116-115 win that stunned Pelicans fans again. 

With the return of its superstar, Memphis has won four games in a row, including a pair of victories against the Pelicans. This season, the Grizzlies lead the matchup against New Orleans, 2-1.  

Morant finished with a game-high 31 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Prior to the game, the NBA named the 24-year-old the Western Conference Player of the Week, who guided the Grizzlies to a 3-0 record averaging 28 points, 9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds. 

“Obviously excited to be back,” Morant said after the game. “But being able to come back and win four games now and continue to take this momentum to the next game, and the next day, is big time for us.”

Desmond Bane continues to make his case for being selected to his first NBA All-Star appearance. Bane made his presence felt early for the Grizzlies with 17 first half points. He finished with 27 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. recorded his second double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 boards. And he made NBA history in the process. 

Marcus Smart returned to the Grizzlies lineup after missing the past 17 games due to a left foot sprain. Smart was a big reason Memphis erased a 15-point second deficit to secure the victory.

Smart ended with 13 points, a season-high five steals, and three assists. 

In the walk-off with Grizzlies sideline reporter Rob Fischer, Smart mentioned the team’s never-give-up attitude. 

The tandem of Xavier Tillman Sr. and Vince Williams Jr. was a wrecking crew against New Orleans. The pair combined for 16 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Tillman Sr. had a career-high five blocks while Williams Jr. tied his career high with three blocks. 

Up Next 

Memphis heads to Denver to take on the Nuggets, Dec 28, at 8 p.m. inside Ball Arena. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Finally, 12 Returns to FedExForum

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. walking to the bench during a timeout on December 21, 2023 as the Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Indiana Pacers (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

Ja Morant hadn’t played at FedExForum since April 26, 2023, in Game 5 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Should Memphis turn their season around, Morant’s comeback from a 25-game absence will likely be remembered as a historic achievement.

Joy and excitement had been missing from the FedExForum after the Morant-less Grizzlies went 1-11. 

That all changed on Tuesday night for the 24-year-old ‘s first home game of the season. 

From Derrick Rose’s introductory remarks to the introduction of Morant in the starting lineup, the energy in the arena was apparent.

“I can say it was tough, but I can’t at the same time because obviously the tough part was not being able to be out there and enjoy and have fun with my guys,” said Morant. “Now that I’m out there, I’m making sure that we’re all having fun, no matter what, so that was pretty much just my message.”

He went on to say, “You can just tell by the energy of the team. We catch a lob, you have the bench going crazy, you have the players screaming and yelling and dapping each other up. That’s our type of basketball. That’s how we are. That’s the team we are, people we are. We are very close knit. I just preach that man, regardless of what it is, we have to have fun and celebrate the opportunities we have day in and day out.”

The Grizzlies had plenty of reasons to celebrate and when the final buzzer sounded, it was Desmond Bane, Morant, and Jaren Jackson Jr. who pulled Memphis to a 116-103 win against the Indiana Pacers. 

Bane led the way with 31 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. Jackson Jr. added 21 points while going 8-of-10 from the field and a team-high 8 rebounds. Morant finished with 20 points, a team-high 8 assists and five rebounds. 

The Grizzlies are 6-0 when Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. all score 20 or more points. 

It was Vince Williams Jr. shutting the water off on Pacers star Tyrese Halliburton. Halliburton went 3-of-8 from the field when Williams Jr. was his primary defender. 

“It’s great — he’s doing it every single night, and I’m happy for him, but we expect that out of him,” said Jackson Jr. of Williams Jr.’s defensive presence. “He relishes those things. He’s also a perfectionist. He wants to shut down every player on every point, and that’s not always going to happen, but the fact that he shoots for that is amazing. That’s the mentality you need going against these players to make it really hard on them. And he has all these key stops and key shots, and key ball moves and plays on stretches that we’re having that are super important.”

Ziaire Williams, Santi Aldama, and John Konchar were rejuvenated off the bench. Williams chipped in 16 points and 2 blocks, while Aldama had 13 points. Konchar ended with six points, six rebounds, and two outstanding blocked shots. 

Memphis held the number one offensive team in the association to a season-low 103 points. 

The addition of Morant improves many things for the Grizzlies, but they still recognize they have a long way to go before they can save the season.

Jackson Jr. shared his thoughts on the team’s newfound improvement with Morant in the lineup: 

Strictly From the Fans

Long-time Grizzlies fan Bailey McCormick: 

“It felt amazing! It felt like I was watching Memphis Basketball. The energy and support for Ja was off the charts. I could feel the vibe inside the forum from the fans, from his teammates, and it made for an amazing game! If I didn’t already know how the city felt about Ja Morant, last night would’ve made me believe that Ja is a superstar not only for the Grizzlies, but also for the city of Memphis as a whole!”

Season-ticket holder Frederique Worthy: 

“From the moment fans started walking into the Forum, the energy felt completely different, and in the best way. Seeing Ja return to complete our big three, just felt like a weight lifted from our collective shoulders. Smiles, high fives, and shouts of joy were shared all around.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies head to Atlanta to take on Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, December 23, inside State Farm Arena at 7 p.m. CT. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Another Disappointing Home Loss for the Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks squared off at the FedExForum on Monday, December 11, 2023 (Photo by: Sharon Brown)

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins’ answers were short when he spoke to the media after the team’s 120-113 loss to the Dallas Mavericks at FedExForum. 

The Grizzlies went from having the best home record in the association last season, 35-6, to having one of the worst, 1-10, this season. 

Jenkins was visibly frustrated with the team’s effort and energy. He said, “It’s pretty high. I mean, we’ve got to come out and create our own energy and we can’t have teams coming in here, regardless of what our roster is or whose playing and all that stuff. You’ve got to protect home court. We’ve got to come out with a better edge. We’ve found it on the road in the recent stretch. I can’t put my finger on it, but we’ve just got to play better. Our fans deserve better. We’ve got to come out here and play with more energy.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. had one of his best offensive games of the season, finishing in the paint and from beyond the arc. He led Memphis with a season-high 41 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Over the last four games Jackson Jr. has been consistent on the offensive end, averaging 30.8 points while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 52 percent from the 3-point line. 

Desmond Bane continued to put the team on his back with a 28 points and eight assists performance. He said the team just has to be better when the opportunity arises. 

The Dallas bench outscored the Grizzlies bench 42-23. Vince Williams Jr. was the lone Memphis reserve in double digits, getting a near double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. 

He also had words with the Dallas Mavericks All-NBA forward, Luka Doncic. “He was just talking shit the whole time,” Doncic said about his back-and-forth with Williams Jr. “I told him – I wish I could play him one-on-one. That’s when I got a tech. So, I don’t know. The refs have to just let us talk, you know. It’s a part of the game. I love it. I think he’s a great defender …. This game, we were both talking, and only I got the tech, so I don’t know.”

Williams Jr. descibed it as friendly competition with Doncic. When asked how he feels about guarding players like Doncic, he responded: “I feel like I have been doing a good job since the Boston game guarding the stars; so I’ve been prepared.” Doncic went 2-of-9 from the field when Williams Jr. was his primary defender. 

The two-way wing has the trust of his teammates and the seal of approval from Bane. 

“He’s a dog. He competes each and every night on the defensive end,” said Bane of  Williams, Jr. “He’s selfless and he’s out there to make the right play. If he’s open, he’s gonna shoot it. If he’s not, he’s gonna drive it or pass it to the open teammate.”

“Those are the type of guys that that win basketball games,” Bane continued. “I think you see it every time he steps out there, that he has an impact on winning. It’s not always with scoring or flashy plays, but he’s gonna make the open shot and he’s gonna dive on the floor to get the loose balls. He’s the type of guy I want on my team for sure.”

Reinforcements are Near

Ja Morant’s return can’t come soon enough for the Grizzlies. He has only three games left in his 25-game league suspension. Plus, Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart are close to returning from injury.

Jackson Jr. was reminded of how the Grizzlies had a comeback from a 6-16 start in Morant’s rookie year. He said, “Regardless of the trend of last year, whatever happens, you just think about the next games and how you can be effective and how you can turn around, and I believe we’re going to do that. I mean you never make excuses for what’s going on.”

Jackson Jr.. continued, “Everyone’s learning each other still. Everyone’s syncing up and when we sync up, we look good. Like when we’re all clicking, and we know what’s going on we look good and then we have reinforcements on the way. So, it’s good.”  

For the organization’s and fans’ sake, let’s hope that the reinforcements make a difference.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies have a two-game away and home series with former teammate Dillon Brooks and the Houston Rockets. The Grizzlies travel to Houston on Wednesday and return home on Friday for the second match-up. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Throttled by Timberwolves, Again

Minnesota Timberwolves against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 8th, 2023 inside FedExForum (Credit: Sharon Brown)

The Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night inside FedExForum 127-103. This season, the Grizzlies have a 1-9 record at home and a 6-15 record overall. 

Memphis was severely exploited by the Wolves in rebounding, 54-28. Minnesota also had 23 second chance points while the Grizzlies only had nine.

In the end, Minnesota center Rudy Gobert grabbed 20 rebounds, which was more than the 11 boards grabbed by the Grizzlies starting five combined. 

“Really, really tough—he had nine offensive rebounds,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor on the difficulty of defending Gobert. “They had 23 second chance points. It was a challenge all night no matter who we put on him. We’ve got to be extremely better. They came in and punked us two games in a row now.”

The Timberwolves prevailed over the Grizzlies 119-97 on November 26th in their most recent meeting in Memphis.

The rebounding performance of the Grizzlies left Jenkins undoubtedly displeased. “They punked us in the first half on the boards,” the coach said following the game, “[and] too many fouls. They play with force. You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. They’re a really, really good basketball team.” 

Jenkins went on to say, “And then when we guarded really well, we couldn’t get a rebound. It’s [on] everybody. It’s one through five out there on the floor. We’ve got to take more onus on making that a priority every night, and especially against this team.” 

For Jenkins, it’s about the will and effort for his players to do better on the boards. 

Just one Grizzlies player, Santi Aldama, had a good rebounding performance; he finished with 10, one less than what the five starters totaled. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with 21 points while shooting 3-of-4 three-pointers and 7-of-14 overall. He has scored 20 points or more in 11 games this season.

“Work harder,” Jackson Jr. said on the team’s rebounding woes. “They’re big so you have to use your force and body. And everybody’s got to participate. Can’t just be anybody. Everybody’s got to do it together.” 

Jackson says things are getting better for the team. “We’re trending up in a lot of ways. You can’t look at everything too hard. We’re trending up though, we’re getting our chemistry down and our rotations down. We’re learning each other better. That helps on both sides of the ball.

“Don’t look at everything too hard and just appreciate that we are trending upward but don’t let this get away from us,” he continued. “Definitely look at the film, come together and realize we really got to improve little things. There are things that were glaring tonight that they exploited . … We’re about to play better teams, too. I feel like everybody in the league looks good right now. But shoot, Dallas, you know that’s next, [and] Houston twice. Teams that are also trending upwards. So, we just have to hone in on what we’ve been doing recently for sure.” 

Desmond Bane finished with 16 points, while connecting on 4-of-6 from the three-point line. 

Two-year forward David Roddy chipped in 13 points and two rebounds. “It’s disappointing for sure,” Roddy said about the team’s rebounding issues. “It’s something that we’ve been harping on for the past few weeks now. It’s again tough when they have a lot of size with [Karl-Anthony Towns], Rudy [Gobert], Naz Reid, and [Kyle Anderson]. We just had to be better. We had to build out, box out, clear those guys out of the paint and let the guards clean it up. We didn’t do that today. We’re going to look back on film and work on it.”

Roddy believes the adversity with injuries and different lineups will help them as the season goes on. “I think it helps us all really in the end. People are thrown in different roles and positions and it’s going to be a great experience. At the end of the day you’re learning a new position, you’re learning different lineups, and what opponents are like. You can carry that on later in the season when things get more solidified. I see it right now as positive. We’re, again, going to enjoy this journey. We’re going to endure as much as we can and just trust in it.” 

The Ja Morant Countdown Continues 

Morant has four games left of his 25-game league suspension. The All-Star guard is expected to make his season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 19th. 

Up Next 

Memphis will look to improve its home record against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, December 11th, at 7 p.m. inside FedExForum. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall Short Against Suns

Jaren Jackson, Jr. against Kevin Durant on December 2, 2023 as the Grizzlies battled the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jaren Jackson Jr. played just 14 minutes and was benched due to foul trouble on Friday night in the Mavericks victory. He made amends by scoring a season-high 37 points in Saturday’s 116-109 loss to the Phoenix Suns. 

Jackson Jr. scored a game and season-high for Memphis on 13-of-21 shooting while adding seven rebounds, three steals, an assist, and a block. He was 6-of-6 from the field at the half. He has now scored in double figures in all but three games this season.

“Angles — it was all angles,” Jackson Jr. described what was working for him against the Suns. “That was all that was working. Just figuring out how to score tonight; just figuring it out and just driving. That is all I had going for me.” 

Although his offensive output has been off this season, the one positive aspect of his offense has been Jackson Jr.’s ability to get to the free-throw line. He is getting to the line for 6.1 attempts per game so far this season and has become one of the league’s best at drawing fouls. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins praised Jackson Jr. for his efforts against Phoenix. “I mean, this was a great game for him to bounce back from the other night, Jenkins said. 

“But I’m really impressed with him just playing with force, physicality, and getting angles on guys one-on-one. Touch, finishing ability — it’s always been there.”

Jenkins continued: “And then, obviously, he unleashed it tonight. He knocked down threes, so [with] that inside-outside game that he’s capable of — stepping up to the free throw line, he had 10 free throws tonight, which is really impressive.” 

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year was not pleased, however, with how things got away in the second half. He said, “They started scoring a little bit. Sometimes, good teams just keep going. We have to figure out a way to cut that off — we did not. They just got a big lead late, and that was kind of the problem.”

Desmond Bane finished with 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, five assists, and three rebounds for Memphis, even though he was limited in the first half due to foul trouble. Bane is averaging a career-best 23.8 points per game this season.

Vince Williams Jr. added 12 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes of action as a reserve. Williams Jr. nearly recorded his first double-double in a win against Dallas on Friday night, tallying 15 points (matching his career high) and a career-best nine rebounds.

For the Suns, Devin Booker (34) and Kevin Durant (27) combined to score 61, taking over the game for good in the second half. Durant said after the game, “That team over there (Memphis), they play extremely hard. They muddy up the game a lot. So from just playing them over the years, we knew it was going to be a back-and-forth game in the first half.”

He concluded, “Our defense was solid the whole game, and we were able to get out into transition and get some baskets to open the game up.”

The Suns used the free throw line to their advantage, getting to the line 19 more times than Memphis, finishing 35-for-43 while the Grizzlies finished 22-for-24 from the line. 

The Magic Number is Six

There are six more games until Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant is scheduled to return from his 25-game league suspension. 

Up Next

Memphis will head to Detroit to take on the 0-17 Detroit Pistons at 6 p.m. CT at Little Caesars on Wednesday, December 6.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Finally, the Grizzlies Win at FedExForum

Grizzlies entered the night at 3-13 on the season and 0-8 at home. The last time Memphis won a regular season game at home was on April 4, 2023 against the Portland Trail Blazers, 119-109. Entering the night, the Grizzlies were the only team in the association without a home win this season.

That all changed on Wednesday night, as Memphis secured its first home win of the season 105-91. The Jazz fell to 1-8 on the road, while the Grizzlies are 1-8 at home. 

The Grizzlies grabbed a season-high 51 rebounds and blocked a season-high 10 shots as Memphis won by their biggest margin this season.

Memphis scored a season-high 58 points in the paint and outscored Utah 23-9 in fast break points. 

Derrick Rose and David Roddy were inserted into the starting lineup for their first starts of the season. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. led all scorers with 20 points, six rebounds, six blocks and +/- of 14. “The streamers, the ‘Grizz Win’ sign, not hearing that one song that comes on after a loss,” said Jackson Jr. on the first home win. “The [Kelsey Wright Johnson] interview, the TV interviews, and I’m not mad. We’ve been here before though, during all the streaks. It makes you appreciate this win, but there’s totally more to do, and there’s more coming for sure.”

Jackson Jr.’s contributions were evident on both ends of the court on Wednesday night. 

“It’s great,” Desmond Bane on earning the first home win. “Obviously, since I’ve been here, we’ve been great here, play great basketball here at home. It’s a different sense of pride and urgency when you’re playing on your home floor. It’s great to be able to deliver that win to fans and the city.” 

Bane finished with 17 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and a team-high three steals. 

Bane also shared his thoughts on defense and consistency. “It was just our defense, you know,” said Bane. “Attention to detail, especially on the defensive and really fueled our offense. I think we probably had the most points we’ve had in transition all year tonight. Really kicking the ball ahead and being able to get out and run, and that way everybody’s involved – Feeling good. Everybody’s touching the ball and having an impact on winning.” 

Rose tallied 14 points, nine assists, four rebounds with +/- of 20. “He’s been huge – not only his play on the court, but what he brings to this team from a veteran standpoint and poise,” said Bane on Rose’s contributions. “It’s great to have him, especially finding the starting lineup … not only had 14 points, but nine assists. Really getting guys involved. Only one turnover. Terrific game.”

The former league MVP was a calming presence the team needed to get over the hump. 

Roddy chipped in 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting with a career high in three-pointers (5) and six rebounds. 

Jackson Jr. spoke about Roddy after the game, saying “He has great self-talk. He’s very hard on himself and he knows himself. He knows the game really well, and he’s really smart. He treats every game the same way. It’s honestly about how the game goes, and he was hot. I’m glad because he wasn’t shooting with any hesitation, that’s what we teach around here. He’s balling, so I love to see that.

Jackson Jr. continued, “I always tell [David] Roddy that he’s one of my favorite players. I see more than everybody else just because of the work ethic and how he approaches everything. Nothing is too big of a challenge for him, and nothing’s ever accomplished to him. He’s that type of guy, so that’s how he’s always gonna play.”

Roddy earned the first walk-off interview at home this season.

Off the bench, Ziaire Williams had his best output of the season with 15 points, eight rebounds and two steals. 

Two-way player Vince Williams, Jr. and 10-day signee Jaylen Nowell presence off the bench on both ends of the floor gave the Grizzlies the edge they needed. 

Strictly from the Fans

The crowd was happy to get that home win just like the team. 

Kandi Horton became a season ticket holder this year but has always tried to make the majority of the games since the team has been in Memphis. She was super excited for the first home win. 

“The team brought energy and so the crowd was able to feed off of them and vice versa,” Horton explained. It was nice to see Grizzlies basketball being played.”

Desmond Spears has supported the Grizzlies since the move to Memphis. About the win, he said, “Playing the right lineups at the right time, playing defense and not leaving 3-point shooters wide open, playing non-telegraphed basketball offensively and hitting open slots tend to make winning a little more realistic.”

Ja Morant Returns Soon

There are eight games left for Morant to return from the 25-game league suspension. As he left the podium, Jackson Jr. emphatically said, “There’s a man at home licking his chops.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies look to gain momentum with back to back road games in Dallas and Phoenix on Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Another Grizzlies Comeback Victory in San Antonio

Jaren Jackson, Jr. against the San Antonio Spurs on November 18, 2023 (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)

On Saturday night, the depleted Memphis Grizzlies erased a 19-point deficit to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 120-108. 

It was reminiscent of last season, when the Grizzlies completed a 29-point comeback as they defeated the Spurs, 126-120, in overtime.

Memphis dominated the final quarter by outscoring the Spurs 33-14 and held San Antonio to 28.6 percent shooting.

The Grizzlies have now defeated San Antonio 11 consecutive times. This is Memphis’ longest active run of victories against a single opponent, and their longest ever against the Spurs.

Despite only playing seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 27 points, five rebounds, and 11-of-12 shooting from the charity stripe. For the season, the 24-year-old is averaging 20 points, six rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks. 

Desmond Bane ended with 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists while going 8-of-15 from the field. Bane is averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.5 steals.

Bismack Biyombo put up 14 points, nine rebounds, and four assists.

Santi Aldama chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists.

Ziaire Williams ended with 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. 

Derrick Rose returned to the lineup after a nine-game absence with swift moves that led to the comeback. As a reserve, Rose contributed nine points. 

Injuries

Memphis has a long list of injuries, and only four players from the main roster have been available for all 12 games: Jackson, Bane, David Roddy, and Kenneth Lofton Jr. 

Marcus Smart would have been in that number, but he suffered a foot injury in the 134-107 thrashing by the Lakers on Tuesday night. 

Smart had trouble putting weight on his left ankle after landing awkwardly on Austin Reaves’ foot in the first quarter of the game in Los Angeles. He had to be helped off the court and did not return to the game. Smart appeared on the Grizzlies bench in a walking boot. 

The Grizzlies announced on Saturday that Smart had a left foot sprain and is expected to return within 3-5 weeks. 

Up Next 

No rest for the Grizzlies, as they will host the hot Boston Celtics Sunday inside FedExForum at 7 p.m. 

Return of 12

After tonight’s game the Celtics, it will be 12 more games before Ja Morant is eligible to return from a 25-game league suspension.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Another Grizzlies Comeback Falls Short

Jaren Jackson, Jr. goes up for a layup against the Utah Jazz on Friday, November 10, 2023 inside FedExForum. (Photo credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies finished last season with one of the league’s best  home records, 35-6, good enough for second-best in the NBA. It was well-known that FedExForum was a tough place to win. 

Those days are long gone, as Memphis is 0-5 at home this season — and 1-8 overall — after taking a gut punch from the Utah Jazz, 127-121 on Friday night.

Tensions were high, as Jaren Jackson, Jr. was ejected for the first time since he’s been playing basketball. 

“I went to the basket a couple of times and felt a way, so I spoke my mind a little bit,” Jackson explained after the game. “When you speak your mind a little bit, sometimes that happens. Coach had my back off rip (from the get-go).”

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year went on to say, “When that happens, you find yourself leaving early. I definitely don’t like that. They need me out there. I just left them out there to dry and I don’t feel good about that. I’m not going to feel good about this. That’s on me, and I have to own that.”

Even though Jackson felt like he let his teammates down, the ejection galvanized his teammates — and fans in the arena. 

After being down by 21 points, the Grizzlies mounted a furious comeback and tied the game in the middle of the fourth quarter. In the end, they were unable to overcome the deficit, despite the effort. 

Jacob Gilyard, who made his first NBA start against the Jazz said, “We wanted to come out in the third quarter and have a little spark, but that didn’t really happen until Jaren (Jackson, Jr.) got ejected. We started getting riled up and got some defensive stops which allowed us to run on offense.”  Gilyard finished the game with 14 points, eight assists, and five rebounds. 

Desmond Bane led Memphis with a game-high 37 points, plus eight assists, and four rebounds. Bane on Jackson’s ejection: “We’ve been talking about it for a while now, finding our edge and finding our juice, and regardless of the play, [Jackson Jr.] reacted. He got the technical foul. But that’s the energy that we need. Just that care factor from coach, from him, from the whole entire team. You know, it’s one through 15. Everybody’s invested in the game, and that’s the energy that we need. The energy that we need from the beginning of the game.”

Bismack Biyombo has been excellent for the Grizzlies. He finished the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds and is a calming presence in the locker room. 

Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins was livid after the game and that’s an understatement. He took one question and went on an epic rant about the officiating crew. 

The Jazz had 29 free-throw attempts, while Memphis only had 13. Before Jackson was tossed, the Grizzlies only had seven attempts.

When asked about the play calling, Jenkins went scorched earth. “Saddle up,” he said. “One of the most poorly officiated games I’ve ever seen. Record it. I’m fine with it. Fucking atrocious. Jaren Jackson [Jr.] plays 23 minutes and is in the paint all night. He’s one of the most professional players in this league and gets a double technical foul, and the excuse that I get is that he’s charging at an official.” 

Jenkins continued, “It’s called de-escalation. Twenty-nine free throws to 13, and I’m not that coach. You go back in history; I’ve done this one other time. Our team is competing their asses off, and this is what happens? The interactions right now with the officials — complete disrespect. I know what’s coming. It’s unbelievable, the looks on the faces when I’m trying to engage in conversation to defend our guys that are busting their tail right now. Busting their tail, and [Jackson Jr.] is one of the most professional guys, and if you go watch the play two possessions in a row, he gets hacked underneath the basket, zero free throw attempts. I’m not trying to put a name on a jersey, this guy should earn these fouls and all that stuff. Watch the game.” 

Jenkins went on to say, “Twenty-nine free throws to basically like seven, and then at the end of the game, a few more added. I don’t understand it, when guys are competing their tails off. We’ve got stuff we can clean up. Sometimes we’re grabbing, we’re holding… in the heat of the battle, when conversations are trying to be had, notice is trying to be made on things that are happening, and there’s not the enforcement of it. It blows my mind. What are we doing here? What are we doing? Our guys are competing their tails off. We have to play better. We have to coach better. We have to play better, but I don’t get tonight, whatsoever.” 

Jenkins concluded the post-game presser: “I’m going to go back to the interactions. Stern, nothing, stonewall, ignoring. And then you wonder why our guys are trying to compete. I don’t get it. I look forward to watching the tape. Getting responses to when I send clips in, all that stuff to see what should’ve happened. And you wonder why. I haven’t done this most of my career, all that stuff, but I got to defend my guys when they’re competing their tail off and we’re not trying to lose our heads. We’re trying to go out and win basketball games and try to play better. It’s as simple as that. We’re trying to play better. There’s a lot of better that has to go around. A lot of better that has got to go around. Look at the numbers. Look at the clips. Thank you. I’d love to talk to you guys more, but with all due respect, I’ll leave it at that. Thank you.”

“I appreciate that 100 percent,” Jackson said of Jenkins’ rant. “To get up there and do that publicly is different than doing it privately. It means a little bit more. I can’t thank him enough, and I’ll be repaying him by just saying that I got his back as well for anything that’s thrown at him or whatever. We have his back in this locker room. I got his back. I love Coach. That’s the type of guy he is.”

Make no mistake about it, Jenkins is going to get a hefty fine by the league. Maybe this is the starting point of turning the season around. 

Memphis will embark on a two-game road trip to Los Angeles to take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday and the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Finally a Win for the Grizzlies!

With 8:13 left in the fourth period, the Memphis Grizzlies were down 12 points to the Portland Blazers, 98-86. The Grizzlies, mired in a season-opening six-game losing streak, didn’t give up. When it mattered most, their best players closed it out for them. 

Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson, Jr. went to work offensively while the defense shut the water off for the Blazers. 

Memphis took the lead for good with 3:10 left in the final frame to secure its first win of the season 112-100. The Grizzlies closed out Portland on a 26-2 run. 

Bane’s 30 points, eight rebounds, and five assists led the way as Memphis snapped its 0-6 skid. The TCU alum scored 30+ for the 4th time in 7 games. Through seven games, Bane is averaging 26.6 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. 

“Every night we’re laying it all on the line,” Bane told Bally Sports sideline reporter Rob Fischer after the game. “I’m proud of these guys — the way that we stuck together in the locker room and stayed positive through it all.”

“Phenomenal — I think he’s had a really good stretch here,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins about Bane. “The last week or so, [he’s] just taking over games. He and I’ve talked about it; so it’s no surprise that everyone’s going to throw the defensive gameplan at him, trying to take him away, be physical with him.”

Jenkins continued, “We need him to initiate the offense at times, play off the ball, and he’s just doing a great job adapting to what defenses are throwing at him. Just making an impact on both sides. And when there was slippage from the team, you know, I challenge the team, but I challenged him in particular to step up on the defensive side and he did a phenomenal job in the fourth quarter, especially late in the game when it came to execution time.” 

Jackson, Jr. added 27 points and seven rebounds. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game for the season. 

Luke Kennard finished with 15 points and five rebounds as a reserve. Kennard hit 4-of-6 from the three-point line and the Grizzlies bench stepped up big for 31 combined points. 

Marcus Smart chipped in 10 points, five assists, and two steals while new Grizzly Bismack Biyombo ended with eight points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in just his second game in Beale Street Blue. 

“It’s great,” Jenkins said about the first win of the season. Got to celebrate — you know how hard it is to win in this league. We’re going to enjoy this one for sure. It’s it’s been a difficult first couple of weeks. “Our guys are resilient; they respond. We’ve been competitive every single night sometimes it hasn’t gone our way.”

Tid-bits

Ja Morant has 18 games to go until he can return from his 25-game suspension. 

Up Next

Memphis will head back to Memphis to host the Miami Heat on Wednesday, November 8, at 7pm CT at FedExForum. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports Uncategorized

Tough Loss but Progress for the Grizzlies

Nikola Jokic and Jaren Jackson, Jr. in position for tip-off on Friday, October 27, 2023 inside FedExForum (photo by: Sharon Brown)

For the Memphis Grizzlies, Friday night was full of high points despite losing to the Denver Nuggets (108–104).  Memphis displayed vast improvements in shooting and rebounding from their season-opening loss to the Pelicans. The Grizzlies edged Denver in rebounding 48-39. 

After being held to just two fast-break points in the season opener against New Orleans, the Grizzlies scored 22 against Denver.  And Memphis’ aggressive defense on reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic resulted in nine turnovers for the Nuggets. Jokic finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists. 

The Grizzlies, fueled by Jaren Jackson, Jr. used a collective effort to stay within striking distance. After a disappointing performance in the season opener, Jackson had a bounce-back game, leading the Grizzlies with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has eight blocks in two games, tying him for the league lead with Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns at 4.0 per game.

“They’re great – great new voices, great leaders,” Jackson on having Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose as teammates. “They have a lot of experience, a lot of things to teach us. They’re here to win and to play hard every night. It’s great to have them around and in the locker room. They’re talented as hell.”

Marcus Smart and Xavier Tillman on Friday, October 27, 2023 against the Denver Nuggets (photo by Sharon Brown)

Smart also gave the Grizzlies a spark. He chipped in 20 points, five assists, and a team-high five steals.  “It’s a challenge, but it’s a great one,” Smart said about adjusting to his new teammates. “It’s different from Boston. You got guys that do different things. It’s just been fun for me to try to figure out everybody’s tendencies, where they like the ball, things that they like to do and that they do very well.”

Rose gave the Grizzlies a much needed boost off the bench, adding 16 points, four rebounds and three assists. He was crucial in a 4th period that saw the Grizzlies have multiple chances to win the game.

After the game he said, “It’s a learning experience — I haven’t played in a year. When I was in New York basically I was a vet trying to be vocal but coming here they’re getting me the opportunity to play and I’m grateful for that.”

Rose continued, as he addressed the media in front of his locker, “I’m just trying to find my groove and trying not to shoot that many shots and get a feel for the game. I understand I have great offensive weapons with me so there’s no need for it. I’m just trying to do anything to win. Thank God I came to a winning team.”

Xavier Tillman, Sr. continued with his solid play as the starting center while Steven Adams is sidelined for the season. Tillman finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three steals. 

“Personally, my goal is to win games, so that’s all I’m worried about,” Tillman said after the loss. “As far as my individual play, my confidence, it comes from my teammates. When we’re out there they’re like, ‘Yo, we believe in you.’ And each and every game, I’ve tried to truly, truly hone in on that, truly hone in on the work that I put in and the trust factor my teammates and the coaches have in me, and just let it ride.”

Memphis is now 0-2 on the new season but taking the defending champs to the distance is something they can build upon. The Grizzlies will have a chance to show that progress tonight as they will face former grizzly Tyus Jones and the Washington Wizards at Capitol One Arena at 6 p.m. CT.