We are officially at the halfway point of the season. Which means it is a perfect time to check in on the progress of players and the team.
Head Coach Taylor Jenkins has done a masterful job of making something out of a roster that has often been missing one or more key players. That the team has had this amount of success despite a litany of injuries is a testament to his ability to adjust on the fly.
The Grizzlies are currently 28-13 at the midway point, owning one of the best records in franchise history. They are sitting at the top of the Southwest Division, and the top of the Western Conference.
Everything is coming up Grizzlies.
As a team, Memphis leads the league in defensive rating (109.7) and ranks 12th in offensive rating (114.6). They are ranked 5th in pace factor (101.4), an estimate of the number of possessions per 48 minutes by a team.
The Grizzlies have three players ranking in the top-20 defensive rating: Steven Adams is 1st (106.1), John Konchar is 12th (108.7), and Santi Aldama is 14th (108.8).
What to watch for as the season progresses:
Embodiment of excellence – Even accounting for numerous missed games due to injury, the next-man-up mentality that has been fostered by the organization is paying off.
Ja Morant is Ja Morant. If you pay any sort of attention to this team, nothing more needs to be said. Morant is averaging 27.6 points per game and 7.9 assists per game while putting up highlight reel worthy plays every night.
Backup point guard Tyus Jones has earned every penny of his new contract. His ability to step into the starting lineup and execute as a leader has been invaluable to the team when Morant has been sidelined. Jones is the premier backup point guard for this Grizzlies team but make no mistake he would be the number one option for any team that did not have Morant. When he is in the starting lineup the Grizzlies are 4-3, with Jones averaging 21.1 points per game, and shooting 50% from three-point range.
Steven Adams leads the league in total offensive rebounds with 185 and ranks 4th in average rebounds per game with 11.5. He is also the leader in total rebound percentage, grabbing 22% of the available rebounds when he is on the floor.
Possible stalled trajectories – There are a few guys on the roster whose output have been hindered by injury and missing games. How much this ends up affecting the overall outcome remains to be seen.
Desmond Bane began the season averaging close to 30 points per game before he was sidelined with a sprained right big toe. Bane has struggled since his return with shooting accuracy and putting up the kind of offensive numbers he had preinjury. But with half a season left and barring any further injury, one would expect to see continued improvement with the goal being back on track by the time the post-season comes around. Even accounting for time missed due to injury, Bane is averaging 21.2 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.
Jaren Jackson Jr is one of the frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year, but missing a sizable chunk of the early part of the season puts him at a disadvantage from a statistical standpoint. Jackson’s midseason numbers are still great: 16.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 3.2 blocks per game.
In short – the Grizzlies are on track to perhaps the best record in franchise history and another deep playoff run. Big Memphis, indeed.
