Tag: Desmond Bane

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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 Memphis Grizzlies are Playoff Bound

Dillon Brooks hugs Ja Morant after he hit a go ahead bucket late in overtime. (Photo via Grizzlies Twitter)

The Memphis Grizzlies are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Marc Gasol won’t be present, Zach Randolph has officially retired, Tony Allen hasn’t played in a long time, and Mike Conley will be suiting up for Memphis’ first-round opponent, the Utah Jazz. A 21-year old second-year guard is the leader on this team, and he showed up in one of the biggest games of his young career. 

That’s right, Ja Morant put on a show and sealed the victory in OT of the NBA’s play-in elimination game against the Golden State Warriors, 117-112.

After defeating the Spurs on Wednesday, Morant said the team planned to pack for a three-game road trip having confidence his team would make the playoffs. Those were bold words and he backed it up in an emphatic way. 

Morant showed poise from the start, and the young star isn’t afraid to play against any team. He put on another breakout performance like he did in last season’s play-in tournament elimination game against the Portland Trailblazers. The Murray State alum finished with a team-high 35 points, six rebounds, six assists to go along with four steals in 45 minutes of play. Morant also connected on a career-high 5 of 10 from the three-point line. 

Morant and company heard the noise that most thought the team had absolutely no chance to upset the Warriors inside the Chase Center. The team proved the NBA world wrong again by eliminating both the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors in the second season of a team rebuild. 

Morant spoke to ESPN’s Rachel Nichols after the game.

The real Grizzlies bench showed up and showed out.

Earlier on Friday, I stated in a play-in preview, “Simply put, Memphis cannot and will not win this game if there’s not a good performance from its bench.” And the bench players came up huge after being outworked in the past two games against the Warriors last Sunday and the Spurs on Wednesday. 

The second unit had 40 points behind Grayson Allen, Xavier Tillman Sr., and Desmond Bane. With that performance, the Grizzlies bench proved why they were a top-10 bench in the league during the regular season. 

In 25 minutes, Allen finished with 12 points, four rebounds, and four steals plus some big three-point shots during the overtime period. Allen went 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. 

Tillman played 23 minutes and chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Tillman was huge for Memphis on both ends of the floor and was one of the reasons for the win. The rookie put on a great performance before a national audience after Jonas Valanciunas fouled out and Jaren Jackson Jr. was on the bench. 

Rookie Desmond Bane played the most minutes of the second unit at 29; he added 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists. When most of the bench was struggling, Bane had the trust of the coaching staff to be on the court with the starters. 

Analysis

This truly is a remarkable story for the Memphis Grizzlies to make the playoffs in the second year of a rebuild after defying all the odds and overachieving with the deck stacked against them. 

Memphis should be proud of this team’s resilience and poise. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies will take on Conley and the Utah Jazz in the first round of the Western Conference Quarterfinals in the NBA Playoffs. Here is the schedule: 

Note: All times are Central.

Game 1: Sunday, May 23 | Grizzlies at Jazz, 8:30 p.m on TNT

Game 2:  Wednesday, May 26 | Grizzlies at Jazz, 9 p.m on TNT

Game 3:  Saturday, May 29 | Jazz at Grizzlies, 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Game 4:  Monday, May 31 | Jazz at Grizzlies, 8:30 p.m on TNT

Game 5:  Wednesday, June 2 | Grizzlies at Jazz, TBD (if necessary)

Game 6:  Friday, June 4 | Jazz at Grizzlies, TBD (if necessary)

Game 7:  Sunday, June 6 | Grizzlies at Jazz, TBD (if necessary)

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Houston Had a Problem Against Memphis Sunday Night

CREDIT: NBA.com

Justise Winslow found his groove on Sunday night against the Houston Rockets by going 4-of-4 from the field early on. In just his fourth game back after a lengthy absence, Winslow led the Grizzlies with 20 points and two blocks off the bench in a decisive victory over the Rockets 133–84. This is the first time Winslow scored 20 or more points since October of 2019 while a member of the Miami Heat. An emotional Winslow spoke after the game:

Houston Had a Problem Against Memphis Sunday Night

Houston Had a Problem Against Memphis Sunday Night (3)

Brandon Clarke notched his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 7-of-9 from the field.

De’Anthony Melton finished with 14 points, five assists, and four steals. Tyus Jones had a complete game with 13 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. The Grizzlies had a season-high 16 steals and 56 rebounds.

Desmond Bane had 15 points, seven rebounds, and three steals with a +38 +/- net rating to help the Grizzlies move to 15–15 on the season in his fourth career start. Bane even had a nasty highlight dunk. 

Houston Had a Problem Against Memphis Sunday Night (2)

Very impressive victory by our group,” Taylor Jenkins said after the game. A very impressive victory, indeed. 

The Grizzlies bench set a franchise record with 85 points by outscoring the entire Rockets team. Memphis also set a franchise record with the largest margin of victory with the 49 point smashing while handing Houston its 11th straight loss. Memphis held the Rockets to a franchise-low 27.7 percent from the field and 4-for-45 on 3-pointers.

Next Up:

The Grizzlies will take on Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, March 2, at the Capital One Arena. Tip-off is set at 6 p.m. CT.
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Beyond the Arc Sports

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets

Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies wanted to avoid a five-game losing streak. A franchise-record shooting night with 23 three-pointers sealed the deal, as the Grizzlies defeated the Charlotte Hornets 130–114 at FedEx Forum. Memphis improves to 10-10 on the season. 

Kyle Anderson led the Grizzlies with 27 points while hitting a career high 6 of 8 from the three-point stripe. Anderson spoke about his massive third quarter. He said, “I think I had knocked down a corner three in the first half, and it just felt good. So, it came to me about four or five times in a row again in the second half, just how their defense was guarding pick-and-roll.

“Teams have been getting away with that lately, being up on Ja (Morant) and making him get it out of his hands,” Anderson continued. “So I knew after these last few games that today I’ve got to just be able to make shots when he does give it up.”

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets (2)

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets (5)

Dillon Brooks added 20 points and four assists on 8-of-13 shooting. Brooks also converted on 4-of-8 from three to get out of his shooting funk. 

Desmond Bane continued to improve his game with his second career start, finishing with a career-high 18 points, two assists, and two steals. 

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets

Morant tallied his third double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and a game-high 11 assists.

“I feel like we have a very dangerous team, knocking down shots,” Morant said after the victory. “We encourage everybody from the first man to the last man to shoot it and let it fly. We all got that confidence in each other.”

After the game, Morant’s work wasn’t entirely done, apparently. He was back on the court putting up shots.

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets (4)

“As far as my shooting after (the game), I feel like I have to be better on the court in all areas,” Morant explained. “I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t satisfied, so I just wanted to finish getting some extra work in. That’s really about it.”

Memphis Grizzlies Twitter

Grayson Allen

Grayson Allen led the bench unit with 18 points and three assists while setting a season-high of 3-pointers made with five.

Barrage Of Threes Helps Grizzlies Maul Hornets (3)

For the Hornets, Terry Rozier’s (aka Scary Terry) game-high 34 points weren’t enough to overcome the hot-shooting Grizzlies. LaMelo Ball chipped in 17 points while Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges both finished with 15 each as Charlotte slipped to 12–14 on the season.

Up Next

The Grizzlies travel out west for a two-game road trip. First up is LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night with a 9 pm CST tip. 

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses

CREDIT: Memphis Grizzlies Instagram

Grizzlies rookie Desmond Bane continues to impress in his first season. In 21 minutes Sunday night, he finished with 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-4 3Pt) to go along with two assists in a 108-94 loss to the Lakers. 

Bane has scored in double figures in the last three games and is averaging 13.0 points on the season while shooting 48.4 percent from the field as a reserve. 

Bane has made multiple three-point shots in the first six games of his career, the second-longest such streak to start a career in NBA history, behind Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen, who recorded 10 straight in 2017. 

The TCU standout has become more comfortable with his game, and it is showing. He gives credit to his teammates and the organization. “The older guys have given me a lot of confidence,” he said after the game. “The player development program here is really strong, really good. It’s definitely helped my game. Learning the system, learning my teammates, learning the NBA. … As I continue to get more comfortable and gain more experience, I’ll get better,” he added. “I think experience is definitely the key right now. The game is slowing down, learning the offense, and kind of where I can get to my spot, and things like that are why those numbers are going up.”

Bane was also excited to share the court with fellow rookie Xavier Tillman for the first time. “So happy for him. He’s a competitor. For him to have to sit out on the road trips knowing that he could help our team, especially when guys were going down,” Bane said. “I know it was tough on him. I was super excited for him to not only get out there but to play well in the minutes that he had.”

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses (2)

Tillman recorded his first points of the season with a dunk off of a pass from fellow big man Gorgui Dieng. “After the dunk, it really boosted my confidence, Tillman explained. “It allowed me to take a breather and get my energy out — especially after I dunked it — and lock back in.”

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses

The Michigan State standout admitted he was a bit timid before his first game at the FedExForum. He said, “I can’t lie, going into it, minutes beforehand, I was nervous, but as the game was getting ready to start, I got into that competitive mode. It was fun.”

Grizzlies instagram

Tillman finished the game with 6 points and 6 rebounds on 3-of-3 shooting in 17 minutes of play. Critiquing his first NBA game, Tillman said, “I did okay, especially for the first game. There were a couple of times when I was supposed to dive to the corner on defense and get the steal or deny somebody. I gave up a couple of offensive rebounds. Those types of plays, as I get going, those will be nonexistent because those are the plays I have to make sure I have. Other than those two, it was pretty good.”

The Grizzlies’ big man was appreciative of having a chance to get into action after missing the first five games. “It was great, especially me being able to get in the first quarter after I’ve been sitting out a few games,” Tillman said. “Coach trusted me, like, ‘Hey, I’m going to give you a couple minutes early on.’ That was huge. It was a big confidence builder in me. If you have faith in me like that to get it going in the first quarter then I have to bring it.”

After the game, Coach Taylor Jenkins said, “It was great to see X’s [Xavier Tillman] first game of the season. I thought he gave us some great contribution, and that’s how we are built.” 

Welcome Home, Marc Gasol

The Grizzlies played a tribute video for Marc Gasol. It was Gasol’s first game back in Memphis since being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2019. 

Screengrab from Fox Sports Southeast

Gasol scored seven points, and added six rebounds and four assists. The Lakers big man also had to receive four stitches above his left eye after a nasty fall before halftime.

Gasol was thankful to be back in Memphis and appreciated the video tribute, but he missed the fans. “You’re missing a huge part of all this, which is the fans and the people from Memphis that have been there,” Gasol said. “But, obviously, I’m very thankful for what the franchise has done for me, not just now in recognition, but throughout the years that I was here.”

Big Spain thought it was awkward being in a different locker room and warming up on the other side of the court since Memphis had been his home for nearly 11 seasons.

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses (3)

Gasol said his favorite parts of the tribute videos were the interactions with fans and with the children from St. Jude’s and LeBonheur hospitals. He said his work with the kids at the hospitals was his most important work of all.

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses (4)

Memphis will always have a special place in his heart. “It’s a special place to me that’s been my home, like, I’ve been here so long,” Gasol said. “I got here in 2001 when the franchise actually moved here, so imagine how many years. This is the 20th year since I got here, so the franchise means a lot to me. It’s a part of who I am.”

Lakers Top Grizz; Bane Impresses (5)

Up Next
The Grizzlies will host the Lakers again on Tuesday at 7 pm CST. 

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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.