Fourth Bluff Park hosted a Grizzlies watch party last Saturday. The Grizz lost but Reddit user u/Imallvol7 said the party was “a ton of fun. They have drinks, food trucks, entertainment, and two great TVs. It’s an awesome place to watch the away games!”
Da G.O.A.T.s
Posted to Facebook by Overton Park Shell
Goat yoga should’ve become normalized by now. But this photo posted from last weekend’s practice at Overton Park Shell shows that somehow it still has not.
Tweet of the Week
Posted to Twitter by Jared “Jay B.” Boyd
“I did a thought exercise the other day about which landmark is the most ubiquitously Memphis. What site would any Memphian have visited, regardless of background, income, interests, or neighborhood affiliation?
“Some place unique? I landed on the Exxon at Poplar & Highland.”
Tyus Jones shoots a floater against the Golden State Warriors. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images)
On Thursday night at FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Golden State Warriors in a wire-to-wire victory by a score of 131-110.
Memphis improved to 39-26 overall and 27-5 at home, while the Warriors dropped to 34-33 and 7-26 away from San Francisco.
For the game, the Grizzlies had a 53.8% field goal percentage and a 45% three-point clip (18-of-40).
Memphis won the points in the paint battle 56-36, outrebounded Golden State 42-32, and dished out 36 assists.
Tidbits
Ja Morant and Steven Adams
The Grizzlies announced Monday that Morant would be away for at least four more games after being away from the team following an incident in Colorado.
Morant missed his third straight game on Thursday against the Warriors. Prior to the game, Coach Taylor Jenkins told reporters about Morant’s absence, “I can’t share details. There’s definitely steps that are going to have to be met personally and professionally as he deals with some stuff personally to get better. Then obviously the expectations on the team, he’s going to have some things that he’s going to have to clear to know what the expectations are when he does return. Again, he’s out at least the next four games. I know everyone wants to know, ‘What’s this going to be?’ It’s the hot topic for sure, but he’s taking time. His responsibility to get better personally, that’s a big factor in this, and also, his responsibility to the team is something we’re addressing with him. He’s fully on board and has been communicative with our group.”
Per a medical update released yesterday, Steven Adams underwent a stem cell injection as part of his ongoing recovery process for a PCL sprain in his right knee. Adams’ condition will be reevaluated in four weeks.
The news about this setback in Adams’ recovery, combined with Brandon Clarke being done for the season after an Achilles tear, leaves Memphis at a disadvantage in the center position.
In the three meetings so far this season between these two teams, the home team has taken the victory. The Grizzlies are due to face off against the Warriors again March 18th at FedExForum for their final meeting of the regular season, so here is hoping that pattern continues.
Any meeting between these two teams tends to be chippy, and this one was no exception. There was also the underlying expectation of a clash between Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks. Spoiler alert: Brooks handily won this round, and despite what Green may say about being unbothered, his postgame remarks told a different story.
"I get technical fouls when I want to get a technical foul. I don't get baited into technical fouls. So I think that's probably the difference between me and him… one of us are baitable and one of us aren't."
Everyone that watched the 2016 NBA finals knows the truth.
The Grizzlies opened the game and immediately asserted dominance, racking up 48 points in the first quarter, which is the highest-scoring opening frame in franchise history. Heading into the second quarter, the Grizzlies carried a 20-point lead, and despite Steph Curry being very Steph Curry, the Warriors went into the second half still down by 18. They outscored Memphis 34-22 in the third period but were not able to continue that in the fourth quarter.
As of late, the fourth quarter has been like kryptonite to the Grizzlies, but thankfully that would not be the case here. The Warriors managed to cut the Grizzlies lead to 6, and Memphis responded by putting their collective feet on the Warriors’ necks and not letting up. Memphis outscored Golden State 32-17 in that final frame and that was the ballgame. The Warriors shooting 10% from three-point range in the fourth, and the Grizzlies shooting 62.5% from long range, was the nail in the coffin.
By The Numbers:
Tyus Jones had a team-high 22 points, 4 rebounds, 11 assists, and 3 steals.
Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished the night with 21 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block.
Desmond Bane also put up 21 points, along with 2 rebounds and 4 assists.
Dillon Brooks closed out with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 steal.
Santi Aldama lit it up from the bench with 15 points and 7 rebounds on 3 of 5 shooting from beyond the arc.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will finish out this two-game homestand on March 11th, facing off against the Dallas Mavericks. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a bucket. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images)
The Grizzlies are in a slump, that much is clear. After a season-high ten game winning streak, the Memphis Grizzlies have lost 8 of their last 9 games. Sunday afternoon they faced off against the Toronto Raptors, and due to faltering in the fourth quarter, lost a game they once led by 15 points.
Let’s get into it.
Memphis has been missing Steven Adams in the lineup, but on this Sunday, they were also without star Ja Morant, due to wrist soreness, and Dillon Brooks, who was serving a suspension after brawling with Donovan Mitchell in Cleveland.
Poor ball handling and sloppy execution on behalf of the Grizzlies led to the Raptors putting up 23 more field goal attempts than Memphis. 23. That’s just embarrassing, as is the 20 turnovers that Toronto turned into 29 points. And that isn’t even getting into six missed free throws in a game they lost by three points.
Whatever else happens, there needs to be a “come to Jesus” meeting behind the scenes. Because these are not the actions of a team that is serious about contending for a championship.
By The Numbers:
Desmond Bane led all scorers with 26 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 1 blocked shot, while shooting 4 of 7 from three-point range. This is the Desmond Bane the Grizzlies need for the rest of the season.
Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Santi Aldama was moved into the starting position in place of Brooks, and he closed out with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Xavier Tillman Sr assumed the starting center role and put up 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Now on to the next one, and put this one in the rear-view mirror.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies are returning to their home floor Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
It has been a frosty few days here in the Bluff City, and it seems the Grizzlies were not immune. After amassing as much as a 12-point lead, the Grizzlies were iced out by the Portland Trailblazers in the final frame, and ultimately lost the game 122-112. It was just the fourth loss for Memphis on the home court this season.
Let’s get into it.
This had trap game written all over it. The Blazers were slogging through an 8-game road losing streak and were extra motivated to snap it, and the Grizzlies perhaps feeling complacent by their dominance at home let a double-digit lead slip away.
And we should give Damian Lillard his flowers for leading his team to victory – 42 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists – that’s Dame Time. Portland also made 26 of their 27 free throw attempts and turned 13 Memphis turnovers into 28 points.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Grizzlies. There were standout performances by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane getting back into a shooting groove, and the debut of Danny Green.
Memphis magazine February 1996 Cover (Photo: Memphis Magazine)
This Saturday at FedExForum, the late Lorenzen Wright will become the 10th former Memphis Tiger to have his uniform number retired. At halftime of the Tigers’ game against Tulane, Wright’s 55 will rise to the arena’s rafters, where it will hang above the court for every Tiger home game to come. There it will join banners honoring nine other legends who proudly wore blue and gray for Memphis: Forest Arnold, Win Wilfong, Larry Finch, Ronnie Robinson, Larry Kenon, John Gunn, Keith Lee, Elliot Perry, and Penny Hardaway. Wright’s ceremony will be the first to retire a Tiger’s number since March 2014, when the program honored Kenon.
Beyond the Mid-South, Lorenzen Wright is as famous for his tragic passing as for his exploits on the basketball court. In July 2010, a little over a year since he played his final NBA game, Wright was shot to death in a field in east Shelby County, the victim of a scheme orchestrated by his ex-wife, who is now serving a 30-year prison sentence. (The man who pulled the trigger is serving a life sentence.) He left behind six children and thousands upon thousands of fans from his days with the Tigers and, later, the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
A graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Wright joined the Tiger program after a down season (13-16) in 1993-94. An immediate starter for coach Larry Finch, Wright brought a ferocity to basketball at The Pyramid unlike many Tigers before him. (Did players scream after dunks before Lorenzen Wright?) He averaged a double-double that season, pacing Memphis in both scoring (14.8 points per game) and rebounds (10.1). Best of all, he helped the Tigers reach the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16, drubbing archrival Louisville in the first round. After another double-double campaign as a sophomore (17.4 and 10.4 rebounds), Wright entered the NBA draft and was chosen with the seventh pick by the Los Angeles Clippers.
To date, no former Tiger has played in more NBA games than Lorenzen Wright’s 778. And while Wright suited up for five teams as a pro, he played more games with the new-to-town Memphis Grizzlies (336) than any other. He remains seventh in Grizzlies history with 2,386 rebounds. Wright’s banner will be the only one that could be left up on a Grizzlies game night and still feel appropriate.
Only 34 years old at the time of his murder, Wright deserved a better fate. He was and is a beloved Memphian, still one of only two Tiger players to appear on the cover of Memphis magazine. (Keith Lee is the other. Finch and Hardaway each graced the cover, but not until they were coaching the program.) Saturday afternoon will be a special moment in the history of a proud basketball program, and even more special for those who love and remember the one and only Lorenzen Wright.
• The Tigers won’t be able to stop with 10 retired numbers. Among the players honored, none played for the program since Wright appeared in his last college game 27 years ago. Andre Turner (number 10) should join his teammate Lee in the rafters, his career assists total (763) not so much as approached since the Little General’s last game in 1986. The university must also find a way to recognize at least one player from the extraordinary four-year period from 2005-06 to 2008-09 when the Tigers reached at least the Sweet 16 every season. I’ve long advocated the retirement of number 5 for Antonio Anderson. He played for all four of those teams and is the only player in Memphis history to compile 1,000 career points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists. Anderson also played in more games (150) than any other Tiger, a record unlikely to be matched in the near future.
Ja Morant, getting a bucket. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE for Getty Images)
Yesterday the Memphis Grizzlies played their 21st Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Game against the Phoenix Suns. It was a resounding victory in which the Grizzlies defeated the Suns 136-106, and extended their current winning streak to 10 games, the longest in the NBA.
Let’s get into it.
Before the game tipped off, women’s basketball legend Nancy Lieberman, former NBA stars Gary Payton and Luol Deng, and NFL star Eddie George were all presented with the 18th Annual National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award.
On the court, the Suns closed out the first quarter with a seven-point lead. The Grizzlies responded by outscoring the Suns 107-70 in the remaining three quarters.
The three-point shooting drought appears to be over for this Grizzlies team — five players had two or more three-point makes.
Turning defense into offense remains one of the cornerstones of Grizzlies basketball, and this game was no exception. Memphis forced Phoenix into 15 turnovers, and then converted those into 24 points on the other end of the floor. Their ability to get stops on the defensive end allowed the Grizzlies to take nine more shot attempts overall than the Suns.
By the Numbers:
Ja Morant had a game-high 29 points and 7 assists, including 5 of 8 from three-point range.
Desmond Bane closed out the night with 28 points, 6 assists, and 2 steals, while shooting 3 of 4 from distance.
Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 6 blocks.
From the second unit, Brandon Clarke put up 13 points and 6 rebounds on 6 of 8 field goal shooting.
Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a dunk. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Happy New Year. The Memphis Grizzlies are one game back from the top of the Western Conference, and to close out the year they just beat the team ahead of them in the standings, Southwest Division rival the New Orleans Pelicans.
The matchup between these two teams is spicy, with two of the most exciting players in the league – Ja Morant and Zion Williamson –battling it out.
Let’s get into it.
Three-point shooting woes continue to plague the Grizzlies, and in Saturday night’s matchup, they shot a season-low 17.2 percent from distance. But Memphis made up for the lack of outside shooting by dominating down low, outscoring New Orleans 74-44 from the paint.
Big man Steven Adams grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds while helping to hold Jonas Valanciunas to 6 points and 6 rebounds. The two centers were traded for each other in 2021, with Memphis sending Valanciunas to New Orleans in exchange for Adams.
There were some technical difficulties midway through the second quarter when all the game clocks in FedEx Forum lost power, causing a stoppage in play for several minutes. Play resumed with the officials using stopwatches until the clock situation was resolved.
The break in play derailed the Grizzlies’ momentum for the rest of the period and helped the Pelicans to cut a 21-point lead to just three at the half. New Orleans briefly managed a two-point lead during the third quarter, but the Grizzlies did not allow them to keep it for long, dominating the fourth quarter 33-22. Memphis now leads the season series against the Pelicans 2-1.
By the Numbers:
Ja Morant led all scorers with 32 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals.
Jaren Jackson Jr finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 6 blocks.
Desmond Bane contributed 18 points and 7 rebounds. Bane is still struggling with three-point shooting since his return to play, and was 1 of 6 from beyond the arc.
Steven Adams had a great night with 10 points, 21 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
Dillon Brooks had a quiet night offensively, finishing with just 7 points. What he lacked in offense he more than made up for in defense, with his main defensive assignment being Zion Willamson. It was exactly what the Grizzlies needed from him.
Who Got Next?
The gang is back at it tonight with another home game, facing off against the Sacramento Kings to start off the new year. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CST.
Desmond Bane lets it fly from beyond the arc. (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)
It’s freezing here in the 901, but the Grizzlies did their part keeping us warm Thursday night by scorching the Phoenix Suns 125-100 in a wire-to-wire win. And so, it is my distinct pleasure to inform you that after a brief two-game losing streak, the Memphis Grizzlies are back to their winning ways.
Let’s get into it.
First things first: The best part of the night was the return of Desmond Bane. Bane returns to the lineup after missing the previous 18 games with a sprained toe.
It also marks the first time this season that the Grizzlies were able to play with their desired starting five.
Phoenix was missing Devin Booker but that hardly puts an asterisk next to this victory. Memphis was the best team on the court from wire-to-wire and dominated the game on both ends of the floor.
The Grizzlies remain at the top of the Western Conference with a 20-11 record, now tied with the Denver Nuggets.
Thursday night’s victory also put head coach Taylor Jenkins (148) ahead of former coach Dave Joerger (147) as the second-most winningest coach in Grizzlies franchise history. Lionel Hollins holds the record with 214 regular season wins, but I will be shocked if Jenkins does not surpass it during his tenure in Memphis.
During the game, no Grizzlies starter played more than 28 minutes and they got a big boost from the bench unit led by Brandon Clarke and Santi Aldama.
By The Numbers:
Lots of good stuff from this one, including a better than usual showing from the free throw line. I will overlook ten missed free throws when they win by 25 points.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the team with 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks, along with Brandon Clarke who put up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals from the bench in his best scoring game of the season.
Clarke also had a career-high free throw shooting game, going 10 for 10 from the foul line. Shoutout Canada!
Desmond Bane put up 17 points, 3 rebounds, and two assists in his return from injury. He struggled from the beyond the arc only shooting 2 of 8 from distance. But he too had a perfect night from the charity stripe, going 7 for 7.
Dillon Brooks contributed 16 points, 10 of which came in the first quarter. Also notable is that Brooks only had 9 shot attempts.
Ja Morant had a quiet night offensively, but he elevated his teammates, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists.
Who Got Next?
In a franchise first the team will be playing on Christmas Day. Expect it to feel like a western conference semifinals rematch in the Bay as the Grizzlies face off against the Golden State Warriors.
Tip-off will be at 7 PM CST. There will not be a local broadcast so tune in on ABC or ESPN.
Ja Morant drives to the basket against Domantas Sabonis. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Grizzlies played their final game before the Thanksgiving holiday, facing off against the Sacramento Kings. It did not end in the Grizzlies’ favor.
Let’s get into it.
This was one of the most frustrating games of the young season, and it illustrated once again just how important Desmond Bane is to this team.
Props to the Kings, who are having their best season in recent memory. Harrison Barnes remains a Grizz killer, and De’Aaron Fox seems to have picked up that vibe as well.
Even the early return of Ja Morant, who put up a career-high 20 points in the fourth quarter, was not enough to save this game. Not having their best three-point shooter has certainly put Memphis at a disadvantage. As a team, without Bane, they shot an abysmal 27 percent from beyond the arc.
Another area that hurt Memphis was bad ball security – they gave up 23 points off 18 turnovers.
Here’s a (not so) fun fact: Memphis is currently the worst free throw shooting team in the league, and Tuesday was no exception, with the Grizzlies shooting 19 of 30 from the foul line. That is 11 points they left on the table in a game they lost by 4 points.
This is becoming a pattern for Memphis.
In their 8 losses so far this season, 5 were lost by fewer points than the number of free throws missed by the Grizzlies. Fix it.
A public service announcement from the Ministry of Making Your Fucking Free Throws
By the Numbers:
Ja Morant had a game-high 34 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, with a career-high 20 points scored in the 4th quarter.
Jaren Jackson Jr put up 22 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 blocks.
Dillon Brooks finished the night with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
John Konchar closed out with 10 points and 9 rebounds.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday, November 25th. Tip-off is at 7 PM.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during a preseason game on October 3, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo: Copyright 2022 NBAE • Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies’ surprising run to the Western Conference’s second seed last season caught many NBA observers by surprise. Overnight, the squad went from being the NBA’s ugly duckling to must-see TV. Nonetheless, nobody will be caught off guard this year. The team has an opportunity to demonstrate that they are serious contenders in the West for the foreseeable future.
One can consider that the team won 56 games last year and has one of the best young cores in the league at under 25 years old. The Grizzlies are counting on improvements from their returning players and a group of newcomers. Other teams around the league made significant roster adjustments and have a litany of healthy players who are returning from injury.
Memphis had a season that set a new standard for excellence. By playing stifling defense, the Grizzlies made NBA history by being the first team to finish first in rebounding, steals, and blocks all in the same season. Fast break points, offensive rebounds, points in the paint, and second-chance points were also league-bests for this team.
Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket during a preseason game against the on October 3, 2022 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo: Copyright 2022 NBAE • David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Because of his tremendous growth as a player, Ja Morant was selected as a starter for the All-Star Game and became the league’s most-improved player. Morant agreed to a five-year maximum rookie extension, the team announced on July 6th, worth upwards of $231 million. With Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the NBA in blocks and earning first-team All-NBA Defense honors, the team won the Southwest Division for the first time in franchise history.
Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer, the Flyer’s special Grizzlies correspondents, analyze here the key questions facing the team as they prepare for the 2022-23 season.
There have been several changes to the roster since last season. Whose absence will have the most impact on the Grizzlies’ success?
Aimee Stiegemeyer: No disrespect to De’Anthony Melton, but Kyle Anderson’s absence is going to have the most noticeable impact. Anderson is one of the most underrated role players in the league and his talent often gets overlooked because his style of play is not the flashiest, and the best basketball that he has ever played was during the 2020-21 season when he filled the starting power forward position in Jaren Jackson Jr.’s absence. Memphis will need a Kyle Anderson this season.
Sharon Brown: It’s possible that Kyle Anderson’s worth can’t always be reduced to a number in the box score. However, the group greatly benefited from his leadership. The Grizzlies were in a jam in the first round of the playoffs last year, Game 5. It seemed like the Minnesota Timberwolves had their number, and Jaren Jackson Jr. was frustrated and in foul trouble, but the veteran leadership of Anderson and Steven Adams helped the young team stay composed.
At one point in the game, the Timberwolves were up and were poised to even the series 2-2, but the Grizzlies were able to recover and win the game, largely in part to the veteran presence on the bench that night.
Anderson was a veteran voice the team needed, in addition to being a great ball handler and above-average defender with length. In Anderson’s absence, Danny Green is ready and able to fill that void with his leadership pedigree.
The Grizzlies’ most recent season set a new standard for excellence. (Photo: Sharon Brown)
Among the returning players, who will have the most impact on the court, in terms of the Grizzlies’ success? Off the court?
AS: On the court? This is Ja Morant’s world, and we are all just living in it. As Morant goes, the team goes. He has really come into his own as the leader of this Grizzlies team, and during games you can find him encouraging and coaching his teammates from the floor.
Off the court, I envision Steven Adams taking on the role as the team’s dad. Big dad energy was on display with Adams last season when he physically picked up and carried Tony Bradley away from Ja Morant, thereby thwarting an altercation between them. We saw it again after the season opener when Adams swiped a towel from John Konchar to give to Morant.
And while he is not a returning player, Danny Green’s veteran leadership and guidance can be of immense value before he ever steps foot on the court. Green has seen the top of the mountain and he has been where the Grizzlies are trying to go — the NBA Finals. The experience and maturity that Green has gathered during his years in the league will be a welcome addition to this squad.
SB: On the floor, I would say a combination of Morant and Jackson Jr. Morant can alter the course of games offensively and Jackson Jr. is the anchor on the defensive side of the ball. Off the court, Danny Green. Green brings that championship experience as a three-time NBA champion. He has been on the big stage and knows what is required. On media day, Green was adamant that the team lacked maturity in a way. “A lot of guys like to do the social media — the TikTok, the tweets,” Green said.
“We can try to limit that a bit — focus on staying locked in to the game and treating the game the right way.
“We love to have fun, but the basketball gods will turn on you if you celebrate too early. Acting like you’ve been there and realizing you haven’t done anything yet — regardless of how many games you won in the regular season — if you haven’t won a championship, there’s nothing to really celebrate. My focus is on keeping them with that mentality for the whole season: Job’s not done,” Green added.
The team is about accountability and I believe Green’s presence will help with that.
And Morant is on board also. “I mean we’re young — he’s a vet,” Morant said when told on Grizzlies media day that Green thinks the team can benefit from maturity. “That’s his job … to hold us accountable. He’s going to be a big help for us in that area. It’s what we need.”
Thirteen-year NBA veteranDanny Green brings championship experience to the Grizzlies. (Photo: Aimee Stiegemeyer)
Last year the Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference. Where do we expect them to rank this year?
AS: Fourth or fifth seed — not because the Grizzlies got worse over the summer but because other teams in the conference got better. The return of Zion Williamson for the Pelicans will be huge, and Minnesota made some offseason moves that will help propel them to a better ranking in the standards. Memphis’ loss of Kyle Anderson is Minnesota’s gain.
SB: I’m going to guess somewhere in the range of 2-7. It’s the Wild West, a place where anything can occur. The Los Angeles Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George back, the Minnesota Timberwolves have Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson is healthy for the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Sacramento Kings and Oklahoma City Thunder might make huge strides this season.
Which player will take his game to the next level?
AS: All signs point to Santi Aldama taking a big leap forward this season. His performance in the season opener shows him already playing at a higher level than last season, particularly putting up a double-double in his first career start. Aldama made himself useful on both ends of the floor, adding offensive power with some clutch baskets and snatching defensive rebounds. The Grizzlies and Spanish big men are historically an iconic duo.
SB: For me, I’d say Desmond Bane. Even though Morant was voted as the league’s most-improved player, that honor should have gone to Bane. The Grizzlies’ young sensation shot 43 percent from outside and averaged over 18 points per game last year. Considering Bane more than doubled his scoring average and improved on nearly all counting stats averages last season, he is undoubtedly taking another leap. Bane might be on track for an All-Star appearance.
He was phenomenal and a major reason the Grizzlies made the playoff push last season. Bane averaged 18.8 points and hit 49 percent from deep in the postseason.
The Grizzlies will have 18 nationally televised games, a franchise record. (Photo: Sharon Brown)
With Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, who will step up to fill his role?
AS: There is no one player on this roster who can give you all the things that Jaren does, which means it will take a group effort from multiple players to provide the offensive and defensive value missing. Expect to see this coming from a combination of Santi Aldama, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, and Xavier Tillman Sr. This is where losing Kyle Anderson is going to hurt Memphis the most.
SB: The success of the Grizzlies can be attributed to their “next-man-up” mentality. There is no egotism in the locker room, which contributes to the culture. Every single one of them has the same goal in mind, and that’s to win basketball games. That manner of thinking and feeling is unimpeded by anything. Every single thing is geared toward achieving that one goal.
In my opinion, any player on that roster is capable of stepping into that role on any given night.
Predicted season win total?
AS: Fifty-three games. The competition among the Western Conference this season will be cutthroat and relentless. On a micro-level, there is the factor of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s indeterminate timeline for returning to the court.
SB: Barring serious injuries to key players, I have them winning between 50 and 56 games. Memphis has the right vibe and players who are eager to prove themselves. The squad is still as confident as ever and ready to take on any opponent. And then there’s that person at number 12 who can alter the course of games.
The Grizzlies have a franchise record of 18 nationally televised games, and for the first time they will be playing on Christmas Day. Will that adversely affect the team’s performance?
AS: Not even a little bit. This group has shown that they thrive under pressure and embrace the opportunity to prove any naysayers wrong. If anything, the increased national exposure will be a motivating factor for this Grizzlies team, especially given how intense the rivalry between Memphis and Golden State has become.
SB: The opposite is true; it will only encourage them to improve. The Grizzlies don’t have much to worry about other than getting out of their own way and focusing on the task at hand. Morant is a once-in-a-generation talent for Memphis, with the capacity to completely dominate games once he gets into his groove. Memphis has taken a giant step forward with the Christmas Day game. To top it all off, the squad still has more to prove.
Five rookies joined the Grizzlies’ roster this offseason. Who should we be keeping an eye out for?
AS: David Roddy and Jake LaRavia are the likeliest to see game-time minutes early in the season, but I am most looking forward to seeing Kenneth Lofton Jr. develop and how his game progresses. Junior, as he is known, will spend most of the time playing with the Hustle in Southaven, but he has the potential to put up big numbers. If the Grizzlies can get the version of Lofton we saw during Summer League, he can be a substantial weapon in their arsenal for years to come. His basketball IQ and smooth footwork are reminiscent of Grit-and-Grind-era Zach Randolph.
SB: There was no doubt that Kenneth Lofton Jr., better known by his nickname Junior, was a sight to behold in the Summer League and the few games in which he participated in the preseason. People should go to Southaven to watch him play for the Memphis Hustle. With a two-way deal, Lofton may only play in 50 regular season games for the Grizzlies and cannot participate in the postseason. Even in preseason, the crowd was screaming “bring in Kenny” for Junior, indicating that he had a devoted fan base. A #FreeJunior hashtag has also been created for use on social media. Zachary McKenley Randolph, also known as Z-Bo, is a Grizzlies icon who is often compared to Junior. Lofton is a bucket-getter, a traditional post player who makes the most of his size and strength.
