Jaren Jackson Jr. goes up for a bucket against the Toronto Raptors on January 22, 2024. (Photo by: Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images)
On Monday night in Toronto, the Memphis Grizzlies secured their first wire-to-wire victory of the season by beating the Toronto Raptors 108-100. Memphis improved to 12-12 on the road while just being 4-15 at home on the season.
Memphis seems as if it has been cursed for most of the season with multiple key players dealing with injuries. In their abscence, Jaren Jackson Jr., the longest-tenured player on the roster, continues to dominate opponents and is at times unguardable. He was in his bag against the Raptors and finished with 27 points on 12-for-22 shooting, six steals (career-high), five assists, and four rebounds in 32 minutes.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year now has 5+ assists in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
Luke Kennard added a season-high 19 points and dished out seven assists. Kennard converted on 5-of-13 from the three-point line, and seems to have found his rhythm as of late.
Vince Williams Jr. continued to be dominant on both ends of the floor, adding 18 points and 10 rebounds (7-of-11 FG) for the first double-double of his career.
Jon Konchar scored six points, and had five rebounds, five blocks (career-high), and four assists.
Tid-bits
Every player that entered the game for Memphis recorded an assist.
Analysis
In my summation, with half the season gone, the Grizzlies have nothing left to play for. The chances to make the play-in tournament are all but over. And the team still might not have a poor enough record to get a lottery pick.
The NBA Trade Deadline is fast approaching: February 8, 2024 (3 p.m. CT). Memphis is linked to a number of players in trade rumors, but it would surprise me if the Grizzlies make a major trade at this point. I do think minor trades will likely happen. Memphis needs to solidify its bench for seasons to come.
With a healthy Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jackson Jr., this team is hard to beat, but with better role players, they would be championship contenders. For the rest of the season, Memphis should just continue to develop the young talent on the roster to have them prepared for next year.
Next Up
The conclusion of the Grizzlies four-game road trip is Wednesday night in Miami against the Heat. Tip-off: 6:30 p.m. CT
Jaren Jackson, Jr. goes up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 7, 2023. (Credit: Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
With their 137-114 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Friday night, the Memphis Grizzlies clinched the West’s second seed for the second consecutive season.ย The Bucks sat key players, including former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Despite shooting 65 percent in the first two quarters, the Grizzlies entered halftime trailing Milwaukee by a single point. However, Memphis outscored the Bucks 37-15 in the third quarter to pull ahead for good.ย The Grizzlies also had a season-high in assists, with 39.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 36 points, grabbed four boards, and made three blocks while shooting 12 of 18 from the field and 5 of 6 from beyond the arc to help the Grizzlies sweep the season series with the Bucks for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
The 12 to 13 connection is getting better right before our eyes.
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 8, 2023
Luke Kennard finished with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and made 5-of-7 from the 3-point line after being inserted into the starting lineup.ย As Kennard is getting more comfortable, it appears he may be the missing piece that the team has lacked.ย
Ja Morant added 12 points, eight assists, and six rebounds. “It’s very important,” Morant said after the game, about securing the second seed. “We’re a very good team at home, so we obviously want that home-court advantage. Definitely big time for us.”
While trying to contest a shot from former teammate Jae Crowder, Morant got his fingers caught in Crowder’s uniform and had to head to the locker room with a hand injury in the first quarter.ย He returned to the game in the second quarter with two fingers taped together on his right hand.ย
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) April 8, 2023
Morant eventually told reporters he was good when asked about the injury.
Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said after the game it wasn’t a significant injury.ย “We shouldnโt have any concerns โ they did X-rays in the first half,” Jenkins said. “He [Morant] obviously had a little collision there in front of our bench. The X-rays were negative. Our medical team cleared him to come back and then we were just precautionary in that second half. Ice it up and hopefully we are good to go.”
Up Next
Regular season play for the Grizzlies will end on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, April 9th.
Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr. (Photo credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Jaren Jackson, Jr. was ready for his first home game of the season which was also ‘Block Panther’ sock giveaway night. He had missed the first 14 games of the season after being sidelined recovering from right foot surgery.
The Grizzlies gave away Block Panther socks to the first 5,000 fans on Friday night (photo cred: Sharon Brown)
The 23-year-old finished with 25 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Jackson led Memphis to a win over the Thunder, 121-110. The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Grizzlies, who improved to 6-1 on the season at FedExForum.ย
The Michigan State alum spoke about his improved rebounding numbers and paint play: “Just using my body better, knowing how to. It is really just watching Steven Adams and the things he does, like offensive rebounding on the free throw line and around the rim. How to use his body to his advantage, where and how he does things.”ย
Jackson concluded, “Iโm not going to give the secrets out, credit to him and what I have been able to see up close. Iโve been able to ask questions all the time on how to be better.”
“Itโs obviously been a point of emphasis that weโre talking to Jaren about,” Jenkins said about Jackson’s play in the interior. Itโs finding those opportunities to get inside of the paint, be a threat on the offensive side, whether itโs by design or he just kind of feels it out on his own.”
Jenkins added, “Ja [Morant] was even seeking him out I think there in the first half to get him inside too. So, itโs definitely an element of our offense that weโve been working on and talking about. Hopefully we utilize that a little bit more moving forward so that we have more threats on the inside.”
Ja Morant left the game late in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury. Morant had to be helped to the locker room.
After the game Jenkins spoke about Morant’s injury: “He just tweaked his ankle there late in the fourth,” said Jenkins. “Really not much to report. Theyโre just going to get some more imaging and testing tonight and tomorrow. Iโll have more of an update tomorrow.”
The Grizzlies are obviously hoping the injury isn’t too serious, as the team is already without sharpshooter Desmond Bane (toe sprain) for at least two to three weeks.ย
Morant finished with a near triple-double with 19 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
In the best game of his career (with career highs in points and three-point makes), John Konchar chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds while going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.ย
After the game, Konchar commented on his three-pointers: “The Thunder likes to shift off the corner threes a lot. Ja got downhill and collapsed everybody, and yeah, I was open for a lot of them.”
It has been a long, hot summer but the return of Grizzlies basketball is almost upon us.
There were a lot of fresh faces at the Grizzlies preseason media day, as well as the absence of Kyle Anderson, who signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the off-season, and DeโAnthony Melton, who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the deal that sent veteran Danny Green to Memphis. ย
Five newcomers will be joining the squad in training camp with hopes of securing a roster spot. Four of these were draft-night acquisitions โ Jake LaRavia, Kennedy Chandler, David Roddy, and Vince Williams Jr., while Kenneth Lofton Jr. was picked up after going undrafted. ย
Lofton was signed as a two-way player after an impressive showing during Summer League. His size and awareness around the rim are very reminiscent of a baby Zach Randolph.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. is BULLYING Chet Holmgrenย ๐ณ @brhoops
If Lofton’s performance against Chet Holgram, this yearโs second draft pick, is any indication of things to come we should all be watching his career with great interest.
Vince Williams Jr. was also signed as a two-way player so expect to see him getting minutes alongside Lofton with the Memphis Hustle, the teamโs G-league affiliate. ย
Grizzlies general manager and 2022 NBA Executive of the Year Zach Kleiman is confident that there will be full access to the G-League this season, which will increase development opportunities for this latest crop of young players. League restrictions during the height of the Covid pandemic prevented the G-League from having the full 50-game season the past two years. ย
The symbiotic relationship between the Grizzlies and Hustle has already borne fruit in the form of guard John Konchar, who spent most of his first two years assigned to the Hustle. Konchar signed a contract extension this summer worth $19 million over three years.
Veteran guard Danny Green during media day. (Photo by Aimee Stiegemeyer).
Memphis also picked up three-time NBA champion Danny Green, who will add veteran leadership in the locker room and on the court as well as perimeter defense and three-point shooting โ areas where the Grizzlies are always looking to improve. Multiple players have expressed excitement about Greenโs addition to the squad. Desmond Bane cited Green as one of his role models entering the league.
Bane also told media members that in order to improve, the squad needs to stay hungry and โdo what they did but betterโ in reference to last year. ย
Center Steven Adams indicated that one of the areas he worked on in the offseason was free throw shooting. Adams has a career free-throw shooting percentage of 54 percent, which is … not great. Missing free throws were a huge thorn in the team’s side last season.
A common theme among returning players was continuing to play with a chip on their shoulders even as they have shed their underdog status. Last seasonโs playoff run put the team on wider display as championship contenders. The 2022-23 season brings the Grizzlies 18 nationally televised games, the most in franchise history. There will be a lot of eyes on Memphis this season now that the team has effectively put the league on notice.
As we approach the start of the NBA season, questions persist about who will fill in at the power forward position while Jaren Jackson Jr. continues to rehab from injury. Head coach Taylor Jenkins made it clear that filling that spot would be earned through fierce competition among players.
Another item of note:
All teams this year will be wearing a black number 6 patch on the top left corner of their jerseys to honor NBA legend Bill Russell, who passed away at the age of 88 in July.
The NBA will be honoring Russellโs legacy as an 11-time NBA champion and eventually the first Black coach in the NBA by retiring his number 6 across the league. Russell is the first player in NBA history to receive this honor.
The number 6 patch honoring Bill Russell is seen here on Steven Adams’ jersey. (Photo by Aimee Stiegemeyer).
The Grizzlies will begin their training camp today and will have their first preseason game Saturday, October 1st. The 2022-23 regular season kicks off for Memphis on October 19th when they face the New York Knicks at FedExForum. ย
The entire 2022-23 schedule for the Grizzlies can be found here.
Ja Morant rises for a slam dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
As the heavyweight bout continued, the Minnesota Timberwolves countered a brutal uppercut by the Memphis Grizzlies with a left jab to even the best-of-seven series to 2-2 in Game 4.
Memphis had plenty of chances to put the Wolves on the ropes but fell short, 119-118. As the series shifts to the FedExForum in Memphis, the Grizzlies look to regain momentum.
What Memphis Needs to Do in Game 5
Jaren Jackson Jr. must give the Grizzlies something offensively.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been plagued by foul trouble in each of the first four games. This is still an aspect of Jacksonโs game that hinders his stock, despite some progress. Averaging less than 24 minutes per game through four games, Jackson is shooting 38 percent from the field and averaging just 10 points per game โ well below his standards.ย
Jackson has been unable to make his usual contribution on both ends of the court. When it comes to offensive fouls and fouls away from the ball, he needs to be a little more aware of what he is doing. Jackson has struggled to get into a rhythm offensively in this series.
The Grizzlies play some of their best basketball when Jackson is available. His ability to block shots on defense and switch to guard any opposing player, 1-5, gives the Grizzlies chances to win games and it hurts his team tremendously when he is off the floor.ย
When Jaren Jackson Jr has been on the floor, Minnesota is shooting 38% overall and 35% from three.
When Jackson has been off the floor, Minnesota is shooting 49% overall and 41% from three.
When Jackson is on the floor as the primary defender, the Timberwolves are shooting 35.7 percent from the field.
A first-round exit is inevitable if the teamโs 22-year-old forward is constantly in foul trouble and does not contribute offensively. He has to be available, period.
Meanwhile, his teammates are holding him accountable.
Dillon Brooks on Jaren Jackson Jr. reveals some of whatโs being said behind the scenes heading into Game 5 pic.twitter.com/kiKCh9nh6V
As I stated previously, โTaylor Jenkins needs to go with some of the scrappy guys who contributed all season off the bench. One such guy is John Konchar, also known as Jitty. Known for his hustle plays, he is somebody who gets all the 50/50 balls, deflections and is able to defend. Konchar would bring a spark off the Grizzlies bench that was lacking in Game 1. The undrafted guard out of Purdue Fort Wayne was a problem for the Wolves on Jan. 13, when he gave Memphis a huge lift off the bench with 15 points (6 of 7 from the field, 3 of 4 from three) and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds.โ
Konchar should have earned Jenkinsโ trust to get more playing time, especially when DeโAnthony Melton hasnโt been giving the Grizzlies much on either end of the floor.ย
Play Up to Grizzlies Standards: Maintain Focus and Urgency.
Even in wins, Jenkins has mentioned the Grizzlies havenโt played up to their standards, and heโs clearly right.
There has been little consistency due to foul trouble. The Grizzlies have to have a sense of urgency for 48 minutes. Winning the first quarter is a key to victory. During the regular season, Memphis was one of the best in the league in first quarter scoring at 30 points per game while shooting 46.7 from the field and nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc.
Slow starts along with foul trouble have hindered that progress. This must change in Game 5.
The Grindhouse must be lit.
The energy of the crowd must give the Grizzlies a boost in order to win the game. Crowd energy has helped Memphis win plenty of games this season. It should be no different for one of the most important games of the postseason.
The Grizzlies have to keep the fans engaged for 48 minutes. There need to be thunderous dunks and WTF-inducing plays to keep the crowd interested in the game. The players need the crowd to be that 6th man like they have been throughout the regular season.
Ja Morant has to be Ja.
Morant hasnโt been himself and he said as much after the loss in Game 4. โI can be honest right now. Iโm not Ja right now,โ Morant said after Memphisโ Game 4 loss Saturday at Target Center. โI feel like Iโve seen yโall tweets โ yโall know what Iโm talking about. Yeah, Iโm not playing above the rim. Most of the time when I go to the rack, Iโm getting bumps, all this. I just gotta worry about finishing the bucket instead of worrying about the guys in stripes.โ
Morant tallied 32 points and 10 assists in Game 1 and had 23 points and 10 assists in Game 2.
Game 3 and 4, it has been hard for Morant to get in the paint due to adjustments made by the Wolves and he has been getting double digit assists instead. During this series, Morant has been averaging 20.8 and 10.8 assists.
One of the reasons for the decline may be Steve Adamsโ removal from the starting lineup. He led the league in screen assists (4.8), offensive rebounds (5.2), and box outs (11.3) per game. Adams cleared the way for Morant to get in the paint, and that is missing.
Morant was honest about his struggles after Game 4. โThey just adjusted, changed their game plan,โ he explained. โFirst two games, they pretty much stayed home to our shooters, allowing me to get downhill. Now every time I come off, Iโm seeing three bodies.Only thing I can do after that is just make the right play. Thatโs why you see, I had 15 assists in this game. I know a lot of people donโt like that, that I donโt have 30 every night.โ
Itโs time for the Grizzlies to put their best foot forward on Tuesday night. They must get their mojo back in order to compete with the hungry Wolves. Whether or not the Timberwolves will call Memphisโ bluff is a question that needs to be answered. Is Memphis ready for โAll the Smokeโ?
Another day, another Grizzlies win by 30 points against the Pacers, as Memphisโ team beat Indiana, 133-103. If it feels like weโve been here before, itโs because we have.
Letโs get into it.
After meeting the Pacers on their home turf on March 15th, this time, the Grizzlies hosted the Pacers in the Grindhouse. Different arena, same outcome.
Once again, the Grizzlies were without their star point guard Ja Morant. Once again, everyone on the squad stepped up, once again led by the offensive prowess of Desmond Bane.
Memphis is two games into a four-game homestand and quickly approaching the end of the regular season. Thursday nightโs victory clinched a playoff berth for the Grizzlies, who as of this moment are sitting comfortably in the second seed in the Western Conference.
This victory is slightly overshadowed by the announcement that Morant will be sidelined for at least another two weeks. With just eight regular-season games remaining over the next two weeks, it seems unlikely Morant will return before the postseason.
The Grizzlies have shown that this team is more than capable of holding their own without Morant during the regular season, and it is a testament to just how well constructed this roster is. But the playoffs are another thing entirely.
By the Numbers:
Desmond Bane led all scorers with 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 12 of 15 overall and 5 of 7 from three-point range. Bane has also set a new franchise record for most three-pointers made in a season, passing Mike Millerโs 2006-2007 record of 203 three-pointers made.
Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 20 points on the night, including shooting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.
DeโAnthony Melton led the bench with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting 5 of 9 from distance. Mr. Do Something did a little of everything.
John Konchar put together a solid game, finishing the night with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Xavier Tillman also contributed double figures from the bench, finishing with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies continue their homestand Saturday night when they face off against the reigning NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks. Tip-off is 7 p.m. CDT.
Grizzlies players pose after their 11th straight victory (Photo credit: Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)
With little more than five minutes left on the clock, the game was tied 98-98. Ja Morant put up a wide-open three-pointer that hit off the rim twice, then out of nowhere, John Konchar went up for the putback slam to put the Grizzlies up 100-98.
This game wasn’t pretty but it sure was Jitty. That’s because Konchar, also known as Jitty, was a big reason for the Grizzlies’ 11th straight win, a 116-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves Thursday night. With the win, the Grizzlies improve to 30-14 on the season and third in the Western Conference.
Konchar gave Memphis a huge lift off the bench with 15 points (6-7 FG, 3-4 3P) and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. For one night, he was “Jitty for Da City” in honor of the man himself, Zach Randolph.
Konchar was one rebound shy of matching Randolph’s franchise record for rebounds coming off the bench (18). (Montrezl Harrell of the Washington Wizards had the most rebounds by a bench player this season with 18 against the Charlotte Hornets back in November.)
The Illinois native described his rebounding knack after the game: “I donโt know, sometimes they just come to me. I donโt know how to describe that, I guess. I just know where the ball is going to go. If itโs short, or whoever is shooting it, you just have tendencies for that guy โ if heโs been shooting it long, short, or whatever. You just build off that.”
He continued, “I always stay in the work room. Iโve been trying to do lower body a lot. Just trying to get stronger so that I can box out and get the rebound instead of trying to jump over somebody. Just try to stay in the weight room year round.”
Grizzlies acting head coach Darko Rajakovic said of Konchar: “Heโs just fearless, heโs willing to go after every rebound. Heโs always in a good spot and has been working a lot with his body. Athletically, heโs been improving over the course of the year.”
“Heโs just always in the right spot — itโs crazy,” Desmond Bane said of Konchar’s rebounding performance. “Both offensively and defensively, he happens to be in the right spot. Heโs around the ball. Obviously, 17 rebounds, but getting deflections and being in the mix. Heโs a glue guy. Someone that brings the team together. I think that heโs been huge for us since weโve really been winning games.โ
The undrafted guard out of Purdue Fort Wayne was congratulated by all of his teammates during his walk-off interview with Fox Sports Southeast sideline reporter, Rob Fischer.
“Itโs awesome,” Konchar said of his teammates’ gesture. “Weโre a close-knit group. Itโs really fun playing with everybody. We just get along very well on and off the court. Itโs a great time.”
Ja Morant was also proud of his teammate. โMan, he just does a lot on the floor for us,” Morant said. “Seventeen boards at the guard position is pretty tough to do. I looked up and saw he had 15. And then shotmaking … you really can’t leave him open. He’s knocking down shots — he does the hustle plays for us, gets all the 50/50 balls. He’s able to defend. He’s just a spark for us. Coming off the bench, he never complained. With his role, he does it at a very high level and tonight helped us get a win. With that big shot late and putbacks, it’s bigtime. He’s a special player for us who helps us get wins.”
The Grizzlies are hoping to extend their winning streak to 12 games against the Dallas Mavericks Friday night. In November, the Mavericks ended the Grizzlies’ 5-game winning streak when Morant was sidelined with a knee injury. Bally Sports Southeast and ESPN will broadcast the game live beginning at 9 p.m. CT.
With three games left in the regular season, Memphis defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, 133-104 to come within a half game of the Golden State Warriors. On Monday night, the Grizzlies clinched a spot in the post-season play-in tournament with a much-needed victory against the Pelicans. Now Memphis is trying to finish the season in eighth place in the West.
The Grizzlies owed Dallas after a heartbreaking one-point loss on April 14th. The shorthanded Grizzlies were up to the challenge with a wire to wire victory. Memphis was without big men Jonas Valanciunas (back soreness) and Jaren Jr. (return from injury management).
Ja Morant put the team on his back. The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year led the Grizzlies with 24 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds (a near triple-double) off of 7-13 shooting plus 7-8 from the charity stripe.
You know what they say about ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐๏ธ pic.twitter.com/aLOuyMhAlT
During the post-game media availability, Morant talked about the team’s intensity. “Tonight just shows us weโre capable of doing it,” he said. “We just got to try to continue to play a full 48 minutes. Thatโs really the message.”
Memphis has been known for giving up leads lately, but the team’s intensity level stayed the same for all four quarters against Dallas.
John Konchar (via Grizzlies Twitter)
John Konchar led the Grizzlies bench. The bench mob made a much-needed appearance with the help of an unlikely hero, John Konchar. Konchar garnered a career-high 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 7-of-13 shooting. He also posted a team-high (+36) plus-minus in 26 minutes of play. ‘Mr. Make Things Happen’ career night wasn’t a surprise to Morant.
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) May 12, 2021
“Seeing him when we first started, playing in scrimmages and stuff, he was doing the stuff he did the past couple of games,” said Morant. “I was one of those guys showing him support. I used to get kind of frustrated when he would pass up shots and wouldnโt be aggressive, because I know what heโs capable of and Iโve seen him do the stuff he did tonight.”
Morant added, “So my message to him was just, โGo out there and play freely. Nobody will yell at you, be mad at you for being aggressive.โ And as you can see, when he plays aggressively and looks for his [shot], it helps the team.”
Ja Morant hugs Dillon Brooks (via Grizzlies Twitter)
Dillon Brooks was on fire. The Grizzlies are 36-14 in the past two seasons when Brooks scores 20 or more points. Brooks finished with 22 points, three steals, and two block shots. He also made it hard for Luka Doncic most of the night.
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) May 12, 2021
The Play-in Tournament
Most ‘experts’ and analysts predicted the Grizzlies would finish at the bottom of the western conference. Even some fans didn’t believe making the playoffs was possible in the absence of Jaren Jackson, Jr. at the start of the season. But these young Grizzlies aren’t satisfied with a guaranteed spot in the play-in tournament. They want to secure a spot in the playoffs.
After the game, Morant said, “Jobโs not finished. Even though we secured a [play-in] spot, that really doesnโt mean nothing. Still got to finish out strong and handle business in the play-in tournament. Until we do that, jobโs not done.โ
Back-up point guard Tyus Jones shared a similar sentiment: “The expectation is to win and advance. Ultimately thatโs what it comes down to: putting ourselves in a position to fight for a playoff spot.”
Jones continued, “And, weโve done that. So, just win by any means necessary and advance, and weโre just looking forward to the playoff atmosphere. We know the intensity thatโs going to be at stake. Itโs going to be teams fighting for their seasons, season on the line. Win or go home. Every play matters. The details matter because that could be your season. So, weโre going to be very locked in. We know whatโs at stake, and Iโm excited for the challenge thatโs ahead of us.”
Up Next
The Grizzlies will be back in action on Thursday night at FedExForum to take on the Sacramento Kings.
