Tag: Memphis Grizzlies

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Ain’t No Running in the M: Grizzlies Look to Maintain Momentum on the Road

Xavier Tillman Sr. goes up for the slam. (Photo cred: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves is akin to a heavyweight boxing match. The Wolves delivered a gut-punch on Saturday by defeating the Grizzlies, 130-117, to send them reeling. On the other hand, Memphis responded with a brutal uppercut, thrashing the Wolves 124-96 on Tuesday night to tie the series 1-1. 

The Grizzlies held the NBA-leading scoring offense to 96 points on 39.5 percent shooting in Game 2 after the Wolves scored 130 points and shot 50 percent in Game 1. For the first time in franchise history, Memphis won by the most points in a playoff game (+28).

In Game 2, Taylor Jenkins made much-needed adjustments that may have changed the trajectory of the series. 

Bench Dominance in Game 2

Early in the first quarter, Jenkins was forced to turn to his bench for help due to foul trouble. To put it simply, the reserves had a huge impact on the outcome of the game. The Grizzlies bench outscored Minnesota reserves, 60-43.

Jenkins was effusive in his praise for his bench squad, praising them for their impact in helping the team win on Tuesday night. “Our bench was huge for us tonight,” Jenkins said. “So many different contributions. Obviously one of the biggest ones is [Xavier Tillman Sr.]. So proud of him staying ready, coming out, making a tremendous impact defensively and offensively. Defensively rolling, offensive rebounding, iso defense, pick-and-roll defense, Brandon [Clarke] doing what he’s doing. Ziaire [Williams] had a great night tonight as well. Tyus [Jones] being a floor general, [De’Anthony Melton] having a good second half. We’re going to need that. I think the biggest thing for our team was just everyone needs to play better, and I thought we got that tonight.”

Karl-Anthony Towns has been a matchup nightmare for Adams. KAT went 6 of 8 when guarded by Adams, while Anthony Edwards torched Adams by making 4-of-5 of his shots in Game 1. Luckily for the Grizzlies, Adams was in foul trouble early. 

The Grizzlies were successful when Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke, and Tillman defended Towns that limited him to just 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting. 

“Tons of discussions about our bigs, lineups, and depths,” Jenkins said on his decision to go with Tillman. “Obviously, Steven [Adams] had a tough start to the game with two early fouls, so obviously our sub patterns were completely thrown off. We needed to get another body in there. I knew that at some point [Tillman Sr.] could be a factor in the series.”

Jenkins added, “Really proud of him to step in, even in that first quarter. And then, he just played so well. The spark that he brought the team, they just took off from there. First quarter was a competitive first quarter. We had a great second quarter, and I just kind of went with my gut and said, hey, let’s try to continue to ride the momentum, start the second quarter, and continue to manage our big sub pattern as best as possible.”

Adams picked up two early fouls and only saw less than three minutes of game time. 

 “I’m as direct and honest with the guys as possible, and we were very forward at the beginning of the season that anyone can make an impact,” Jenkins said of his rotation changes. “Everyone’s got to stay ready when their number is called. Whatever it is we need to do to win a game — that’s why [Adams’] response was, ‘Coach, we won the game. Whatever we’ve got to do to win the game.’ But, you’re just direct with them at the front end, and when you make those decisions, you don’t tiptoe around and you just let them know what’s going on. But, always stay ready. You never know what’s going to happen in the series. It’s still a long series, so guys have got to stay ready.”

After the game Ja Morant praised Adams for reaction to being benched, “He’s a vet — our whole team has been saying it for the longest that we’re very unselfish,” Morant said. “No matter what is going on, we love to see our teammates’ success. Coach made an adjustment with playing other guys and taking Steve out. 

“But his mood didn’t change at all,” Morant added. “He was still engaged. He was still talking to us and encouraging guys. He even was talking to guys when they came off the floor. That’s just big time for us when we don’t have guys who get frustrated with not getting minutes. They’re always staying positive and pushing other guys to be better.”

Tillman had been the odd man out in the regular season and only appeared in 53 games. The Michigan State alum provided the spark that lit the match to  His quick seven points in the second quarter was the tone setter. 

In 21 minutes of play, Tillman went 6-of-7 from the field for 13 points and seven rebounds to set his playoff career high in points. 

“Surprisingly, it’s not that hard at all, especially with great teammates,” Tillman on staying prepared mentally. “On the day-to-day, like in play groups and whatnot, we’re keeping it competitive. My lifts, my workouts and all, I have in mind if somebody goes down, foul trouble, injuries, anything like that, be ready to go. I’m watching the scout as if I’m playing, so it’s not that hard.”

“Big time — he came in and guarded a tough player,” Morant said about Tillman’s spark. “Rebounding the ball and making plays for us on the offensive end was a big time push we needed. That’s credit to coach and those guys for staying ready. Coach is always allowing them to have confidence and go out and play their game at all times. [Tillman] is another very unselfish guy, always cheering. Coach called his number tonight and he delivered.”

Jackson credited Tillman for giving the team a boost. “Wild X appeared and got us going. He’s doing what he does. I’ve seen him put in a ton of work, so I wasn’t shocked by any of it. It helped everybody out. You’ve got to be ready when you’re called upon. Credit to him for being ready. He’s always ready. That definitely helped for sure. He came back in through the second punch, through the third. It was good.”

Ahead of Game 3 in Minnesota, Tillman believes the bench play is the key to winning on the road. He explained, “Going to the road, being able to have confidence that the bench is going to be able to produce like we have been. Especially in the first game, the bench played amazing too. So, just keeping that consistency, staying to our routine, staying disciplined with what’s been working, and don’t waiver from that.”

Keys to Game 3 Victory

The Timberwolves hope to reverse the momentum of the series with Memphis when they return to Target Center on Thursday night. The Grizzlies will have to play with a degree of urgency in order to win. Ironically, the Wolves are 26-15 at home while Memphis is 26-15 on the road. 

  • Keep Towns out of rhythm by going small like in Game 2 which means no playing time for Adams. 
  • Bait Edwards into poor shot selection and get his rhythm off.
  • Be sure to have D’Angelo Russell as a non-factor as he has been in the first two games. 
  • Get back to their bread and butter: Rebounding, steals, and second-chance points.
  • Everybody eats — distribute the ball effectively with minimal offensive mistakes.
  • Make free throws.
  • Shoot the three ball more effectively.
  • Start with a lot of energy and keep the crowd out of the game.
  • The bench unit should continue their domination.

Injuries and lineup changes in the regular season forced the Grizzlies to preach about their “next man up” mentality. When the chips are down, who will be the next man to lead the team to victory on the road?

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Letter From The Editor Opinion

Winds of Whimsy, or Whither Went He, Wandering Wallaby?

Photo: Jesse Davis

As I write these words, the Memphis Grizzlies have not yet played game two of their playoff stint against the Minnesota Timberwolves. By the time anyone reads this column, in print or on the Flyer’s website, game two will be over, and the Grizzlies will have won or lost. I know most Memphians don’t even like to consider the possibility of a loss from Memphis’ most winningest team, but statistically speaking, it is within the realm of possibility.

Of course, I hope the Griz devour the Timberwolves, that the loss in game one of the playoffs is the only one the team has for the rest of the year. I’d be lying if I said I was anything resembling a devout sports fan, but like any Memphian, I have a possibly more-than-healthy dose of hometown pride. Besides, everyone in Memphis seems to have a little more strut to their step when the Grizzlies are on a winning streak. If a clip of a particularly gravity-defying dunk by Ja Morant is circulating on social media, there are sure to be a few more smiles gracing local faces. It’s a beautiful thing, but it puts a lot of pressure on the Grizzlies, though, doesn’t it? It must be hard to fly so high while simultaneously carrying the collective weight of a midsized American city’s hopes and dreams.

That’s why I was beside-myself excited — gleeful, even — about last week’s wandering wallaby news. The story was a flash in the pan, a two-day whirlwind as seemingly everyone in the city followed the news of the mischievous marsupial’s disappearance from his home in the KangaZoo exhibit and mercifully quick subsequent discovery in a service yard on zoo property. It took social media by storm, I heard people talk about it in the store, and I brought it up while sitting in the optometrist’s chair and getting my eyes tested. Weird as it was, the story lasted just long enough for its more ardent followers to begin to worry, then, bam!, it delivered a happy ending, complete with the wallaby’s reunion with his fellows in the zoo.

I love the absurdity of it. We needed a feel-good story, and to really hit Memphians in the feels, there had to be an element of “Wait, say what?” to the tale. After a month or so of increasingly dire news from the Tennessee legislative session, with tornadoes every other week just to add a little danger and destruction to the mix, the fugitive marsupial story felt nothing less than heaven-sent.

What makes the story even stranger, is that I don’t think the news would have gotten out if I hadn’t asked two zoo employees wading through Lick Creek what was going on.

“A kangaroo escaped,” one employee told me, confusing the missing wallaby for its larger and more famous marsupial relation.

“We haven’t seen a kangaroo,” he continued, “but we did see a beaver. It was this big.” He held his hands about three feet apart. I nodded my head, mumbled something about a beaver, and almost twisted my ankle running inside to call Jessica Faulk, the zoo’s communication specialist, for confirmation.

The details of the story came together (the fugitive mammal was a wallaby, not a kangaroo), people kept their eyes peeled for a glimpse of the creature, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Maybe it was the storm from the day before that cleared the air, but whatever it was, we needed it. Sometimes the monkeys have to escape Monkey Island, if I may reference another local legend.

So, as long as Tennessee legislators are gracing the home page of The New York Times website for things like child bride bills and praising Hitler as an example of turning one’s life around after a period of homelessness, we need the occasional lighthearted “WTF?” story to break the tension.

I propose a new Memphis rule, one to help us shoulder the embarrassment of being located in Tennessee and to take some of the pressure off our basketball team, at least as long as we’re also still in a pandemic. (Well, we are, even if we’re sick of talking about it.) Every so often, a prominent Memphis tourist destination needs to rock the news cycle with a preposterous story. The responsibility shouldn’t all fall on the zoo, either. Take turns getting in on the action.

So I’ll leave you with this question: After the next two or three times Tennessee makes national news for embarrassing reasons, who’s going to borrow Isaac Hayes’ Cadillac from the Stax Museum and go joyriding down 3rd Street?

Categories
News The Fly-By

MEMernet: The Runaway Wallaby and #MEMthis

Photo: Memphis Zoo

Memphis on the internet.

Walla B.

Last week, a wily wallaby escaped from the Memphis Zoo. The animal’s first order of business was to set up a Twitter account and record its exploits out on the town.

Walla B. (JA’WALLAMANE) cracked jokes about local breweries, wanted to hook up for drinks at Overton Square, went to Huey’s, hinted at a run for county mayor, asked to be a duck master at The Peabody Hotel, and asked if Malco was playing Kangaroo Jack.

Posted to Twitter by @MemphisWallaby

#MEMThis

Last week’s #MEMTHIS had the MEMernet talking on Twitter. Created by the Memphis Grizzlies, it was meant to hashtag the team’s playoff run.

“Whoever made the decision for #MemThis ……. Bruh, WHY do we need brand new, forced ‘tag lines’ for the playoffs?” tweeted @JBthegiant.

@Isaac_Rivals explained, “You read it like Mem This. Sort of like ‘take this’…we’re going to put Memphis in your face & you gotta deal with it type of energy.”

But even the explanation was roasted. @jmtigers1974 tweeted, “I’m not brilliant at marketing/advertising but…If you gotta explain it to Joe Public, then it isn’t any good.”

To it all, @jonah_kaufman tweeted, “It’s easy to get, it’s just awful.”

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizzlies Fall to the Timberwolves 130-117 in Game One

Ja Morant rises for a slam dunk against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images

Saturday afternoon your Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves in game one of their playoff series. To say it did not go well could be the most understated understatement in the history of understatements.  

Saturday’s game was four of the most frustrating quarters of basketball I have watched perhaps all season. The number two seed Grizzlies were dealt big work from the number seven seed Timberwolves, who beat Memphis, 130-117.  

Let’s get into it.  

The Timberwolves came out swinging in the first quarter and carried that dominant momentum throughout the rest of the game. The Grizzlies edged ahead in the scoring column twice but were unable to sustain a lead for more than a couple of possessions.  

Minnesota’s Karl Anthony Towns shut down Steven Adams completely for pretty much the entire game. Adams, the league leader in offensive rebounds this season, was held to exactly one offensive rebound and three defensive rebounds. Four rebounds total. For the whole game.  

Adams was not the only Grizzly to struggle Saturday afternoon, not by a long shot. As a team, they couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, which was evident with 26 percent (7 of 27) three-point shooting, and 74 percent (32 of 43) free-throw shooting. With this being an Easter weekend game, I am glad it was played Saturday, so Jesus didn’t have to see them missing so many free throws.  

By the Numbers:  

Even aside from the aforementioned poor three-point and free-throw shooting, the Grizzlies were outcompeted on several fronts. Minnesota beat them on rebounding (46 to 35) and assists (32 to 25), two areas where Memphis tends to dominate.  

The Grizzlies were able to capitalize on turnovers, scoring 25 points off 18 Timberwolves turnovers.  

From an individual perspective, the numbers aren’t much better. Ja Morant finished the night with 32 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists — not too shabby considering much of Minnesota’s defensive strategy revolved around smothering Morant.  

Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 blocks, while Dillon Brooks ended up with 24 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist. Brooks was responsible for 3 of the Grizzlies 7 made three-pointers.  

Desmond Bane had 17 points and 3 rebounds and was responsible for another 3 made three-pointers.  

These struggles were not limited to the starters — the Grizzlies bench was outscored 43 to 32.  

Brandon Clarke led the second unit in scoring with 17 points and led the team with 12 rebounds. Kyle Anderson finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds. Tyus Jones contributed 7 points and 6 assists.  

The only good news right now is that this is a potential 7-game series, so the Grizzlies do have time to watch film and make adjustments.  

Who Got Next?  

Game two against the Timberwolves tips off on Tuesday, April 19th, at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Playoff Preview: Timberwolves vs. Grizzlies

The Grizzlies just keep celebrating in this historic season. (Photo cred: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

As the Western Conference’s second-place finisher, the Memphis Grizzlies finished the season 56-26, led by a dynamic young core that plays at an exciting tempo.

On Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 109-104 in the Play-In Tournament to secure the seventh seed in the Western Conference as they ended the season 46-36. 

The first game of the best-of-seven series between the two teams will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at FedExForum and be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast and ESPN.

The regular season head-to-head matchups between the two teams resulted in a 2-2 season series split, with each team winning at home. In contrast, Dillon Brooks did not appear in any of the four games.

During the regular season, the Grizzlies went 30-11 at home and 26-15 away from the FedExForum. While the Wolves went 20-21 on the road, they went 26-15 at home.

The NBA’s two top-scoring teams square off in this series — the Timberwolves averaged an NBA-best 115.9 points per game, while the Grizzlies set a franchise mark with 115.6. For the first time in Grizzlies history, the team finished in the NBA’s top five in scoring in the 2021-22 season.

It has been a record-breaking season for Memphis. On the strength of stingy defense, the Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals, and blocks since steals and blocks became official stats in 1973-74. The team also led the league in fast break points, offensive rebounds, points in the paint, and second chance points. 

Grizzlies writers Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer preview this series by answering questions that could determine whether Memphis advances to the second round.

In the season series, many have pointed out that the Wolves have held Ja Morant to an average of 20 points per game. Will the Wolves be able to hold Morant at bay?

Sharon Brown: The regular season is over, so forget about it. Morant is going to be all in on this one. He watches film and knows exactly what he needs to do. This is a player who will take advantage of any opportunity presented to him by the defense, and he can count on his teammates to step up when times get tough, just like they’ve done all season. Morant will put this team on his back if he needs to. I assume that Jenkins will have multiple ball-handlers in at times to take pressure off Morant.

Aimee Stiegemeyer: Not a chance. I have complete faith in Morant’s ability to switch into a higher gear, and I expect Playoff Ja to be next level. He takes winning very personally and plays with a chip on his shoulder, which will serve him well during the postseason.

Which matchup are you looking forward to seeing — Anthony Edwards against Morant or Karl-Anthony Towns against Jaren Jackson Jr.?

SB: It will be easy to say Morant vs. Edwards but I’m interested to see how well KAT and JJJ will match up. Will JJJ be able to disrupt KAT on defense? Jackson Jr. led the league in blocks per game (2.3), total blocks (177), and stocks, steals and blocks (250). Will JJJ be able to avoid being in foul trouble? Will he be able to get anything he wants on the offensive end? Jackson has to avoid getting into foul trouble since he’s the anchor on defense. If the Grizzlies are to advance past the first round, they will need to rely on his consistency on offense, his impeccable defense, and his availability to be on the floor. 

AS: Ja Morant vs. Anthony Edwards, and Dillon Brooks vs. everybody. 

When it comes to Memphis, who will be the team’s “x-factor”?

SB: One — The two-way play of Dillon Brooks is exemplary. He’s getting better at creating his own shots and finding open teammates when he passes the ball. In the Utah Jazz series last year, we saw that Brooks is a natural for the playoffs. Brooks scored 25.8 points per game.

Two — The impact of the Grizzlies bench. All year long the bench has stepped up when players have been in and out of the lineup. It can be either Tyus Jones, De’Anthony Melton, Ziaire Williams, Kyle Anderson, or even John Konchar.

AS: It will be a combination of Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks rather than a single player. This is the kind of matchup that Dillon the Villain thrives in.

Dillon Brooks (Photo cred: Grizzlies Twitter)

Who do you think will have the biggest impact off the bench for the Grizzlies?

SB: Jones — he has been so aggressive this season scoring the ball. He’s the best back-up point guard in the league and recorded the best single season assist-to-turnover ratio (7.04) in NBA history. Jones has the ability to slow things down when need be and make the right plays. He’s the anchor for that second unit. 

AS: If I have to pick one individual player it would be Brandon Clarke. His stats against the Timberwolves are slightly higher than his regular season stats, and his style of play matches up well against them. But the bench unit as a whole will continue to be a key point to success. This is the deepest Grizzlies team in history and the second unit has proven they can show up and fill in spots when the starters are resting. 

(statmuse link : https://statm.us/e/BaZnMUiXy) 

What do you think will be the outcome of the series?

SB: Grizzlies in 5 or 6.

AS: Grizzlies in 5. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Are the Grizzlies Better Without Ja Morant?

Ja Morant against the San Antonio Spurs (Photo credit: Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)

The answer to that question is no, but it’s complicated.

There has been a lot of chatter recently about the Grizzlies’ winning record without Ja Morant, which has led to the question of whether the team is better without its star player. Even in jest, the idea is ridiculous. It’s the popular “gotcha” statement of the moment, and while there are some statistical reasons being pointed to, they rely heavily on a purely surface-level examination of this team. 

Yes, it is a wild statistic that the Grizzlies have such a winning record during the stretches without Ja this season, and that has garnered a lot of attention. But correlation does not equal causation.  

What we are seeing is a perfect storm of good coaching, roster development, and a healthy dose of spurious correlation. 

Let’s talk about it.  

The Memphis Grizzlies are currently 20-4 in games without Morant this season. That moves to 10-4 in this most recent stretch without Morant. But that does not mean that the Grizzlies are a better team without him. In fact, they also have a winning record when he does play. Morant has played in 56 games this season, and the Grizzlies are 35-21 in those games.

There is not a team in the league that would not be made better if they added Morant to their roster. Full stop.  

Still, attributing their success this season solely to Morant misses all the ways in which the team has also improved that have nothing to do with their star point guard. 

It overlooks all the other legitimate talent on the team , and how they have created a chemistry on the court that is conducive to being successful, that is conducive to winning. The improvements across the board that have happened in the past three seasons are being downplayed, and coach Taylor Jenkins deserves a lot more credit than he is being given. 

The Grizzlies’ style of play has changed drastically during Jenkins’ tenure. Their pace has increased, as has their shooting percentages and the number of shots taken per game.

Memphis has increased its average shot attempts per game by a considerable margin over the past few seasons. In the 2021-2022 season, the Grizzlies lead the league in field goal attempts per game (94.3). In 2020-2021 they were ranked second in the league in field goal attempts per game (91.8). In 2019-2020 they were ranked sixth in field goal attempts per game (90.9). Compare that to 2018-2019, J.B. Bickerstaff’s last season where they were ranked dead last in field goal attempts per game (84.4). 

Field goal attempts are far from the only area in which the team has improved over the past few seasons. I have compared several categories in which the Grizzlies have improved, year over year.

Comparing the past five seasons shows a clear pattern of improvement. Stats courtesy of basketball-reference.com.

Taylor Jenkins assumed head coaching duties starting with the 2019-2020 season. Seeing it all laid out shows the progression of improvement that has taken place during that time.

There is a lot of unselfish basketball being played, in part because everyone believes in everyone else. Instead of next man up, it is every man up and guys are playing in ways that help make their teammates better.

For this Grizzlies team — winning is their business, and business is good.

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

History Made: The Memphis Grizzlies Are the 2022 Southwest Division Champions

The Grizzlies just keep celebrating in this historic season. (Photo cred: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Damn it feels good to be a Grizzlies fan right now. 

After a hard-fought win against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies became Southwest Division champions for the first time in franchise history — and the number-two seed heading into the playoffs. The victory also added a sixth game to the team’s current winning streak.  (Wild how that that seems almost like an afterthought, because that is how good this team has been.)

History Has Its Eyes on Them 

This has been a historic season on several levels. Memphis is on track to win a franchise-record number of games. Nearly every night there is a new franchise record being set for something.

Desmond Bane setting a new single-season record for three-pointers made (219) and is on track to set the franchise single-season record in free throw shooting percentage (.900).

Ja Morant is poised to set a new franchise record in scoring average (27.6 points per game).

Tyus Jones leads the league in assists to turnover ratio for the third consecutive season and has taken the helm as starting point guard while Morant has been sidelined due to injury. The Grizzlies are 19-2 in games Jones starts.

Jaren Jackson Jr is about to surpass Pau Gasol for the team record number of blocks in a single season (169), as well as being the current league leader in blocks and blocks per game (2.3). Jackson Jr. is also in the running for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, as well as the NBA Sportsmanship Award. He should also be in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award.  

Steven Adams has surpassed Zach Randoph as the franchise leader in offensive rebounds in a single season (340) and currently leads the league in offensive rebounds.  

Just to name a few. 

Giving the Grizzlies Their Flowers 

For once, people around the league are taking notice of the special things happening right now in Memphis. ESPN spent a day in the city with a focus on the team and have declared the Grizzlies number-one in their future power rankings. (The Future Power Rankings are ESPN’s projection of the on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons: 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24.) 

Noted sports journalist and all-around smart guy Bomani Jones devoted a segment to the Memphis Grizzlies in a recent episode of his new show, “Game Theory.” Jones hit on the cultural phenomenon that is this team and how deep their connection is to the city of Memphis.  

Former NBA player and Grizzlies foe Kendrick Perkins has been one of the most outspoken in his support and belief in this team. Yes, THAT Kendrick Perkins.  

It feels good to see people recognizing what Grizzlies fans have already known: There is something special happening here in Hoop City and it transcends performance on the court.  

Memphis Loves the Grizzlies and the Grizzlies Love Memphis 

The players on this team are such great ambassadors for Memphis and the game of basketball — just a group of guys who love the game, love playing together, and love putting on for the city.

The Grizzlies organization does a lot of philanthropy around the city and the players have bought into that as well, partnering with local schools in the Read to Achieve program, Stronger Together Memphis, and the rePRESENT Every Day incentive-based program to help reduce truancy. (As a side note, I’d love to see another recorded message for students in the city, a la Tony Allen in 2015) 

Head coach Taylor Jenkins’ Assists for Education program is in its third season. Jenkins once again pledged to donate $10 per assist throughout the season, with a focus on providing supplies and necessities for students in the Greater Memphis area. Team members are also ambassadors for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, another Memphis institution. You can’t throw a rock in this city without touching on something that has been made better by the existence of this team.  

All this to say – the Memphis Grizzlies are poised to make a big splash in the postseason, and I dare say their window for title contention opens now. But they are already champions in the eyes of Memphians for their works on and off the court.  

It’s about time everyone else got the memo.  

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Desmond Bane Leads Grizzlies Over Pacers … Again

Desmond Bane (Photo credit: Memphis Grizzlies Twitter)

Another day, another Grizzlies win by 30 points against the Pacers, as Memphis’ team beat Indiana, 133-103. If it feels like we’ve been here before, it’s because we have.  

Let’s 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 night’s 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 Miller’s 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.  

De’Anthony 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.  

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Desmond Bane Leads Grizzlies to 135–102 Victory Over Pacers

Jaren Jackson Jr. throws down a dunk against the Indiana Pacers

The Grizzlies were in Indiana Tuesday night to take on the Pacers. Although, “take on” is not the best description for what this Memphis team did to Indiana inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Massacred” would be more apt.

Let’s get into it.  

Leave aside for a moment the fact that the Pacers are not a good team this year, because as we have seen recently with the Rockets, playing a bad team does not in any way guarantee a Grizzlies win. But this was as complete a win as any we have seen this season.  

It’s no secret that since the all-star break the Grizzlies have struggled to put together 48 minutes of cohesive basketball, but this game is evidence that’s a problem they are in the process of solving. The Grizzlies are a team right now where everybody steps up, everybody contributes, and everybody eats. 

The squad was without their leader and star point guard Ja Morant, who was sidelined with a sore back. If you thought that Morant being out was going to put victory in danger, you would be incorrect.

The performance of this team without their captain is a testament to just how deep their talent runs — and perhaps a preview of just how dangerous they will be in the postseason.  

Tyus Jones entered the starting lineup in place of Morant and what he lacked in scoring he more than made up for in assists (and lack of turnovers). Jones has been the league leader in assists to turnovers ratio since 2019, a feat he started in Minnesota and has carried into his time in Memphis. 

By the Numbers: 

Eatin’ good in the neighborhood — 13 players took the floor for the Grizzlies and 12 of them scored at least two field goals.  

A 33-point victory means I probably shouldn’t harp on the team shooting 60 percent from the charity stripe in this game. But it’s certainly less than ideal.  

The bench mob showed out — 64 of 135 points came from the bench. 

Indiana native Desmond Bane put on a show for the crowd and led all scorers with 21 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and two steals. Bane had a group of fans attending to watch him play, and he did not disappoint. 

Jaren Jackson Jr. finished the night with 19 points, 8 rebounds, two steals, and 3 blocks. He currently leads the league in blocks per game (2.2) and total blocks (154), which has earned him the nickname the Block Panther. If he isn’t in serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year honors, we riot.  

Did someone ask for Trip highlights?

De’Anthony Melton led the second unit in scoring with 18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 4 of 8 from beyond the three-point line.  

Steven Adams closed out with 13 points and 13 rebounds, scoring on 6 of his 7 field goal attempts.  

Brandon Clarke also finished the night with 13 points and 3 blocks while shooting a perfect 6 for 6 in field-goal attempts. 

Ziaire Williams put up 11 points while shooting 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. 

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies will continue on to the second leg of this four-game road trip, facing off against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, March 18th. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. CDT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Dillon Brooks’ Return Lifts Grizzlies Past Thunder, 125-118

Dillon Brooks (Credit: Lawrence Kuzniewski)

It was Dillon Brooks’ first appearance on the court after being sidelined with an ankle injury against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 8th.

After a brief delay, the Thunder and Grizzlies’ final matchup of the season got underway. It was immediately apparent that both teams wore white uniforms when the players removed their warmups after the lineups were announced. To get things back on track, Memphis went back to their locker room to change and returned to the court wearing blue uniforms. The ultimate wardrobe malfunction.

In his first game back, Brooks finished with 15 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a steal.

Taylor Jenkins had high praise for Brooks after the game. “Just really impressed with DB [Dillon Brooks],” Jenkins said. “His first game back, I thought he settled in great, just played really good basketball on both sides of the floor [and] exerted a lot of his force and energy out there. He never backs down, he plays super aggressive. I think as the game went on to start finding really nice rhythm out there and really good playmaking.” 

Jenkins added, “The first half, he had four assists and got his spots on the floor shot with confidence. Just that level of physicality is something we’re excited to have back with us.”

Brooks was pleased to finally be back on the floor with his teammates. After the game Brooks said, “Coach [Jenkins] tried to tell me, share the basketball, get your teammates involved — be aggressive and humble at same time. And that’s what I try to do. I try to drive and make the defense collapse and get my teammates the ball in the right spots and pick and choose where I can you drive and be aggressive. It was a great game and I love [that] my teammates kept trying to give me the ball and make plays, so it was a great win.”

Jaren Jackson Jr. shared his thoughts on Brooks’ return. He said, “He left the game as one of the, if not the best wing defenders in the game — so you know what he can do. He takes on that challenge every night. So just adding a piece like that always helps take pride in our defense. DB, man, back in this thing, being who he is. That’s all I told him to do, man, ‘Do you, bruh.’ Ain’t no advice. ‘Do you; you know what to do.’”

Jackson ended the game with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block in 29 minutes to help lift the Grizzlies to 47-22 on the season. 

To round it out, Memphis had seven players in double figures including Brooks and Jackson Jr. Desmond Bane led the way for the Grizzlies with 21 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Ja Morant ended with a double-double, 17 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds. Tyus Jones and Brandon Clarke had 12 points apiece, while Ziaire Williams had 11 as Memphis’ bench squad outscored the Thunder second unit, 45-28.

Who Got Next

The Grizzlies take on the Pacers on Tuesday night for the first time this season in Indiana and look to extend their winning streak to four games.