Wednesday night your Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. After struggling in the first half, the Grizzlies were able to cut into the lead the Lakers had built, and then a blend of good offense and defense in the fourth quarter helped guide the Grizzlies to a win.
A familiar face was on the sidelines for the opposing team. Lakers assistant coach (and former Grizzlies head coach) David Fizdale assumed head coaching duties this game as head coach Frank Vogel was in league health and safety protocols.
The Lakers have a roster full of recognizable names, players who have proven themselves on other teams. LeBron James, obviously, plus Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Avery Bradley. But for the amount of collective basketball ability the Lakers possess, they have had some very forgettable performances this season.
The Grizzlies on the other hand? We are all watching this young team grow into its own in real-time.
GNG remixed 🧬
🍪 13 steals last night 🍪 22 games with 10+ steals this szn. 🍪 we lead the @NBA in steals per game. pic.twitter.com/ZMnHUheAr6
Ja Morant continues to lead the way for the Grizzlies and has largely returned to his earlier season form. Morant leads all scorers with 41 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
Desmond Bane continues to shine, and he finished the night with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
Only one other Grizzlies player scored in double figures — Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 15 points, four rebounds, three steals, and a block.
Kyle Anderson finished with 8 points, four rebounds, and two assists, and Xavier Tillman Sr. led the bench unit with 6 points, two steals, and a block.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will play their last game of the year against the San Antonio Spurs Friday night at FedExForum. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Zach Randolph holding up Grizzlies' growl towel (Photo courtesy of Ron Tillery)
It was an unforgettable night for Grizzlies fans and the city of Memphis on Saturday night at the FedExForum.
Despite the Grizzlies’ 113-106 victory over the Houston Rockets, the night belonged to Zachary McKenley Randolph, better known as Z-Bo. Randolph’s number 50 was the first jersey retired in franchise history.
Randolph shed light on his feelings after being traded to Memphis in 2009. “I didn’t feel appreciated. I felt given away,” Randolph said during his media availability before the game. “But I was going to go in there with the right attitude and try to change the narrative.”
Zach Randolph during media availability (Credit: Sharon Brown)
And he did change that narrative.
Randolph led the Grizzlies to seven straight playoff appearances (2009-17), including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2013. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2011 and appeared in two All-Star Games (2010 and 2013).
The Michigan State alum is the Grizzlies all-time leader in offensive rebounds. Z-Bo also ranks second in both defensive and total rebounds. For Memphis, he had the most double-doubles of any player ever, and he ranks third in the categories of points, field goals, made and minutes played.
What a special night for a special player and a special person, said Grizzlies head Coach Taylor Jenkins. “To be out there as a team — some of the guys were saying it on the way back — it’s inspirational, it’s motivational. Just understanding the impact you can make as a player in this city, as a member of this community.”
Jenkins continued: “I’m just glad we were able to get a win to tee it up for Z-Bo so that it could be even more of a special night for him. I saw him on the way out and I said, ‘You’re a legend, man. This is a night to always remember.’ So I know he will soak it in, but this is really special to know that he is the first, and hopefully the first of many.”
Randolph’s front court mate and brother from another mother, Marc Gasol flew all the way from Spain to surprise him.
“Seeing Big Spain [Gasol], I don’t remember the last time I saw him,” Randolph said with a big smile. “Just seeing my big little brother brought back memories. I am thankful he graced his time with me, coming all the way from Spain. He could be anywhere. I didn’t expect him to come.”
Gasol wasn’t the only special guest in attendance. Former GM Chris Wallace, former Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins, former Grizzlies player Bonzi Wells (who was Randolph’s mentor and Portland Trail Blazers teammate) were also in attendance.
Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, JaMychal Green, Matt Barnes, Tom Izzo, Yo Gotti, Peyton Manning, Nate McMillan, Moneybagg Yo, and Chris Paul all sent well wishes and congratulations to Randolph via video messages on the Jumbotron.
Hilariously and in Grizzlies fan fashion, Paul was booed while the video played.
And it was a special presentation narrated by Ice Cube:
Connie Kirby, a longtime season ticket holder and the number one Z-Bo fan, was in attendance to witness history. Kirby said, “I think that the Grizzlies provided Z-Bo an opportunity to change his image and show his more human side. He was able to display his likability and that he is a humanitarian. I think it helped solidify his name in the NBA Hall of Fame. The passion that he brought to the game. His workhorse ability to go to the next level when needed. We could always depend on him to do his part. He made you love him with his great, affable personality.”
Kirby continued: “He meant everything to the city of Memphis, because of the things that he brought to the table and the way he handled himself while doing it. He really became an ambassador for Memphis. He embodies the Memphis mentality of ‘if you work hard, you can achieve on many levels.’”
Zach Randolph and fan Connie Kirby at the premiere of the 50 for Da City documentary (photo courtesy of Connie Kirby)
“Z-Bo will always be my favorite Grizzly hands down,” Kirby said. “It’s very fitting that 50 is the first jersey that the Memphis Grizzlies have retired.”
Former Commercial Appeal beat writer Ron Tillery weighed in on Randolph. He told the Flyer, “Zach is the most authentic person/player I’ve covered regularly next to the likes of Gary Payton, Horace Grant, and Steve Kerr. What you see is what you get and I’ve always respected that. Plus, Zach came to Memphis and was determined to turn around this city from Day 1.”
“The first time I interviewed him I asked him a lot of questions about his so-called checkered past. He stopped me and said ‘Why are you asking me these questions?’ I said I was told to and this is the only time I’ll do this. Zach was respectful and professional and then he proceeded to go kick ass for Memphis and change the minds of naysayers who didn’t know his game and didn’t know his heart. Because the Memphis media did what they often do and judged the man without even getting to know him.”
Tillery added, “Zach was different by how he became the franchise player in Memphis. I covered Michael Jordan during the Bulls’ second three-peat. I covered Gary Payton in his prime with Seattle. They were players who dominated on the perimeter. Zach was just a beast on the block and on the boards. He was a good teammate and never shied away from big moments just like the all-time greats, Zach got the party started in Memphis by being the best player on the floor and he did it on the low block. Jordan and Payton had enforcers. Zach was everything for the Grizzlies, including the enforcer. He gave the team toughness and an identity. That’s the difference.”
He went on to say, “The best era of Grizzlies basketball doesn’t happen without Zach Randolph. Don’t believe the hype about other players. Zach elevated the franchise with his elite play. Marc Gasol needed Zach to reach his level. He helped make Lionel Hollins a viable NBA head coach and kept Chris Wallace employed as a GM. He meant everything to the franchise.”
“As for the city, Zach came up poor in a small town near Indianapolis. He knew what it was like to be Black and poor. Zach has a big heart and everything he did for Memphians — paying bills, giving his shirt off his back, etc. — came from love. He wanted to love the city all the time because the city loved him. The franchise committed to Zach and he appreciated that because it was the first time in his career that he was treated like the man. He realized that was a big responsibility, I can say the same about the city. Once fans got past the false narratives and embraced Zach, this man poured himself into this town. And I’ll always remember how much he made “regular people” feel like family every time he was in public. Zach was never above his following.”
Grizzlies TV analyst Brevin Knight shared his memories of Randolph as well. Knight told the Flyer, “The things that were most memorable were the battles with the Clippers and how Z-Bo in an age of athleticism he was still able to dominate never relying on it. He always stayed true to his game.”
“Z-Bo had the most synergetic relationship with this city. I don’t know how many players’ games exemplified the city in which they played as much as Z-Bo. His blue collar hard-working style of play is what the city is known for. The city opened their arms up and he became a fabric of the community with all of his philanthropic work. He embodies Memphis vs. Errrbody.”
Knight concluded “I’d like to say I enjoyed every night knowing we weren’t the flashiest team but we had a chance because of the big fella. He brought a sense of belief with the other three cornerstones. No matter how big of a star he was on the court, he was just Zach off and that’s how he made everyone feel comfortable and important. Thanks big fella!”
“It was amazing — it was motivational and I am happy for Z-Bo,” said Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks of the retirement ceremony. “It was a special thing to see. I did not get to see him; I was there the year he left, when he played for Sacramento. I know his story. I know his legacy he left in this city. I hear it — when I go to the gas station, I always hear his name. Does not matter if it is the person working there or a guy that is outside. Z-Bo left his mark on the city, and it is a special thing to see. It was motivational for me because I want to be the same way, I want to get my number in the rafters. It was just special to see.”
Grizzlies players Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. also paid tributes to Randolph.
My favorite memory of him is when he ran off the court after being ejected from the game and Tony Allen popped his collar in Game 6 against Clippers in 2013. One of the greatest moments in Grizzly history was witnessed.
Z-Bo will always hold the title of King of Memphis, to me. Off the court, he was a beloved figure in the community. He has a sincere concern for the welfare of others. It’s not just a photo op when he gives back. A lot of people knew that it was genuine. You’d hear about him doing nice things for people when they weren’t expecting it even when the cameras weren’t rolling.
“I’m going to be part of this city forever,” Randolph said. “I wouldn’t trade it for nothing in the world.”
Yes, Z-Bo and Memphis wouldn’t trade you for nothing in the world, either. Congratulations, 50 for da City, you made us proud and it has been an honor.
Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates with a game-high 27 points.
The Memphis Grizzlies have just claimed the largest win margin in NBA history in their 152-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Yes, you did read that right — they won by 73 points. It was a game full of pure, unadulterated basketball ridiculousness. Epic poems and songs will be written about this game. Folks will tell their grandchildren about this game.
Before we go any further, let’s have a moment of silence to match the silence broadcast by Bally Sports to the entire Memphis market for most of the first quarter. Do better, Bally Sports.
Now then, let’s get into it.
In their third consecutive wire-to-wire winning game the Grizzlies have issued what might be the nastiest beatdown in franchise history against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Taking into consideration that the Thunder are currently on a seven-game losing streak and missing several of their best players, this is still a huge win.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and De’Anthony Melton lead the charge, but ultimately the Grizzlies got everyone involved in this victory. Literally, every player who stepped onto the court had at least two points. Memphis had more points in the paint (82) than Oklahoma City scored in total.
One of the most entertaining moments of the game occurred partway through the second quarter when De’Anthony Melton drove through the lane and dunked on Isaiah Roby and Mike Muscala. What makes this all the more hilarious is that Muscala is 6’11”, Roby is 6’8”, and Melton is a towering 6’2”.
Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar scored 12 of his 17 points in the 4th quarter.
By The Numbers:
NBA Record: Margin of victory Franchise Record: Margin of victory Franchise Record: Most points Franchise Record: Most bench points Franchise Record: Assists Franchise Record: FG% Franchise Record: Largest lead Franchise Record: +/- rating (@santialdama) pic.twitter.com/o35jyyTsqc
Jaren Jackson Jr. led all scorers with 27 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. If he’s performing on this level once Ja Morant returns, this Grizzlies team is about to be A Problem.
De’Anthony Melton finished the night with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, followed by Santi Aldama with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds and his first NBA double-double.
The Grizzlies closed out a three-game homestand on Sunday with a wire-to-wire 128-101 win against the Sacramento Kings, their first such win this season. The victory also snaps a two-game Memphis losing streak.
A Morant-less Memphis team made a big statement against the Kings, leading by as many as 37 points. This is the kind of team-effort-oriented basketball that the Grizzlies need to play while their star point guard is on the injured list. Sharing the load becomes incredibly important now, and the better they manage to do it, the better they will fare during this stretch.
Every player that took the floor made a positive contribution of some sort. Several guys on the roster whose names you don’t often hear played hefty minutes in the second half, and all but one scored at least one basket. Jarrett Culver has the distinction of being the only Grizzlies player finishing the game scoreless.
More Is More:
The Grizzlies not only beat the Kings overall, but they also beat them in rebounds (68-49), they beat them in the paint (72-36), they beat them on fast-break points (20-10), they beat them from beyond the arc (13-9), and they beat them in assists (30-17).
By the Numbers:
Dillon Brooks finished with a game-high 21 points, 6 rebounds, and two steals, and Brandon Clarke closed out with 15 points, 6 rebounds. Shoutout Canada!
Jaren Jackson Jr., courtesy of Memphis Grizzlies twitter
The Memphis Grizzlies faced off against the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night, for the second time this week. Thanks to the weirdness of NBA scheduling, Denver played in Memphis on Monday night and again Wednesday night.
For a team that lost all three meetings with Denver last season, the Grizzlies taking both games this week is a big deal. That Memphis managed to win by only two points after having as much as a 20-point lead was less than ideal, but it does speak to this team’s resilience.
Jaren Jackson Jr. celebrates a bucket against the Denver Nuggets.
The Nuggets may have reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, but the Grizzlies have Ja Morant and JAREN JACKSON JR., who definitely deserves the all-caps after he led the Grizzlies in scoring and closed out against Jokic in the final play of the game.
Denver had the advantage in the paint, on the glass, in second-chance points, and in fastbreak points, and yet Memphis still managed to come away with the win.
The Grizzlies definitely took advantage of the Nuggets turning the ball over though, scoring 21 points off Denver’s 12 turnovers.
By the Numbers:
The leading scorer for Memphis was none other than Jaren Jackson Jr., who finished the night with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks — including 5 of 9 from beyond the three-point line. And notably only 3 fouls. He’s also a fashion icon, in case you didn’t know.
Ja Morant closed out the night with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
Kyle Anderson found a little of his mojo again after struggling in the past few games. Anderson ended up with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and shooting 2 of 3 from distance.
Desmond Bane also finished the night with 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Meanwhile, De’Anthony Melton had 10 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.
Rookie Ziaire Williams had the best game of his NBA career so far, contributing 11 points off the bench.
Steven Adams closed out with 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Fun fact: Adams is shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line so far this season.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will hit the road again, briefly, facing off against the Washington Wizards Friday night. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. CDT.
Coach Penny Hardaway (left) and
Jalen Duren (Photo: Lawrence Kuzniewski)
Buckets of Abundance
A roster thick with nationally acclaimed talent fuels the Memphis Tigers in year four of the Coach Hardaway Era.
By Frank Murtaugh
The cross-generational parallel is impossible to ignore. In 1990, a slender, ultra-quick, do-everything high school basketball player with national accolades chose to play his college ball in Memphis. Thirty-one years later, a slender, ultra-quick, do-everything high school basketball player with national accolades has chosen to play his college ball in Memphis. When the 2021-22 Memphis Tigers tip-off their season at FedExForum on November 9th (against Tennessee Tech), the 2020 Gatorade National Player of the Year (Emoni Bates) will be coached by the 1990 Parade National Player of the Year (Penny Hardaway). And that’s merely the headline act in what has become a star-studded Tiger roster — and coaching staff — for year four of the Coach Penny Era.
Freshman Emoni Bates was the Gatorade National Player of the Year as a high school sophomore. (Photo: Lawrence Kuzniewski)
“There’s a lot more pressure on [Bates], at 17, than there was on me,” notes Hardaway in reflecting on his own first season as a Tiger. “As far as the game, he’s more of a Kevin Durant-style player. He does some things like I did. He has a high IQ. He understands the game, is very coachable, and just wants to win. We both just want to do whatever it takes to win.”
As though Bates couldn’t fill a marquee on his own, the Tigers will feature another top-five recruit in Jalen Duren, a 6’11” interior force, that rarest of jewels in modern, positionless basketball: a center. The American Athletic Conference’s preseason Rookie of the Year (as named by the league’s coaches), Duren has a wingspan of nearly seven and a half feet and averaged 14.5 points and 9.3 rebounds last winter for Montverde Academy in Florida. Best of all for Tiger fans with memories going back a dozen years, Duren chose to play for Memphis over John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats.
Hardaway embraces the challenge of doling out playing time with a loaded roster, internal competition being the greatest stimulant toward maximizing potential. “It’s really going to be chemistry over talent,” says Hardaway, “when it comes to our starting five. It will be the top nine or 10 guys [in our rotation]. We don’t have time to be playing around. The guys who are able, for a larger majority of the game, to be effective in the things we’re trying to do. It may not be the most talented [player]. It could be the guy who understands his role and stars in his role by doing all the little things.”
The Tigers Get Ready
You can be forgiven for flashbacks to this time two years ago. Hardaway’s second Tiger team suited up the nation’s top recruiting class, headlined by a pair of five-star studs: James Wiseman and Precious Achiuwa. The 2019-20 season went south fast, though, when the NCAA ruled Wiseman ineligible for having received funds from Hardaway in 2017 to cover his family’s move to Memphis (where he played for Hardaway at East High School). Among the seven members of that recruiting class, precisely two remain on the Tiger roster: guard Lester Quinones and center Malcolm Dandridge (another East alum). Wiseman is now a member of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and Achiuwa, the 2019-20 AAC Player of the Year, plays for the Toronto Raptors.
Presuming — hoping? — the Tigers’ heralded class remains whole for at least the 2021-22 campaign, Hardaway will be armed with a team so deep, his only problem may be minutes-management. In addition to Bates and Duren, two four-star recruits — 6’8” forward Josh Minott and 6’11” center Sam Onu — will compete for those precious minutes. On a team of high-flying players, Minott won the team’s dunk contest at Memphis Madness on October 13th. Then there’s Johnathan Lawson, a skilled wing from Houston High School who, along with his older brother Chandler (a junior transfer from Oregon), will make it four Lawson brothers to have suited up in blue and gray at FedExForum. If you’re counting, that’s six players so far — with 200 player-minutes per game — and we haven’t introduced the Tiger veterans.
Leading those veterans — 2020 National Invitation Tournament champions, remember — will be junior guard Landers Nolley II, along with Duren, a member of the AAC’s preseason all-conference first team. In his first season with Memphis after transferring from Virginia Tech, Nolley led the Tigers in points (13.1) and minutes (27.4) per game on his way to earning Most Outstanding Player honors at the NIT. Another 2020 transfer, forward DeAndre Williams from Evansville, infused the Tigers with new energy at both ends of the floor upon gaining eligibility last December. (The Tigers started the season 4-3 and then went 16-5 with Williams in the rotation.) He was a stat-stuffer as a junior — 11.7 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 steals — but may actually see his allotment of minutes (26.1 per game) reduced this season.
This brings us to eight players expected to make an impact on the court for Hardaway, a typical rotation number for a college-hoops team. If each player received precisely the same playing time in such a rotation, he’d spend 25 minutes per game on the floor. But the abundance of talent at Hardaway’s disposal leaves what amounts to another starting five (four veterans and yet another freshman among the country’s top 150) plus two.
The aforementioned Quinones has started 51 of 54 games over his two seasons as a Tiger and averaged 9.5 points and 5.8 rebounds a year ago (the latter figure stellar for a guard). He’ll be challenged for playing time — and possibly a starting spot — by Earl Timberlake, a sophomore transfer from the University of Miami. Timberlake struggled with injuries as a Hurricane last season but averaged 9.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in seven games.
Senior guard Tyler Harris — a transfer from Iowa State — will look familiar to Tiger fans because he played his first two college seasons for Memphis. Tennessee’s 2018 Mr. Basketball at Cordova High School, Harris is 159 points shy of 1,000 for his college career. Freshman John Camden, like Harris, will provide a three-point threat off Hardaway’s bench, while Dandridge (6’9” and 250 pounds) will spell Duren and/or Onu inside. And don’t discount Hardaway’s son, Jayden. The coach hasn’t been timid about describing his junior swingman as the team’s most improved player.
Senior guard Alex Lomax will play his 12th season for Penny Hardaway in search of his first NCAA tournament appearance. (Photo: Lawrence Kuzniewski)
Finally, there’s Alex Lomax, the lone four-year senior on the Tigers’ roster. A two-time Tennessee Mr. Basketball at East High School, Lomax will be playing his 12th season for Hardaway, having first suited up for the coach as a 5th-grader. (He will appropriately become the first college player to spend four years under Hardaway’s watch.) Lomax hasn’t just been shaped as a player — and young man — by Hardaway. “A-Lo” has been molded into a do-what’s-needed, defense-first guard as comfortable off the ball as he is starting the offensive attack at point guard. Lomax’s senior season may be both rewarding and challenging. He’s yet to play in the NCAA tournament, but he may find it hard to match the 22 minutes of playing time he’s averaged over his first three seasons as a Tiger. Lomax led Memphis with 4.2 assists per game coming off the bench last season.
“For A-Lo, it’s the leadership role,” stresses Hardaway. “Understanding everything we’re trying to do, on both sides of the ball. Every day. And holding other guys accountable for understanding the same things. The more guys we have on the same page, the better we’re going to be. He knows what we want, what we need.”
Fifteen players expecting to make an impact with only 200 minutes per game for Hardaway to distribute. Abundance is healthy, right? The Tigers will start the season ranked 12th in the Associated Press poll. AAC coaches picked them to finish second behind Houston (a 2021 Final Four team). And speaking of coaches, Hardaway has a Hall of Famer (Larry Brown) and an NBA champion as a player (Rasheed Wallace) on his staff to help steer this team to a finish as memorable as the preseason projections suggest. Neither Brown nor Wallace came to Memphis to finish second in the AAC. They came here to teach the game of basketball, and Penny Hardaway has packed the classroom with students.
“I don’t really have expectations, with [so many] freshmen playing,” emphasizes Hardaway. “I just want to see how they respond to the teaching.”
All Heart in Hoop City
We ask four questions about the next season for Hoop City’s hungriest team.
By Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer
After overcoming all odds and outperforming expectations while facing adversity, the Memphis Grizzlies have written a fascinating story about their ability to overachieve. Coming off their first playoff berth since 2017, the young guns are still hungrier than ever.
The loss to the Utah Jazz in the first round last season served as a motivation for this young team, which will face a tough uphill struggle in the Western Conference. The Grizzlies have four questions to be answered heading into the 2021-22 season, and the Flyer’s special Grizzlies correspondents Sharon Brown and Aimee Stiegemeyer will examine them.
Averaging 28.3 points through the Grizzlies’ first seven games, guard Ja Morant appears bound for his first All-Star Game. (Photo: Lawrence Kuzniewski)
What do you feel are the most pressing questions for the Memphis Grizzlies heading into the upcoming season? Sharon Brown: There was a general belief among the players following their playoff series against the Jazz that they’d return to the postseason. The organization does not have a win-now mentality, but the players are confident that they can compete with any team in the league and will not back down from a challenge.
The most pressing questions for me right now are: Can they live up to expectations, whether they will take a step back and finish at the bottom of the league, and will they be able to stay healthy?
Aimee Stiegemeyer: We are heading into year three of a complete roster rebuild, and over that time, the Grizzlies have become a team that has consistently exceeded the expectations placed upon them. Now that they have one playoff series under their belt, they are going to be hungry for more.
The ceiling for this team keeps getting higher every year and ultimately the limit for a squad led by Ja Morant is nothing less than an NBA championship — it’s not a matter of if at this point, it’s a matter of when.
All that being said — for me the most pressing questions for the Grizzlies to answer this season will be whether or not last season’s success was just a fluke, and if not, can they continue playing at the level they were on last year? Will this be the year the young core makes the leap from up-and-coming team to keep an eye on and moves on to being a Real Problem for other teams around the league?
What should fans be most excited about as the new season begins? SB: The Memphis Grizzlies have never had a player as talented as Temetrius Jamel Morant, better known by his nickname, Ja. With his jaw-dropping, “WTF?!”-inducing, and “how did he do that?”-inspiring plays, he should be on everyone’s watch list every game. Morant definitely is must-see TV.
With his ability to slide through defenses with ease and linger in the air while contemplating his next play, Morant is a legit threat on the offensive end. What happens next will almost certainly cause you to stand up and leave your seat!
Fans should be enthusiastic about the season just because of Morant, but his teammates can also be entertaining to watch as well. Will he become an All-Star, or will he become a serious MVP candidate?
AS: The continued evolution and growth of Morant, the return of Jaren Jackson Jr., and a healthy Brandon Clarke.
Morant is everything that the team needed Mike Conley to be and more. Full stop. Memphis has never had a player of his caliber, and if we are ever going to raise a championship banner in the Grindhouse, it will come on the shoulders of Morant with Jackson Jr.
Both Jackson Jr. and Clarke struggled during the 2020-21 season to return to true form after injuries. If healthy, expect to see Jackson Jr. looking like he did during the Bubble in 2020, and Clarke to look more like he did in his rookie year.
Another exciting thing for fans is the safer return of live basketball. FedExForum announced that they would be requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination to attend Grizzlies and Tigers games this season, which is fantastic news.
In Jaren Jackson Jr.’s fourth season, what should be expected of him? SB: For the Grizzlies, having Jackson Jr. in good health is beneficial on both ends of the court.
Some people have negative opinions of Jackson Jr. since he has a history of injuries, but he was named the most likely to have a breakout season in the annual NBA general managers preseason survey.
In addition to having elite-level attributes, his ability to stay on the court is critical for the team to have a high chance of winning. With that considered, he must avoid getting himself into foul trouble.
However, Taylor Jenkins must better position Jackson for him to be successful on offense. There should be specific set plays designated for him on offense to get him going. My expectation is for him to have a breakout year to complement Morant to be the one-two punch the Grizzlies front office envisioned. He put in the effort during the off-season to improve his game.
AS: With the departure of Jonas Valanciunas this summer, there is no question he’s going to have some big shoes to fill offensively.
Jackson Jr. needs to be more aggressive on collecting rebounds, and he needs to do it while staying out of foul trouble, which is easier said than done.
But if he is going to eventually take on the role of starting center, he’s going to have to avoid getting benched with too many fouls during crunch time.
Rebounding and avoiding foul trouble are probably the two most important areas of growth for him this season, but becoming an above-average shooter from behind the three-point line would be a welcome bonus.
In his second season, Desmond Bane has moved into the Grizzlies’ starting lineup and almost doubled his scoring average from 2020-21. (Photo: Lawrence Kuzniewski)
Which player on the squad, excluding Ja Morant and Jackson Jr., will have a breakout season for Memphis? SB: My pick is Desmond Bane. During his first season, the only thing he was known for was his ability to catch and shoot from beyond the arc. According to my observations, his confidence can be traced back to Game 1 of the playoffs against the Utah Jazz, when he exchanged words with Georges Niang after scoring a three-pointer at the buzzer.
As the Grizzlies’ point guard in Summer League, Bane acquired greater confidence in his abilities. He was both producing his own shots at the rim and creating shots for his teammates. That same confidence has carried over into the new season.
Bane, along with De’Anthony Melton, will have more time on the court since Grayson Allen was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in the off-season.
AS: I’m going to have to pick two because they appear to be improving in tandem — Desmond Bane and De’Anthony Melton. The season is only a few games old, but Bane and Melton’s respective elevation into the starting lineup has thus far allowed them to thrive in a way they weren’t able to off the bench.
Melton has earned his Mr. Do Something nickname by consistently coming up big for the Grizzlies when they need it most; Bane has shown talent and drive that is above and beyond what is to be expected from a player with only one year in the league.
Desmond Bane takes the ball to the basket against the Miami Heat.
Image courtesy of Grizzlies Twitter
Well folks, here it is — the Grizzlies’ first wire-to-wire blowout of the season. The Miami Heat looked every bit like a team just one season removed from the NBA Finals, and, unfortunately, the Grizzlies looked every bit like a young team that hasn’t managed to work out all the kinks in their roster.
Let’s get into it.
The Heat opened up the first quarter shooting like fire from beyond the three-point line, at one point they were 5 for 5 from distance and closed out the quarter 7 of 10. The Grizzlies by contrast shot 2 of 6 from deep and 8 of 19 overall in the first, and it all went downhill from there.
The Grizzlies won the scoring battle in the second quarter, barely. Memphis managed to eke out more points, but it took them a lot of shots to do it.
They went into halftime down 13, a deficit they have managed to overcome in the past, even this season. But the Heat came back from the break and put their collective feet on the Grizzlies’ neck and did not let up.
When the final buzzer sounded, Miami had packed up Memphis with mostly their bench unit; in fact, three of Miami’s starters (Jimmy Butler, P.J. Tucker, and Duncan Robinson) did not play a single minute in the fourth. Jimmy Butler’s game-high 27 points all came in the first three periods.
Being outclassed by a better team is nothing to be ashamed of, but getting dragged by their second string while most of the first unit watches might be. Woof.
By the Numbers:
Ja Morant had his second lowest-scoring game of the season so far, notching a team-high 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.
De’Anthony Melton also closed out the night with 20 points, while shooting 4 of 7 from deep.
Desmond Bane followed closely with 17 points and 5 of 10 from distance.
Kyle Anderson led the bench unit with 13 points, including 3 of 4 from beyond the three-point line.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams, the starting power forward and center for Memphis this season, combined for an abysmal 14 points and 8 rebounds. That the two of them couldn’t come up with a double-double between them is less than ideal, to put it mildly.
It’s only game six of the regular season, and the Grizzlies have a lot to prove in the coming months. But there is a whole lot of season left for them to prove it.
If it’s true that this team really is better than advertised, then their success last season should be easily replicated going forward. Reality is a little more complicated and, truth be told, it is far too early into the season to make any informed predictions about how the team will fare.
Ja Morant’s star continues to rise and his ceiling as a player seems to be nowhere in sight. It’s easy to forget that the electrifying young point guard is only in his third year in the league. Watching him play, with his genius-level basketball IQ and unshakeable swagger, Morant is everything that Memphis needed Mike Conley to be. It would not be a stretch to say that he’s the most talented player to ever take the court in Beale Street blue.
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return from injury has not been the seamless transition fans hoped it would be, and the areas he struggled in before still plague him now. Without Jonas Valanciunas to carry the rebounding and offensive load, Jackson Jr. has his work cut out for him. Whether or not that is a role that the young big man can assume remains to be seen.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies are staying home for a few games. Monday night they will face off against the Denver Nuggets and reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT.
Ja Morant doing Ja Morant things.
Image: Grizzlies Twitter
The Grizzlies closed out their four-game west coast road trip Thursday night with a big win against the Golden State Warriors in their first overtime appearance of the season.
Coming on the heels of a brutal loss to the Portland Trail Blazers and a narrow defeat by the Los Angeles Lakers, this win against Golden State puts the Grizzlies at 2-2 for the road trip.
Let’s get into it.
Spoiler Alert: Steph Curry is still a menace from behind the three-point line, with 21 of his 36 points in regulation coming from distance.
This game wasn’t big in the sense that it was a blowout, more so that it was a big battle to overcome a 19-point deficit and Steph Curry’s hot shooting to secure the win. Forcing turnovers and converting them into points on the other end of the floor also contributed to the double-digit comeback.
Despite struggling for most of the first half and not holding a lead until deep into the fourth quarter, this Memphis team managed to scratch and claw their way to the season’s first overtime period. They hung on for dear life, not succumbing to enormous pressure from the Warriors. Pressure that would have overwhelmed them last season.
Ja Morant continues to do what he does, putting up 18 points in the third quarter alone.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and De’Anthony Melton combined to score 18 of the Grizzlies 25 fourth-quarter points. This was a marked improvement for Melton, who has struggled for the past two games, even going scoreless in the loss against Portland.
Ja Morant led the team in scoring with 30 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.
Desmond Bane finished the night with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Bane led the Grizzlies in three-point shooting with 15 of those 19 points coming from beyond the arc.
Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 15 points and 8 rebounds. Fellow big man Steven Adams put up 12 points and 7 rebounds.
De’Anthony Melton finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks. Melton’s contributions on both ends of the floor were vitally important for the Grizzlies.
Kyle Anderson had 8 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Very important blocks, as seen below.
The Grizzlies return to Memphis where they will face off against the Miami Heat. It’s going down Saturday night in FedExForum. Tip-off is at 7 p.m. CDT.
Jaren Jackson Jr. takes flight against the Clippers, while Steven Adams looks on.
(Photo courtesy of the Memphis Grizzlies on Twitter)
The Memphis Grizzlies are undefeated in the 2021-2022 season. Granted the season is only two games old, but it’s still true, and still fun.
Let’s get into it.
Game two got off to a slow start for the Grizzlies, who were soundly outplayed in the first quarter. In that first quarter, Desmond Bane led the squad with 8 points, while the bench unit failed to score a single point.
The Clippers out-rebounded the Grizzlies 17-8 in the first 12 minutes, during which Memphis also managed to not grab a single offensive board.
The Grizzlies played with a lot more urgency in the second quarter and managed to cut the Clippers lead to three at the half.
Whatever was said in the locker room during halftime must have been very inspirational, because the Grizzlies team that took the court in the second half played with all the dominance that was missing to start the game. They methodically built a lead and made every effort to sustain it, even when the Clippers would go on a brief offensive run and cut into the Grizzlies’ lead.
The third quarter was inarguably the Ja Morant and Steven Adams show, with each player scoring 11 points and putting on a clinic on both ends of the floor.
Unfortunately, the bench struggles that were apparent early also continued throughout the third quarter. Kyle Anderson contributed the lone made bucket and all the field goal attempts from the second unit.
The lack of efficiency from the bench will need to be addressed going forward, but in this game, the starters were able to compensate for it and then some.
Small sample size theater, but last year this team would have folded under pressure in a late-game situation. There’s an air of maturity here in these first two games that feels new, like growth. Being able to close out a quarter and close out a game was a much-needed but missing skill set that haunted the young Grizzlies last year. Our baby bears are growing up.
The starting five scored 107 of the 120 total points, with each of them finishing the night with double digits.
Ja Morant led the team with 28 points and a game-high 8 assists.
Mr. Do Something did a bit of everything — De’Anthony Melton finished with 22 points and 8 rebounds, including 4 of 8 from beyond the three-point line.
Jaren Jackson Jr. closed out with 21 points and 7 rebounds and shot 3 of 5 from distance.
Desmond Bane had 19 points and 6 rebounds, with 12 of those points coming from beyond the arc.
Steven Adams made his presence felt on both ends of the floor, finishing with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and two steals. And he was 5 for 5 from the free throw line.
As a team, the Grizzlies won the rebound game and beat the Clippers 28-18 on the boards in the second half.
If Adams keeps making his free throws, he is going to win me over. Maybe not at J.V. levels of winning me over, but it certainly helps take the sting out of it, as does Jaren Jackson Jr. having more room and minutes to continue his growth as a player.
Who Got Next?
There is no rest for the good guys. The Grizzlies will take the court at Staples Center for a second night in a row as they face off against the Los Angeles Lakers Sunday night. Tip-off is at 8:30 p.m. CDT.
Grizz Gaming, the NBA 2K League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, tops the East Conference this season with three weekend wins over Blazer5 Gaming, the Portland Trail Blazers affiliate, and a 9-1 record.
Here’s how Grizz Gaming guard Chess described the games and how he sees this week’s games against Wizards District Gaming.
Posted to Twitter by Grizz Gaming
“We’re feeling good over here, man,” Chess said in a video posted to Grizz Gaming’s Twitter. “We knew we had a tough opponent in Blazer5. We came out, punched them in the mouth the first game. Kind of let up in the second half, but [in the] second game, we didn’t do that. We stayed on the pedal the whole way. … We got a tough week next week. But I believe we can do a 4-0 ….”
Celebrations on the wins and the league standing were captured on Twitter, as seen in a video posted by forward followTHEGOD.
On Monday, Grizz Gaming posted a tweet that said, “Hey Alexa, play ‘Touch The Sky’ by Kanye West.”
