Tag: Santi Aldama

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Big Memphis is Back!

(Photo by Sharon Brown).

Basketball was in the air Wednesday night, as the Memphis Grizzlies hosted the New York Knicks in the season home opener.

Big Memphis was back like it never left. 

During player introductions, Memphis rapper NLE Choppa performed and led the Grizzlies onto the court.  Choppa was sporting Kennedy Chandler’s No. 1 jersey.

To the delight of the 18,202 in attendance and millions more watching on ESPN, the Grizzlies edged out the Knicks 115-112, in a thrilling overtime victory.

Ja Morant’s typical WTF?-inducing highlight plays got the Grizzlies’ regular season started off on the right foot.

Morant led the Grizzlies with 34 points and nine assists, his third consecutive season-opening performance of at least 30 points. Against the San Antonio Spurs in 2020, Morant scored 44 points, and against the Cleveland Cavaliers last season, he scored 37 points.

He continues to amaze. 

“I love it – love the pressure,” the 22-year-old said about his leadership. “I want to be the one making the play to put us in position to win. So anytime the time comes, it’s time for me to take my game to another level. Honestly, to start this game I was already ready, because I’ve seen some stuff that have me pumped to go. So, shout out to the Knicks’ social media team.”

Second-year big man Santi Aldama scored 18 points, on 7 0f 14 from the field, and grabbed 11 rebounds in 39 minutes during his first career start. It was Aldama’s third career double-double. Aldama’s move to the starting lineup is due to the unavailability of the Grizzlies All-Defensive specialist Jaren Jackson, Jr. who is recovering from a foot injury. 

Along with Jackson Jr., Memphis was without Dillon Brooks (thigh soreness), Ziaire Williams (knee soreness)  and newcomer veteran Danny Green (left knee surgery recovery). 

A going theme with Memphis is to be ready when your number is called and the Spaniard was prepared. “Like I always say, it’s [a lot of] work, but I was locked in,” Aldama said at the podium after the game. “I knew they were a good team, so I just tried to play good defense and on offense, just be ready to shoot. I think we did a good job just moving the ball like we always do, and getting stops down the stretch, especially. I was excited obviously — first start. It was a great feeling, but it was even better to get the win. That’s always how to finish games.”

Aldama had a highlight dunk of his own. 

Morant and company have confidence in Aldama while Jackson Jr. is out. “We preach to him to be aggressive at all times,” Morant said. “He is able to shoot the ball well and his size and length [helps him be] able to shoot over guys inside in the paint. So, we just preach, be aggressive, be ready to shoot at all times, and he played very well for us on both ends of the floor. Obviously taking a tough matchup tonight on [Julius] Randall and helping us come out with this win. Just gotta keep it going.” 

Tidbits 

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey was in the Grindhouse to watch his guy Morant. 

Ramsey gave his seal of approval after the win. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies do the Texas two-step with a back to back in Houston and Dallas. 

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Dillon Brooks and a Deep Bench Lead Grizzlies to Victory Over the Suns

Grizzlies players rush Ziaire Williams before his walk-off interview (Photo cred: Grizzlies Twitter)

Without key players, the Grizzlies defeated the Phoenix Suns, 122-114, with lone regular starter Dillon Brooks and a deep bench squad on Friday night before a sellout crowd of 17,794 at FedExForum, aka the Grindhouse. 

No Ja Morant ☑

No Jaren Jackson Jr. ☑

No Desmond Bane ☑

No Steven Adams ☑

No Tyus Jones ☑

Now, imagine a win against the NBA’s best team without four starters, a key reserve, no point guard, and a head coach who was tossed in the first half.

Conventional wisdom would believe a full-squad for the Suns would blow out the short-handed Grizzlies. But this Memphis squad had other plans and grinded it out to take down the Suns. 

This has to go down as the best win of the season. Honestly, who expected the team to win the game? 

The mentality and culture of the Grizzlies is the reason the team is 20-2 with its leading scorer and star player, Morant.

“Every day we work; every day we instill confidence in each other,” said Dillon Brooks who finished the game with 30 points.

“We feel like, regardless of who it is on the floor, we can get the job done,” Brooks added. “Because we play hard. We play together and we compete, regardless of who’s on the floor. So that’s our mentality. That’s our motto and we live by it from one to 12.”

Brooks says it’s like a college atmosphere and that they are family. 

The Grizzlies’ head coach Taylor Jenkins had this to say following the thrilling victory: “Tonight’s a night where you can put your stamp and say, ‘This is who we are and we’re going to be here for a really long time.’”

Yes, Memphis is “here” as said by Desmond Bane before a national audience on ESPN a few weeks ago. The Grizzlies are no longer a surprise or an afterthought. 

“Everybody just stays locked in during practice. I mean people watch the game and everybody just stays locked in,” said Grizzlies forward John Konchar. “We move the ball really well side-to-side and get open shots and just play hard no matter what.”

“It’s just a next man up mentality really — just go in, get your work done,” Konchar added. “And just play hard no matter what. The system works for everybody, honestly. So just move the ball and it’s great.”

Jenkins said games like that are culture wins and it exemplifies the next man up mindset. 

The mindset was truly on display against the Suns. Brooks and Xavier Tillman each tallied seven assists, despite the absence of a true point guard, to lead Memphis to 30 assists. The Grizzlies are 17-0 this season when they record 30 or more assists. 

Former Grizzlies legend Tony Allen had a mantra, “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.” And that’s what Tillman and rookie Santi Aldama did on Friday night against the Suns. The rookie forward finished with 12 points and five rebounds plus a highlight dunk that made the Grizzlies bench and the crowd inside FedExForum go bananas.

Jenkins said he tried to stay in coaching mode after his early exit from the game but after the Aldama dunk he said he dropped a hell yeah and two hand slap on the table as he watched from the monitors.  

“This year I came in and everybody was cheering me on every day … talking to me every day,” Aldama recalled. “I just felt part of the family since day one. It’s just having these good vibes, obviously great players, but great people. From the staff, players, everybody. It’s just contagious. I think you don’t get that everywhere and it’s like a really good experience, especially my first year having something like this is very, very special.”

He went on to say, “It’s really looking for the best shot we can take. I think we’re all capable. We all play really well and we play for each other without egos. We don’t have egos here. It’s just about the team. We just get the best shot, move the ball, and we have fun with it. That’s the most important thing.”

The 6-foot-11 Spaniard credits his time with the Memphis Hustle for improvement in his game and that is a confidence builder. The game against the Suns helped his confidence as well. 

“This game will for sure help,” he said. “This season is my rookie year and a learning season. I’m in and out of the rotation so it’s all about gaining confidence and learning every day. This team is very, very deep so we have to keep doing this.

A foundation of consistency and synergy has been laid for the Grizzlies, who are poised for success now and in the future.