Tag: Steven Adams

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Notes From Memphis Grizzlies Media Day 2023

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

It’s about that time again – time for Memphis Grizzlies basketball.  

The Grizzlies held their preseason media day today, with general manager Zach Kleiman and head coach Taylor Jenkins available to answer questions.

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

There was also a brief media availability for each player, with the notable exception of Ja Morant.

Morant’s absence loomed large and unfortunately, that will be the case going forward. He will be serving a league-issued suspension for the first 25 games of the season.  

This means the focus, for the time being, will be on building chemistry without their star point guard.

The front office swung for the fences during the offseason, acquiring Marcus Smart from the Boston Celtics as well as signing league veteran and former Memphis Tigers basketball star Derrick Rose to a two-year contract. 

All signs are pointing to another exciting season from your Memphis Grizzlies.

Derrick Rose (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)
Steven Adams (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Here are a few things that Grizzlies fans can look forward to in the upcoming season:  

Per general manager Zach Kleiman, Ja Morant will be allowed to practice and travel with the team during his suspension. However, he will not be allowed to sit on the bench during that time.  

Forward Ziaire Williams feels confident heading into his third season. “No one has worked harder than me this summer,” said Williams. “I’m ready, you’ll see.” Williams struggled last season after missing extended time with right knee pain, attributed to patellar tendinitis.

Jaren Jackson Jr. (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Jaren Jackson Jr. is committed to being a better rebounder this season. “It’s on my mind,” he said. “I’m coming into my size and body, so it’s no excuses.” Jackson is the reigning defensive player of the year for good reason, but he acknowledges the need to improve in this area.  

Marcus Smart (Credit: Aimee Stiegemeyer)

Marcus Smart is already locked in, and among other things, said he’s “looking forward to helping keep Jaren out of foul trouble.”  

What a coincidence – I am also looking forward to Marcus Smart keeping Jaren out of foul trouble.  

Training camp begins Tuesday, October 3rd, and the first preseason game is scheduled for October 8th at home against the Indiana Pacers. 

 Stay tuned for our upcoming season preview and for all things Memphis Grizzlies.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Adams, Brooks Lift Memphis to 11th Straight Win

Steven Adams up high Wednesday, January 18, 2023 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

The two best defensive teams in the NBA went back and forth Wednesday night, like a boxing match with uppercuts and body blows. In the end, the Grizzlies’ dogged defense in the final seconds was enough to secure the home victory over Cleveland. 

There were 17 lead changes and nine ties. Both teams gave up double digit leads. The Cavaliers were up by 10 early while Memphis was up by as many as 19 in the third quarter. 

The Cavaliers held a one-point lead with 27.4 seconds left, when Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked Darius Garland’s driving layup attempt out of bounds. On Cleveland’s ensuing in-bounds attempt, the Grizzlies forced a five-second violation.  

With 17 seconds left in the game, Ja Morant attacked the basket with a floater but it bounced off the rim; however, Steven Adams secured the rebound with a tip in for the go-ahead bucket. 

Jackson Jr. praised Steven Adams on the intangibles, “He’s the best screener in NBA history and probably the best offensive rebounder ever. When you do those things, it just saves us time and time again.”

While the 16,892 in attendance chanted “DEFENSE!!,” Cleveland brought the ball upcourt and Dillon Brooks blocked a shot by Garland on the game’s final play to give the Grizzlies a 115-114 victory — their 11th-straight. 

The 11-game winning streak for Memphis matches the longest in franchise history, and is the longest-active streak in the NBA. The Grizzlies are now 31-13 for the season and 20-3 at FedExForum. 

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said, “We found a way. I told the guys afterwards that that’s a great team win; that’s a great team that we just played and competed against for 48 minutes.” 

Jenkins went on to say, “Timely buckets, and then that last sequence where we got that five-second counter. Guys executed the game plan coming out of the timeout. I chose not to call a timeout. I trusted the guys to go and make plays. We had talked about the spacing we wanted. Ja [Morant] drives, collapses, three guys come to him, and then Steven [Adams] cleans it up. Big winning play at the end of the eight minutes. First game winner, he said, so he’s definitely hyped.”

“And then the defense on the tail end, we had been switching some,” Jenkins added. “They broke off a pick-and-roll. [Dillon Brooks’] one-on-one defense was phenomenal. [Desmond Bane] shifts, gets back, [Dillon Brooks] then gets the block to seal the win. So, clearly, I just said a lot of things because there was a lot going on in that game. It was two competitive teams that played pretty high-level basketball. There were definitely ebbs and flows, highs and lows, but at the end, we made the plays.”

“I told these guys, ‘This is huge to get a game like this tonight,’ especially playing from behind in the last minute or so. I just said this is a game to grow from. The poise, the conversations that our guys were having, as frantic as it was, they were looking at me, they were looking at each other, and we dialed up the defense that we needed down the stretch, despite them making it really hard on us for the meat of the game.”

Jenkins concluded, “So, it’s great for us. We’ll watch the film tomorrow, talk about the winning plays that we made. … We’ve got to build on it because this is not the last time we’re going to see a game like this.”

Desmond Bane finished with a game-high 25 points, four rebounds, four assists, and five 3-pointers. Morant added 24 points and eight assists. 

Off the bench, Santi Aldama chipped in 16 points and two rebounds while making a career-high four 3-pointers. Jackson Jr. filled the stat sheet with 15 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and two steals while Adams had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. 

Aldama credited the team’s chemistry for the winning streak. He said, “I just think that togetherness is what stands out the most. I mean, last year, we were a very good team. I think this year, we have a little bit of a different team, but we just find a way to win games.”

“Today (Wednesday), I think, was a very good test for us,”Aldama added. “I think we haven’t had a game like this in a while. Especially the last two or three possessions were huge for us. We got the five second call. [Jaren Jackson Jr.]’s block before that, [Dillon Brooks]’ game-winning block came, and then the [Steven Adams] tap-in. So, I think that just shows how everybody makes an impact and how together we are, just rooting for each other.”

Memphis’ first 11-game win streak came last season from Dec. 26, 2021 to Jan. 13, 2022. Bane spoke about the difference this time around. He said, “We just take it game by game. Last year, obviously, was our first time doing it, so there was a lot of excitement, but it’s a new season. We’re trying to set new heights and do new things. The past is the past. We’re just focused on one game at a time.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will embark on a five-game road trip. Friday night is the first meeting with the Lakers this season, where Memphis will be poised to break the franchise record with 12th straight wins. Meanwhile, LeBron James and company will definitely look to spoil the party. 

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Morant, Jones Lead Grizzlies to Win Against Kings

Ja Morant and Steven Adams slap hands on January 1, 2023 in a match-up against the Sacramento Kings. Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

In a 118-108 victory over the Sacramento Kings on New Year’s Day at FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies extended their winning streak to three games. This victory came on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Grizzlies improved to 15-3 at home and marked the first time in team history that a game had been played on New Year’s Day in Memphis.

With the win, Memphis raised their record to 23-13 that has them in a tie for second place in the West with the New Orleans Pelicans, and one game behind the first place Denver Nuggets. 

As Kool Moe Dee said, “The Wild, Wild West.”

Ja Doing Ja Things 

There were plenty of Ja-dropping plays on Sunday for Ja Morant, who led all scorers with a game-high 35 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. 

“It’s gotta be a mindset – you got to want it,” Morant said after the game. You just have to come out and be ready to play from top to bottom. It has to be everybody.” 

“That’s our message right now to each other as a team,” Morant added. “We got to come out and play, no matter if we play a Western Conference or Eastern Conference team, or if we play on a team who is down main guys. We got to still come out and play and go out and make a statement and win the basketball game.”

Stones

Tyus Jones was a man on a mission on Sunday night against the Kings. Jones has been struggling as of late, but he started the new year off with 18 points, eight assists, and six rebounds off the bench. Stones tied his career high with 3-pointers made by going 5-of-7 from the long line. 

Take a look at a point guard to point guard connection between Jones and Morant. 

Morant talked about his synergy with Jones:

After the game, Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins had high praise for Jones. Jenkins said, “No matter what his role is: Come off the bench, be a starter, play with different lineups, play longer stretches, shorter stretches – when he has an aggressive mentality, it’s usually good for Tyus.”

King of Rebounds 

Steven Adams had a really productive night for his team. 

Career-high with 13 offensive rebounds ☑

Career-high tying 23 total rebounds ☑

First player in franchise history with consecutive 20+ rebound games ☑

Tied franchise record for rebounds in any two-game span (44) ☑

“I mean, it’s just part of our job as the bigs,” said Adams on his contributions to help his team win in the trenches. “It’s just part of our coverage. We enjoy just getting a stop, so we don’t have to play any more defense. That’s the main thing. The less defense we could play, the better.” 

Adams continued, “That’s why we try and emphasize the defensive rebounding, that’s why it is such a demoralizing thing if you give out offensive rebounds, then you have a 14-second shot clock while you have to play defensive again. So, just trying to be active. I think I’m more comfortable in the system, getting more calm. Last year was a bit of a learning curve on how players move and if they were in front or not; it’s kind of weird reads on the body language, but I’m getting used to just reading the players a bit better when they need help and when not to.”

The Block Panther 

Jaren Jackson, Jr. finished with 14 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Jackson had two blocks on the same possession against the Kings’ Malik Monk. He also had six blocked shots on New Year’s Eve against the Pelicans. The All-Defensive First Team big man is making his case as one of the best rim protectors in the game. Ask Malik Monk; he didn’t dare to try to get a bucket again with The Block Panther lurking at the rim. In 20 games, Jackson Jr. is averaging 3.2 blocks. 

A Special Gift

A young fan, Zander Carr, was gifted with a pair of Morant’s signature shoes, Ja 1, after the game. 

“I can tell – I actually saw him during warm up, so I could tell how big of a fan he was,” said Morant on giving the fan his shoes after the game. He was screaming my name, cheering for me making shots from warmup. So, I knew he was a big fan, and I’m actually doing this thing where I give a pair of my shoes out.” 

Morant went on to say, “Obviously, I know a lot of people want them right now, and it’s not released yet in stores and online. I read the sign and, from then on, I knew who was getting a pair of shoes, and you can tell how much he wanted it and loved it.”

Morant has a campaign going with the hashtag #Jas12DaysOfChristmas where 12 fans will be selected to receive a pair of Ja 1s on January 12th. 

“It’s a great thing to see,” Morant added. “Leaves you speechless when you see somebody is that big a fan of you to burst out and cry, and then there, it was even more crazy to notice his mom crying as well. I know that touched both of their hearts, and that’s something that I’ll never forget.” 

Yes, Zander and his mom will never forget the gift and kindness of Morant for his birthday. 

Up Next

The Grizzlies look to extend their winning streak against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday in Charlotte. Tip-off: 6 pm CT.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Brooks Leads Grizzlies Past Raptors

Dillon Brooks matched up against Gary Trent, Jr. on December 29, 2022 (Credit: NBAE via Getty Images)

The Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Toronto Raptors 119-106 at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday night after dropping two straight games. 

The victory over the Raptors in Toronto was a welcome relief after they had dropped four of their previous five games, including a crushing loss on Christmas Day to the shorthanded Golden State Warriors. 

The recent slump has dropped them from first place in the Western Conference to third. They are currently one game behind the Western Conference-leading New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets.

Many questioned their swagger and competitive spirit after the disappointing losses. 

Some were too quick to write off the Grizzlies, but they proved them wrong on Thursday night by just having fun and finding their footing again. The NBA is a long season, and Memphis must continue to take it one game at a time. 

All five of Memphis’ starters scored in double figures. Dillon Brooks led the way for Grizzlies with 25 points and six assists for his homecoming. Brooks is from Mississauga, Ontario near Toronto.

After the game, Brooks revealed his coaches want him to be more of a playmaker. 

On his six assists, Brooks said, “Kudos to me. I tried to shoot the open ones and I work on my game every single day to be confident in my shot.” 

Ja Morant tallied his 12th double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-high 17 assists. 

Desmond Bane added 16 points, five rebounds, and two steals. It’s his best game back since his return from injury.

Jaren Jackson Jr. chipped in 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Jackson is averaging 3.0 blocks per game this season. 

Steven Adams posted his eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and 17 rebounds, while John Konchar added 11 points and seven rebounds as a reserve. 

Sharing is Caring 

The Grizzlies recorded a season-high 37 assists. Memphis is 8-0 this season when registering 30 assists. 

With his 17 assists, Morant recorded the highest assist total by a single Grizzlies player since Jason Williams set a franchise record with 19 more than 20 years ago in March 2002. 

Three-Point Shooting

The Grizzlies went 13-of-29 from beyond the arc after going four straight games shooting in the single digits. Brooks shot four, Memphis’ best 3-point shooter Bane connected with three, and Konchar added two 3-point shots.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will host the New Orleans Pelicans at FedExForum on New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m. CT.

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Grizzlies Fall in Denver

Ja Morant (Credit: Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

After a seven-game winning streak, the Memphis Grizzlies have now dropped back-to-back games. And the schedule doesn’t get any easier. On Tuesday night at Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets defeated Memphis 105-91 to take the number one spot in the Western Conference standing.  

Memphis’ record now stands at 19-11 overall and 6-9 on the road.

A slow start reared its ugly head for Memphis again, as Denver held the Grizzlies to just 14 points in the first period. “It’s just our mentality, we’ve got to be more focused,” said Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones after the loss. “We can’t ease our way into the game, especially against a good ball club like that. We can’t ease our way into the game and try to feel out how the game is going to be, and then we’re playing from a deficit the rest of the way and even if you’re playing with the ball, the margins of error are so slim that we have to play great basketball the rest of the way to continue to chip away at that lead.

“It’s just being more focused and locked in, trying to be the aggressors,” Jones added. “We’ve got to be the aggressors coming out from the jump. We had been playing like that. The last couple of games now we’ve been a little more relaxed and we have to get back to playing Grizzlies’ ball.” Jones finished with five points, five rebounds, and four assists.

Center Steven Adams conceited that it is very difficult to win on the road, even though last season Memphis went 26-15 on the road. He said, “It’s hard to win on the road, regardless. But most of all, I think everyone’s just trying to win the game, regardless. In terms of development, I think there’s plenty of times like last year, that I wouldn’t give us that easy of an excuse. We came out like shit. We did well actually in the second quarter, third quarter, and in the fourth quarter was kind of like the first.” Adams chipped in four points and 10 rebounds.

Memphis is now 8-8 against the Western Conference and Jones understands the team has to put forth a better effort than the last two games. “We can’t sneak up on anybody,” Jones admitted. “We knew that going into this year, we’re 30 games in now and we’ve got to know that, but it still takes some getting used to.”

Jones continued, “It’s a long season, it’s a lot of games, and it takes a lot to get up every single night, especially when you’re not going to sneak up on anybody. That’s what’s testing us and that’s how we’re going to continue to grow as a team and continue to get better. We’re a work in progress still. I’ve still got things to get better on and we’re not hanging our heads. We’re continuing to look at ourselves in the mirror, look at the drawing board, and figure out how we’re going to take steps forward.”

Ja Morant continues to put on MVP-caliber performances on a nightly basis. The South Carolina native finished with 35 points and 10 assists in 38 minutes of play. 

To round it off, Jaren Jackson, Jr. continued his defensive dominance with a game-high five blocks and three steals to go along with eight points. It marks the fifth time this season the 23-year-old has swatted five or more shots. Jackson is averaging 3.2 blocks on the season. 

Up Next

No rest for the weary. The Grizzlies are headed to Phoenix to take on the Suns Friday night and are heading to San Francisco for its first ever Christmas Day game against the defending champs, Golden State Warriors.  

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Morant, Jackson shine in victory over 76ers

Jaren Jackson with a massive block over Joel Embiid (Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

After a disappointing loss in Minnesota against the Timberwolves on Wednesday, Memphis looked to bounce back at home against the 76ers. The Grizzlies had a lackluster performance in a Minnesota loss that saw them have 27 turnovers and continued woes at the free throw line. 

On Friday night, back home at FedExForum, the Grizzlies got back to playing their brand of basketball and defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 117-109.

Philadelphia hasn’t beaten the Grizzlies at FedExForum since 2012, and Memphis notched its ninth consecutive home win in the overall series against the 76ers. 

Ja Morant led the way for Memphis with 28 points and eight rebounds as the Grizzlies improved to 13-9 on the season. 

Morant spoke about the differences in the last two games. It was like night and day. He said, “Pretty much just playing with a pass. Not playing in traffic. It’s why I felt like we’re a great team. … learning from mistakes and correcting them. The last game was terrible for us, so coming back with no bouncing back and less turnovers helped us win the game.”

Steven Adams held his own against Sixers’ star Joel Embiid, with nine points, 16 rebounds and a team-high six assists to go with three steals and three blocks. Adams even had a one-man fastbreak and it was a delight for Morant to see. 

After the game Morant had high praise for his teammate. “I feel like that’s what makes [Steven Adams] so great for us all around,” Morant said about Adams and his matchups. “Him taking on that challenge to guard the best bigs — being able to limit them and make their shots tough as possible. Also, on the other end, making them work, making them have to box out, and him being aggressive as of late has been helping us even more. He’s a big piece to our team, and we’re definitely thankful for him. I know he loves those matchups more than anything and taking on the challenge.”

Jaren Jackson, Jr. had a great game and capped it off with what some are calling the block of the year from “The Block Panther.” Embiid had a chance to cut into the Grizzlies lead late in the contest. He went up for a two-handed jam after getting past Adams, but Jackson denied him at the rim with 25.2 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Jackson described the block after the game. “I’m going every time, or maybe not, you don’t know – I’m looking at where I think he is going to put the ball, based on how many drives he’s done over the course of the game,” he explained. 

“Looking at [Steven Adams], because if Steve is in front, I’ll probably jump later, because he’ll probably do a second move on Steve, or don’t go at all because he’s covered,”  Jackson added. 

He went on to say, “I saw him get a step on Steve, so I knew he was going to gather and go up. So, I knew the timing. I knew he was going to go up with two hands and protect the ball.  So, the only shot I got is right here at the rim, that’s my only chance. I can’t jump early or swipe early, it’s just not going to work for me. That’s what I was seeing. It helps when Steve-O was out there, he makes it really easy for us to come over and help.”

Jackson finished with 22 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks while going 7-of-12 from the field. 

The 23-year-old big man has scored 20+ points five times in the last seven games, and also has five games with at least three blocks.

“Each game, he’s progressively getting better. Confidence from the three-point line, decision making is still taking a little bit of time,” said Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins. “How defenses are guarding him — he’s getting some different looks,” Jenkins continued. “His touch finish around the rim will come along with more reps and especially against physical NBA defenses.”

Jenkins concluded, “Defensively, he’s had some big rebound nights, blocked shot nights. His activity is huge for us defensively, and that blocked shot at the end — it was perfect execution. We talked about staying home on shooters, but if [Joel] Embiid got downhill or their driver got downhill late, we need someone to come over, and we know Jaren is going to be that guy. Big-time block, big-time play to seal the win.”

Tidbits 

The Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden was signed to a one day contract with the Grizzlies and participated in pre-game activities. It will be a night he will never forget. 

“It was pretty much just us as a team, as a group, making him feel a part of the team as much as possible, allowing him to be in the captain huddle,” Morant said after the game.

“I know it’s a dream come true. He got his pick, he got his ball, and our team huddle before we break to go to Coach. It’s something no kid has ever done before but us. He should be proud. That’s a one-on-one thing. I know it made him happy. I actually saw him dancing over there. We pushed him in and let him lead the group. He also did Jaren’s three jumps too. Just making a kid happy and changing their life and giving them something to remember forever is what we try to do.” 

“He was at the right place at the right time,” Jackson chimed in. “I was just looking around, and he was perfectly involved. I was like, ‘Here we go, jump. Get ready to jump.’ That’s what it’s all about, making someone’s day. I bet he was hyped.”

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will travel to the Motor City to take on Jaden Ivey and the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Tip-off: 5 p.m. CT

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Grizzlies Edge Spurs in 124-122 OT Win

Ja Morant moves up the court after a basket. (Credit: NBAE via Getty Images)

The years of the Spurs being the Grizzlies’ most feared matchup are in the rearview, with Wednesday night’s seventh consecutive victory over San Antonio.  

Let’s get into it.  

This game had lots going for it – Ja Morant and Desmond Bane each dropping 32 points, Steven Adams feasting on the boards with 19 rebounds, good production from the bench, free basketball, and the Grizzlies’ play-by-play crew ready to square up against the refs.  

Yes, my friends, Ja and Des did the heavy lifting on the offensive end, but the game MVP award goes to announcers Brevin Knight and Pete Pranica.  

In the final 20 seconds of the extra period, the clock never restarted once the Spurs gained possession, resulting in a San Antonio fastbreak and bucket on the other end, all with the game clock stopped. The mishap allowed the Spurs to cut a five-point lead to one point.  

How three officials didn’t notice that the clock had not in fact started is beyond me, but our fearless heroes Pete and Brevin were not ready to let this go quietly, resulting in a very heated exchange with the refs.  

Thankfully, the Grizzlies were still able to come away with the win. But turnovers were not Memphis’ friend in this matchup, with the Grizzlies committing 20 turnovers and giving up 18 points off those turnovers.  

By The Numbers:  

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane each had a game-high 32 points, with Morant putting up 5 rebounds and 5 assists and Bane with 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Their performance marks the first time in franchise history that two Grizzlies players had 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in the same game.

 

If you need a bucket, 12 will get you a bucket

Dillon Brooks scored 13 points, and had 5 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 3 of 5 from three-point range. 

Tyus Jones finished the night with 11 points and 3 assists, also while shooting 3 of 5 from three-point range. Once again, Jones showed precisely why the Grizzlies were correct to pay him in the offseason.  

Steven Adams closed out with 7 points and NINETEEN rebounds. Adams is currently fourth in the league in total rebounds but leads the league in total offensive rebounds.  

Who Got Next?  

The Grizzlies return home to face off against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night. The team will be wearing their newly unveiled city edition uniforms. Tip-off is at 8:30 pm CST 

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No Place Like Home for the Grizz

Dillon Brooks scored 23 points on November 4, 2022 in a 130-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets. (Photo cred: Sharon Brown)

After a lengthy four-game road trip out west, it seemed like a lifetime had passed since the Memphis Grizzlies last played at the FedExForum.

Memphis went 2-2 on the road trip. 

The Grizzlies put on a dominant display before 17,187 delighted fans as they defeated the Charlotte Hornets 130-99, Friday night, proving that there is no place like home. 

Memphis maintained its perfect home record (3-0), marking its best start at home since going 5-0 in 2018–19.

On the night, eight Grizzlies reached double figures, including an efficient Dillon Brooks, who had his best game of the season.

“Staying the course, not overreacting,” said Brooks on his performance this season. Just playing through Ja [Morant] and playing through Des (Bane). Just finding my spots, and then just trying to work out every day. Just work on my shot. That’s really it.”

In true “Dillon the Villain” fashion, he said negative comments about his contributions to the team inspire him. Brooks has been criticized for his shot selection and offensive decision-making.  

He said, “I just use it as motivation. They love you when you’re hot, and then when you’re not, they don’t love you. Even your own fans. So, you know, it’s me, it’s me and my family, me and my guys,” continued Brooks. “They believe in me, and they tell me every day to keep playing our game, keep working on your game, and I continuously do it. I play for me and my guys, so it doesn’t matter what other people have to say.”

Brooks finished the contest with 23 points, making 8 of 12 field goal attempts and nailing 6 of 7 three-point attempts, tying his previous career high. Brooks added four assists on the night. 

“Definitely his best game of the season so far,” said head coach Taylor Jenkins after the game. “He’s been working so hard to get back into his rhythm, the effort he’s playing with. One of his best games in my time here, just the efficiency on offense.”

Jenkins added, “I talked to him before the game. I said, ‘The tone that you’re setting defensively the last couple of games has been phenomenal, especially in the last game in Portland. Keep playing with that tenacity, and then I just love the decision making you’ve been showing.’”

“He’s been putting a lot of work, balance on his shot, playmaking, getting downhill, finishing at the rim,” Jenkins continued 

“You get two-way performances like that, that’s why he’s a heck of a player and an important player for us.”

Steven Adams grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds in the 130-99 win over the Hornets. (Photo cred: Sharon Brown)

Steven Adams finished the game with his third double-double of the year, a season-high 19 rebounds, including 11 offensive rebounds, 13 points, two steals, and two blocks in just 22 minutes of action.

Adams set a franchise record and a career high for rebounds before halftime with 16 rebounds in the first half (as opposed to 17 for Charlotte as a team).

After the game, Adams admitted he’s more comfortable with the team this season. “There’s just something … understanding the system more,” Adams said. “And especially with the guards, how they play the pick-and-roll and the late reads. There’s more of a comfort with that aspect of it. Last year, I was either helping too early or too late, and I think now I’m starting to get a better feel for when to go.”

“Knowing the guys a bit more and what they want to do,” Adams continued. “It’s also a new year. It’s kind of hard not to compare it to last year because you assume that the refs are the same and teams are emphasizing something on defense, but that’s not the case.”

Adams added, “They emphasize different things and especially against us, they’ll change the scout completely. And there’s a lot of that going on too, strategically. I have to be an option in terms of being available offensively or being aggressive to punish them when they try and make an adjustment to deal with [Desmond Bane] and Ja [Morant].”

Highlights

And Brooks’ daughter had her own highlight.

Up Next 

The Grizzlies will take on the Washington Wizards on Sunday (5pm) and the Boston Celtics on Monday (8pm). 

Brooks said he is already thinking about how he will guard Bradley Beal on Sunday.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Amid Second Half Woes, Grizzlies Fall to Thunder 126-122

The Grizzlies’ loss to Oklahoma City Wednesday night was easily the most frustrating loss of the season, and unfortunately, it overshadowed the best game of Brandon Clarke’s young NBA career.

Props to OKC because they clearly just wanted this win more, coming back from a 24-point deficit and wearing the Grizzlies down, to take a 126-122 win in Oklahoma City.

The Thunder also had an unexpected X factor — Dennis Schroder, who led all scorers with 31 points, 22 of which came in the second half.


By the numbers:

    *      Brandon Clarke finished the night with a career-high 27 points, 7 rebounds.

  • Jonas Valanciunas had another monster game offensively, with 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. 
  • Ja Morant scored 22 points, along with 5 rebounds and 7 assists. 
  • Dillon Brooks finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. 


What went wrong?

While the Grizzlies have notably struggled during 3rd quarters this season, it was in the 4th quarter where the proverbial wheels fell completely off Wednesday night. Things started going downhill towards the end of the 3rd quarter, when the Thunder went on a 19-5 run, capped off with a buzzer-beater by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Thunder followed that up by outscoring the Grizzlies by 11 points in the 4th quarter.

A few more of the factors that contributed to this dumpster fire of a loss:

  • Turnovers, foul trouble, and free throws.
  • Eight Grizzlies turnovers in the 4th quarter led to 10 points for the Thunder.
    Meanwhile, the Grizzlies only managed to score two points off of four OKC turnovers.
  • Memphis getting into the penalty with five minutes left in the game.
  • OKC shot and made ten free throws in the 4th; Memphis made 2-of-4 free throws.
  • Jaren Jackson Jr. In foul trouble and benched two minutes into the 4th quarter.
  • Ja Morant missing two critical free throws with 1:19 remaining in the game.
  • Poor coaching decisions through the final 10 minutes of the game.

The foul call against Jaren Jackson Jr. at the 10:12 mark should have been contested by Coach Taylor Jenkins. Jackson was called for his 5th personal foul against Thunder center Steven Adams, even though the replay video appeared to show Adams tripping over his own foot.

This is exactly the sort of play where the coach’s challenge should have been utilized. If not on that one, certainly on another bad call on ball possession at the 9:02 mark, which allowed OKC an extra possession which led to a field goal.

Understandably, Jackson was subbed out for Jonas Valanciunas after that 5th personal foul, but it made absolutely zero sense for him to sit the entire rest of the game. There is no universe in which Solomon Hill should be on the floor in a close game situation while Jackson still has one foul remaining.

Let’s hope this was a learning experience for Jenkins as well as the team.

Who Got Next?

The Grizzlies are headed to Cleveland to face off against the Cavaliers Friday, December 20th, at 6 p.m. CST.