Tag: Tyus Jones

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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. 

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The Grizzlies Lost Their Mojo Against Atlanta

(via Grizzlies Twitter)

The Memphis Grizzlies did indeed have a “Black Friday” the day after Thanksgiving.

Memphis lost 132-100 to the Atlanta Hawks in a lopsided affair. With 3:12 left in the first period, the team’s most significant setback was losing Ja Morant to injury, which the team is now classifying as a knee sprain. Morant eventually made his way back to the bench in a black hoodie to show his support for his team.

After the game Taylor Jenkins was asked about the locker room mood regarding the loss and Morant’s injury. He stated, “I think the guys are trying to stay positive. Obviously, a really tough loss. Sticking together through all of this. Trying to find ways to continue to get better. Obviously not our night and hopeful for the best.”

Jenkins added, “I think seeing the way he [Morant] went off the floor sent shockwaves through the team. Obviously, the Hawks played really, really well tonight. We had a lot of looks that didn’t fall tonight so definitely the mojo was kind of lost.”

In the end, the Hawks made the Grizzlies pay for losing their mojo.

Back-up guard Tyus Jones also discussed the team’s mood after Morant went down. “Any time you see that, it kind of takes the wind out of your sail,” Jones said.

“We tried to rally together, but everyone knows how kind of a big deal that was. We fought the first half. Felt like we left some points on the board. The second half they just came out and hit us first. That was the difference in the game.”

Afterward, Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled to articulate his thoughts on Morant’s injury.

“It’s tough when you see stuff like that,” Jackson said. “He brings a lot to the game, he brings a lot to our team, to people who are riding for him. And for us, that’s our brother, I don’t want to see anybody hurting. I don’t want to see him hurting like this. I don’t want to see that.”

Both Jones and Jackson realize that the team must come together to deal with the loss of Morant.

“Ja’s going to be there every step of the way for however long he’s out,” Jackson went on to say. “His voice is going to be definitely around. He’s going to be supporting guys. He’s going to be telling everybody what they need to hear. We know that from the jump. That’s just his mentality. I just know that’s how he’s going to be.”

He continued, “In whatever he needs to do, he’s going to give it his all and work like how we know he is. We know that every single person in the locker room is a warrior too.”

“Everybody’s going to ride for each other. You’re supposed to lean on your brother so you can lean on each other. That’s what it’s going to be. It’s going to take a lot. There’s a gap there. You know what he brings. Everyone has to find a way to bring it. We all have to step up. It does have to be that mentality. That’s the mentality he would want. He would want us to just go out there and fight no matter what. That’s what we’re going to do. We’ve got a game in two days, so it’s time to lock in. Every day is a process. You’re not going to win the game during the game. Tomorrow we’re going to regroup and figure out what we need to do and be ultimately ready. It’s that time.”

For Morant’s return, there was no set timetable. It’s time for the Grizzlies to get their act together because they’ll be facing a hungry Sacramento Kings team on Sunday at 5 p.m. CT at the FedExForum. On Friday night, the Kings beat the Lakers in a dramatic triple overtime thriller.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Jones and Morant Lead Grizzlies Past Nuggets

Desmond Bane (left) and Tyus Jones (Credit: Larry Kuzniewski)

This was the best performance by the Grizzlies’ bench all season, led by Tyus Jones (17 points), Xavier Tillman (12 points), and Kyle Anderson (nine points) as the Grizzlies’ bench exploded for 43 points.

Tillman was pleased with the second unit’s big night performance. He said, “It was huge. Especially since the Miami game. It felt like the bench was nonexistent, there were times in that game when they went on an even bigger run with us in there. For us to bounce back in today’s game and actually go on runs ourselves and set the tone was huge.” 

Tillman also praised Jones for his work on the floor. He added, “Even when his shots aren’t falling he knows where everyone is supposed to be. He knows what the defense is going to do on a specific play, so he’s able to put guys in the right position. Tonight was special because we talk about being ready to shoot at all times, and today he showed that for sure.”

Along with his season-high in points, Jones also had eight rebounds, five assists, two steals, and shot 5 of 7 from beyond the arc to round out his performance as the Grizzlies defeated the Nuggets 106-97. The 25-year-old back-up guard made the most of his extended minutes. 

Having Jones and Morant share the court for so long was a gamble that paid off handsomely for Memphis.

It became clear during Taylor Jenkins’ postgame news conference why he decided to give Jones and Ja Morant more playing time together. He elaborated as follows: “I think it’s a combination of things. It’s something I definitely want to try. I want to see what those two guys can do together. It’s having more creators on the floor. It puts Ja in different positions, puts Tyus in different positions. 

Jenkins added, “Obviously, he shot the heck out of the ball tonight, that being Tyus. Also, just getting a feel for the game. I wanted to explore lineups with them together. He was playing great, giving us a boost on the offensive end, did some good things competitive on the ball defensively with a hot hand. He had a great game and it paid off for us.”

Jones appreciates having more time on the court with Morant. He said, “Me and 12 [Morant] talk about that all the time. I’m glad it happened tonight. We love it because it allows us to play fast and, having two point guards on the court who pride themselves on having a high basketball IQ, we try to make it easier for everyone else. It allows me to take some pressure off Ja and giving him different looks on that side of the floor. We love it and it worked for us tonight.”

For the past three years, Morant said he and Jones had discussed the possibility of playing together more often. He explained, “I definitely love it. I feel like we play with a way better pace — I don’t have to be on the ball. With Tyus  being such a good creator on the floor for everybody and also himself allowed me to just sit back so pretty much just getting stops, getting out and run, having another ball handler out there to be able to go into actions if teams try to take me away.” 

According to Morant, he and Jones are pass first point guards of the same pedigree. Morant added, “We both got a little switch we can turn off; tonight showed he’s capable of scoring the ball as well and as long as he continues to shoot it and force the defense to lock in on him more and it opens it up for everybody else. That’s how I look at it when I attack the game. As of late he’s been doing the same thing, shooting the ball really well — so you got to keep him aggressive and comfortable when he’s out there.”

Tidbits

With his first assist of the game, Morant surpassed the 1,000-assist mark for his career. The third year guard is in good company. 

Only Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Damon Stoudamire, and Trae Young have scored more than 2,500 points and dished out more than 1,000 assists faster than Ja Morant (137 games).

While on the subject of Morant, his early-season MVP performances continue to astound the NBA basketball world. 

The 22-year-old finished the game with a near triple double of 26 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

Anderson also reached the milestone of 1,000 career assists during the game.

Up Next

As part of a back-to-back, the Grizzlies and Nuggets will meet again at FedExForum on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT to conclude their two-game series.

Desmond Bane (left) and Tyus Jones (Credit: Larry Kuzniewski)
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Beyond the Arc Sports

It’s Do or Die Time for the Grizzlies

(Photo courtesy of Noah Magaro-George of SB Nation)

The Grizzlies finished the regular season 38–34 as the ninth seed in the West and will battle the 10th-seeded San Antonio Spurs – who finished the season at 33-39 – in Game 1 of the Western Conference NBA Play-in Tournament.

Memphis went 2-1 against San Antonio in the 2020-21 season series with the road team winning each game.

In the regular season finale, Memphis fell in a heartbreaker on the road against the Golden State Warriors, 113-101 on Sunday afternoon.

The Grizzlies had won five consecutive games including four at home. However, the Spurs are on a four-game losing streak to end the regular season and have won just two of their last 12 games.

The winner of this matchup will take on the loser of Game 2 of the Western Conference NBA Play-in Tournament later tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.

So Memphis or San Antonio will have a chance to battle for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs by taking on the Lakers or the Warriors.

Keys to move forward in the play-in tournament

Ja Morant simply has to play better

The Grizzlies can’t win many games when Morant goes 7-for-21 from the field. After the loss against the Warriors, he called his performance unacceptable.

Morant must be aggressive from the start by attacking the basket and finishing at the rim. He must pick the Spurs defense apart.

This season, teams have found ways to limit him, but he must fight his way through it and be the best version of himself. The team can only go as far as he’s willing to take them. That’s a lot on his young shoulders, but I believe he will be up for the challenge in this do-or-die game.

Feed 17

Use Jonas Valanciunas as an advantage when the threes are not falling.

Valanciunas has been one of the Grizzlies best players this season, averaging career-highs of 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds. His presence has allowed Memphis to lead the league in points in the paint at 55.8 per game.

In the season finale, Valanciunas finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds. He has to be the catalyst on offense, especially when shots aren’t falling.

The real Grizzlies bench has to show up

The bench has to play better, without question. The second unit performance against the Warriors probably was one of the worst of the season.

The secondaries scored a combined 14 points and couldn’t take advantage while Stephen Curry was on the bench. The Warriors’ Jordan Poole alone outscored the Grizzlies bench with 15 points. The Grizzlies bench averages 39.1 points for the season.

Tyus Jones and company must show up in this elimination game or the Grizzlies will be going fishing with a disappointing end to the season.

The game is set for tip-off inside the FedExForum at 6:30 pm CT and can be viewed exclusively on ESPN.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies?

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

Larry Kuzniewski

Jaren Jackson Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies entered the NBA Bubble sitting nicely in position for the 8th seed.
They were ahead of the other Western Conference teams volleying for the final playoff spot by 3.5 games. Players such as Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen, who had been sidelined with injuries before the season was put on hold, returned from the hiatus healthy and ready to play. Trade deadline acquisition Justise Winslow was said to be healed and ready to be put into rotation.

So, entering the bubble, the squad was healthy, hungry, and ready to compete for their playoff spot. Things were looking up for a change, and the immediate future for the young Grizzlies appeared bright. Unfortunately, it was not to be meant to be. Much like the year 2020 itself, things have rapidly gone from bad to worse, health-wise, for this team.

Not Great:
First, there was Winslow re-injuring himself in practice and once again landing on the injured list. When he was signed, it was already expected that Winslow would not hit the court in a Grizzlies uniform until next season. Injuries always suck, and by all accounts, Winslow had been playing well in resumed practices. However, as disappointing as it was, it did not leave the Grizzlies any worse off than they were when the season was put on hold back in March.

Next came the series of scrimmage games, the Bubble’s version of a preseason. In those three scrimmage games, the Grizzlies finished 1-2. Again, not great but could be attributed in part to rust from the long hiatus.

Bad:
On July 29th Grizzlies PR informed us that guard Tyus Jones was experiencing knee soreness.

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies?

The Grizzlies went on to play the first of eight seeding games on July 31st — which they lost to the Portland Trailblazers in overtime. This loss can be attributed largely to poor decision making down the stretch and missing free throws.

Game two was a loss against the San Antonio Spurs. Game three was an even bigger loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Sensing the pattern here yet? Hint: It’s not winning.

The Worst:

Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks have both struggled with shooting in the games played so far. In fact, it has been Jaren Jackson Jr. who has been the biggest standout through the first three games. In a heartbreaking turn of events, it was revealed that Jackson Jr. had suffered a season-ending injury in Sunday’s loss to the Pelicans.

Has the Bubble Popped for the Grizzlies? (2)

There are still five games remaining in the season, in theory still time to stack some wins and hold on to their playoff spot. But the loss of Jaren Jackson Jr. might be too much for this young team to overcome. The odds are not in the Grizzlies favor.
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Beyond the Arc Sports

Morant Saves the Day as Grizzlies Top Wizards 106–99

Ja Morant

Is anyone else sensing a pattern here? It will almost certainly not be the last time we witness Ja Morant put this Grizzlies team on his shoulders, but watching it against the Wizards on Monday reminded me of just how special a player this young man is. Down five heading into the 4th quarter, and by as much as 12 earlier in the match, it seemed as though it was all over but the shouting. Spoiler alert: Reader, it was not. 

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s SuperJa! 

If you didn’t think some variation of that phrase last night during the 4th quarter of the Grizzlies @ Wizards game, do you even basketball? 

Messed Around and Got a Triple-Double
Morant achieved his first ever NBA triple-double against the Wizards. When the dust had cleared, Morant led all scorers with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The Good
Ja Morant’s 4th quarter heroics combined with some lockdown defense won the game, as Memphis was able to hold Washington to just 14 points on 4-25 shooting in the final frame. 

Brandon Clarke finished the night with 9 points and 6 rebounds, including a clutch 3-point make in the 4th that helped spur the team to victory. 

The Grizzlies came up big in the 4th on both the offensive and defensive glass, with 6 offensive rebounds and 17 defensive rebounds. You did read that correctly, Memphis had 23 boards in just the 4th quarter. Most of those rebounds came courtesy of … you guessed it: Ja Morant.
Overall, the Grizzlies won the rebounding battle with 62 total boards to the Wizards 50. 

The Bad and the Ugly
Once again, outside shooting woes plagued the squad, with just 5-of-32 makes from distance. This is the second game in a row where the Grizzlies have struggled to get outside shots to fall. Free throws were also a struggle as the Grizzlies went 15-of-25 from the charity stripe.

Turnovers remain a problem for Memphis as well, as does preventing their opponent from converting those turnovers into points. Case in point – the Wizards scored 18 points off the Grizzlies 15 turnovers. 

The Grizzlies might have the highest assist percentage in the league, but the Wizards came out ahead with 25 assists on 35 made baskets, while Memphis had just 19 assists on 43 made baskets. 

Jaren Jackson Jr.  and Dillon Brooks both got into foul trouble early. Unfortunately, this is a familiar story from Jackson Jr.  and Brooks this season, and an area I hope we will see some improvement on after the All-Star break. 

 

By The Numbers:

Ja Morant – 27 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists 

Kyle Anderson – 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists 

Jaren Jackson Jr. – 14 points, 11 rebounds 

Jonas Valanciunas – 8 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks 

Tyus Jones- 13 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists 

 

Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will return to their home court Wednesday night, as they face off against the Portland Trail Blazers in the last game before the All-Star break. Tip-off is at 7PM CST

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Oh, What a Night! Grizzlies Win — On the Court and Off

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

What a Wednesday night for the Memphis Grizzlies! The team was in Dallas to face the Mavericks when a pending trade was announced and Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill were pulled from the lineup. 

The Grizzlies have traded Andre Iguodala to the Miami Heat, according to ESPN Adrian Wojnarowski. And Justice Winslow is part of the trade package that has yet to be officially announced, as other teams are reportedly trying to finish a deal with the Grizzlies and the Heat. The trade deadline expires today at 2 p.m. CST. 

Meanwhile, on the court, a short-handed Grizzlies team went up against the Mavericks, who were without their star player, Luka Doncic. The Grizzlies pulled off the victory, 121–107. 

Larry Kuzniewski

Tyus Jones

The Grizzlies bench outscored the Dallas second unit 54–26, led by point guard Tyus Jones, who finished with a career-high 19 points, including 13 in the third quarter. Jones ended with a perfect night, going 8-of-8 from the field along with 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. The former Duke product became the second player in franchise history to shoot 100 percent from the field (min. 8 FGA) and make at least three three-pointers since Vince Carter did it on March 13, 2017. 

Also contributing off the bench were Brandon Clarke ended with 18 points, six assists, and three rebounds in 24 minutes of play, and De’Anthony Melton, who added 10 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. 

Starter Ja Morant put up a team-high 21 points off of 10-of-12 shooting, with three assists, while Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 19 points, going 7-of-15 from the field and 4-of-8 from the 3-point line. The win improved the Grizzlies to 26–25, putting the team over .500 for the first time this season. 

For Dallas, Kristaps Porzingis had a game-high 32 points (10–20 FG, 5–11 3P), 12 rebounds, and two assists. Jalen Brunson chipped in 20 points, six assists, and two rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting. Tim Hardaway Jr. totaled 14 points and six rebounds. Former Grizzlies Courtney Lee added eight points, going 3-of-4 from the field. 


Larry Kuzniewski

Dillon Brooks

Dillon Brooks’ contract extension
The Grizzlies also announced last night that the team has signed guard/forward Dillon Brooks to a multi-year contract extension. Reportedly, the deal is worth $35 million dollars over three years. 

In his third NBA season, the 2017 Pac-12 Player of the Year is averaging 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.4 minutes through 51 games and is the only Grizzlies player to play and start in every game this season. Brooks has earned his way to being a part of the future of the franchise, alongside Morant and Jackson, Jr. 

His teammates took to Twitter to congratulate him on the his new deal. 

Quotes from Jaren Jackson Jr.

On going 13–3 over the past 16 games:

“Honestly, we usually forget these kinds of things, but it’s cool to hear it. It’s one of those things where you just have to take the good and the bad but keep understanding that there’s always more to be done. We don’t really dwell on anything too much but it’s nice to hear these things.”

On not having their veteran players on the court:
“It was tough. I experienced it last year. It was the same kind of thing. Everybody got moved right before the OKC game last year and that was tough. You kind of get a feel for what may happen, but you’re never really ready for it. I’m just glad we won.”

On growing from adversity:
“We just tell everybody in the locker room that it’s time to be a pro. We have to show why we’re here. It’s not just about playing hard. At the end of the day, this is our job. We signed up for a lot more than just a game itself, and sometimes that brings emotions. You don’t have to forget about your emotions. You just have to channel them the right way. Channel them to winning and doing good things. That’s what they would’ve wanted us to do anyway.” 

Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies will continue their road tour on Friday, February 7 to face the Philadelphia 76ers at 6 p.m.

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Beyond the Arc Sports

Quarter Season Progress Report Part One – The Kids Are Alright

Ja Morant

Disclaimer: The Memphis Grizzlies are in the early stages of a full rebuild, and it is with that knowledge that one should apply criticism or judgment. The scope of possible outcomes for this season is markedly different than if this were a team contending for a playoff spot. 


Which is not to say that there should be no accountability or expectations at all placed on this team for this season, but context is key. The metrics that I have chosen to use for this evaluation were with that context in mind. There is importance in managing expectations in line with where the team has started and for the phase of rebuilding they are in currently.

Read on to see how the Grizzlies have fared in the first quarter of the season, what progress they have made, and what areas could use improvement. 

In the interest of readability, this is going to be broken up into 2-3 parts, starting with the youngest Grizzlies.

Jaren Jackson Jr. – has been shooting the ball well, but his rebounding numbers are an area that could use some improvement. Ideally, Jackson Jr. should be doubling his rebound numbers over the course of the season. Staying out of foul trouble is another area that needs improvement. Grade: B+

Ja Morant – a bit turnover prone, although that isn’t unusual for a rookie. Morant has great assist numbers and is shooting well. He is a dynamic player who is lots of fun to watch, which is good, as he is the future of the point guard position in Memphis. Grade: A

Brandon Clarke – is good at just about everything. Shoots well, rebounds proficiently, doesn’t turn the ball much. Once he is off the injured report, Clarke should see his usage rate go up, hopefully. Also, he is (still) currently rated as the top rookie in the league for Wins produced. Grade: A+

Grayson Allen – so far Allen has been a pleasant surprise. Is he now or will he be a superstar in this league? Probably not. But he is showing that he can be a proficient role player and has statistically improved since his rookie season with the Jazz. Allen has so far improved his shooting percentage, rebound percentage, and free throw percentage. Allen is ranked 11th among sophomores in free throw shooting. Grade: B-

Tyus Jones – his Grizzlies tenure has been a bit underwhelming thus far. His assist numbers are decent, but his scoring has been nothing much to write home about. Even factoring in the increased minutes Jones has been playing with Morant unavailable, he’s still struggling offensively. On a positive note, he does typically stay out of foul trouble. Grade: C

 

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‘Funky Lineups’ Help Grizzlies End 6-Game Losing Streak

CREDIT: Larry Kuzniewski

The Grizzlies ended their six-game losing streak against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon, 115–107. Unlikely heroes emerged for the team, which played without Ja Morant (back soreness), Kyle Anderson (heel soreness) and big man Jonas Valanciunas (illness). To make matters worse, Brandon Clarke also left the game with an aggravated hip injury. 

Larry Kuzniewski

Dillon Brooks

Taylor Jenkins had clear instructions for his short-handed team on the road: “I hit the guys with a simple message that we were going to have some funky lineups up there and I just need guys going up there and competing,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about and that’s what we need to get back to and I’m super proud of them. To come out here against a playoff team, with a high level back-and-forth for our guys to dig down for 48 minutes it created energy for us and that’s the positive spirit we need to have, win or lose and to come out on top of that, cements the recipe we’re talking about.”

Larry Kuzniewski

Dillon Brooks, Taylor Jenkins

Jenkins continued, “Our bench was huge for us today and we got that production from our starters and our bench not just on the offensive side but our defense was amazing and it was a great team effort and these guys deserved it.”

Dillon Brooks led the Grizzlies with 26 points, going 4-of-5 from the three-point line.
When Brooks scores 20 or more points, this team usually wins. “We just found a way and figured it out, said Brooks of winning on the road. “It started with our defense and then we translated into our offense.”

‘Funky Lineups’ Help Grizzlies End 6-Game Losing Streak

Bruno Caboclo and De’Anthony Melton played significant minutes to help their team secure the victory. Caboclo added 12 points and 13 rebounds in 29 minutes for his first double-double of the season. With 12 pts and 10 rebounds in the 2nd half, Caboclo became the first reserve to post a double-double in a single half since Zach Randolph in 2016. Melton ended the game with nine points, a team-high eight assists, seven rebounds, and two steals in 23 minutes.

‘Funky Lineups’ Help Grizzlies End 6-Game Losing Streak (4)

‘Funky Lineups’ Help Grizzlies End 6-Game Losing Streak (3)

Notes

‘Funky Lineups’ Help Grizzlies End 6-Game Losing Streak (2)

In his first game back in Minnesota, Tyus Jones ended with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting, four rebounds, and seven assists.

“We did whatever we had to get a win at this point — and stop the losing streak we had been on, said Jones.” We corrected what needed to be corrected and it says a lot about this team and how we are able to stick with it. We came on the road here and beat a good team.”

Grayson Allen had a good game off the bench with 13 points on 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Allen also grabbed five rebounds.

For just the third time this season the Grizzlies outscored an opponent in the third period, 38-32. Jones said it was their focus to have a big third quarter. He said, “We talked about it at half-time and we wanted to come out and not let them go on a run and not let the third quarter be the difference in a negative way and let it be a positive for us.”

Solomon Hill tallied 11 points and five rebounds. Hill finished with a game high +22.

Karl-Anthony Towns was held to 7-of-21 from the field. He ended the game with 21 points and 12 rebounds. It was his 15th double-double of the season.

Quotables
Taylor Jenkins, Grizzlies head coach

On what it was that resulted in a strong second half…

“I think we let it slip away in the second quarter. We didn’t get a bucket, they would score, we turned it over and our guys were pissed off. They realized we had this lead on the road and we needed to go win a ball game and they kept their spirits up. They recognized that wasn’t good enough to finish, let’s come out the second half with our foot on the gas pedal and they started it with defense. It was a back and forth game but our guys had that mentality and broke through with the right stops, execution, and effort.”

Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies guard
On using unfamiliar lineups, but having success…

“We practice and we practice hard. Everyone’s focused, everyone knows the plays. Everyone is professional and is ready to contribute when their time comes. With Ja [Morant] out, Brandon [Clarke] out, Kyle [Anderson] out, and JV [Jonas Valanciunas], guys stepped up.”

On how the team defended Karl-Anthony Towns…

“We pressured the heck out of him, we didn’t want him getting to his spots. We just contested every single three he had. You know, he shot 1-for-10, that was great. A tribute to Jaren [Jackson]’s contests, Bruno [Caboclo]’s contests and just playing physical with him.”

Up Next
The Grizzlies return home to host the Indiana Pacers at FedExForum on Monday. Tip-off at 7 p.m. CST. 

Categories
Beyond the Arc Sports

Grizz Add Young Steady Hand In Tyus Jones

CREDIT: NBA.com

The Grizzlies officially added a young, yet experienced point guard in Tyus Jones. He can not only serve as a backup for rookie Ja Morant, but could also show the hand of what the organization will value this season. NBA.com

Tyus Jones

After conducting a sign-and-trade involving restricted free agent combo guard Delon Wright to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday afternoon, the Grizzlies offered Jones, a former Minnesota Timberwolves guard, an offer sheet later that night. The Timberwolves declined to match the three-year, $28-million dollar deal by the 48-hour deadline that ended Tuesday night, clearing the way for Jones to officially become a member of the Grizzlies.

Memphis used the Mid-Level Exception to sign Jones, which likely means that the Grizzlies are done as far as free agency is concerned, since they are over the salary cap without a ton of space under the luxury tax threshold. The Grizzlies have been limited in the amount that they are allowed to spend on incoming free agents for the past few years.

Jones, 23, is a fifth-year true point guard out of Duke University. He was named the 2015 NCAA Basketball Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as a freshman, after leading Duke to the championship, along with soon-to-be-Grizzlies-teammate Grayson Allen. Jones was picked at number 24 overall by Minnesota in the 2015 draft, just one spot ahead of Memphis, who drafted Jarell Martin. Jones was on the Grizzlies’ radar at the time, and now they have him in tow.

As a career 33-percent shooter from three-point range, Jones hasn’t shown a great ability to score from long distance. Last season was his worst percentage, at 31 percent, but he attempted fewer than two three-pointers per game, and only averages one-and-a-half three-pointers per game over his career. He is a clear pass-first, score-second point guard who averaged close to five assists last season while playing around 23 minutes a game.

The good news is that Jones set an NBA record last year with a 6.98-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is unheard of for someone who is a primary ball handler. Jones has shown that he values possessions and protects the ball at an elite level. He is also a pesky defender with a knack for making plays on the ball.

Since Jones is the first current NBA player the Zach Kleiman-led front office has signed, he possibly shows the direction the team is heading and the type of player the organization is looking to build around — high IQ playmakers who make the right decisions. While not a shooter, Jones is the type of player who can definitely set up his teammates. He has a contrasting style of play from the now-departed Delon Wright, but Jones is four years younger and has a desire to be a part of the Grizzlies rebuild. His elite-level playmaking — and the two future second-round picks that came along with the Dallas sign-and-trade — makes choosing Jones over Wright a push, at worst, in my opinion.

I look forward to seeing Jones accept his role as a backup to Morant, and I’m excited to see that he seems to embrace it. It’s been tossed around that Jones and Morant could play some together, but at only 6’2”, alongside Morant, who is only 6’3”, that could be a challenge. Jones will likely get more minutes in Memphis this season than he ever got with Minnesota. Hopefully his shooting percentages increase with more usage, in addition to his already proven playmaking and ball-protection skills.