Now what? - Memphis Grizzly Bears | Basketball initiates
Now what? – Memphis Grizzly Bears | Basketball initiates
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How realistically can the Memphis Grizzlies improve next season?
They have a nascent star in Ja Morant. In his second year in the NBA, the former Rookie of the Year averaged 19.1 points, 7.4 assists and four rebounds per game. He helped guide the Grizzlies out of the play-in tournament, first fending off the San Antonio Spurs, then entering the bay and scoring 35 runs to go with six assists, six rebounds and four steals to ward off Stephen Curry. , Draymond Green and company.
And while Memphis was beaten against the Utah Jazz, Morant helped his team to victory in Game 1 and followed it with a performance of 47 points and 7 assists in the following contest.
Dillon Brooks also used the playoffs to solidify his importance in the growth of the franchise. As the defender primarily responsible for guarding DeMar DeRozan, the fourth-year winger helped frustrate the Spurs top scorer, who scored five of his 21 field goals, finishing with 20 ineffective points. And in the final quarter, Brooks scored eight straight points for the Grizzlies, helping them take a lead they never gave up.
In his first look at the playoffs, Brooks averaged 25.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.4 steals while conceding 51.5% of the 19.4 shots he took per game, including 40 % of four three-point attempts he has hoisted per game. In this Game 1 victory over the Jazz, he scored 31 points, a record high.
While Morant and Brooks have used this season to reinforce what they mean for the Grizzlies, it’s unclear how much Jaren Jackson Jr. can help elevate the franchise beyond the point of having to fight throughout the game. play-in tournament. Maybe become a legitimate title contender at some point.
This reality is not Jackson’s fault. The fourth overall pick in the 2018 Draft suffered a meniscus tear in his left knee when the 2019-20 campaign resumed in the Orlando bubble. The injury has cost him all but 11 games this season. Understandably, he looked rusty as he returned to the lineup, especially at long range. After making 39.4% of his 6.5 three-point attempts last season, he has converted just 28.3% of 5.5 shots from beyond the arc this year.
Despite his struggles as a shooter, in those 11 games, Jackson still managed to produce 14.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. And in a January interview with Marc Spears of the Undefeated, Jackson confirmed he had reached seven feet tall. This boost could help him become an even more impactful rim protector. Hopefully he uses this offseason to regain his shooting pace and develop the rest of his game so he can fit back into the Grizzlies core to move forward. Trading him now, before he had that opportunity, and while his value is probably less than what it will be next season, seems premature. But if the 2021-22 campaign plays out in a more miserable fashion, it could cause Memphis to leave Jackson if he hasn’t already.
As for the rest of the Grizzlies roster, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Zach Kleiman has done a tremendous job putting together a squad filled with quality young players such as Morant, Brooks, Jackson, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane and Xavier Tillman. That’s why he received a long-term extension earlier this month.
This offseason, the most urgent decision the franchise must make is whether or not to exercise Justise Winslow’s $ 13 million team option. The Grizzlies acquired the former 10th overall pick in the hopes it would fill their need for a big defensive wing and give them another offensive playmaker. However, injuries, starting with the back injury he suffered with the Miami HEAT, limited him to 27 disappointing games with Memphis, including a playoff appearance. Turning down the option year would go a long way in ensuring the Grizzlies have enough cap space this offseason, but they would be looking to fill in the same boxes that he didn’t tick for them, and the free agent market. lack of enticing options. If they’re determined to acquire an upgrade, a trade-in makes the most sense. Otherwise, they can give Winslow one last chance in a season where the schedule is less condensed to see if he can fill one of the team’s most notable holes.
In addition to finding more output in both directions of a large wing, Memphis’ attack needs to become more dynamic. To their credit, the Grizzlies relentlessly attack paint, smash offensive glass, and feast on turnovers. But they’ve taken the NBA’s seventh under-threes this season, attempting just 31.4 per game. For context, the Oklahoma City Thunder threw 35.1, and they placed 13th. The Jazz set a record of 43 per competition. They weren’t particularly effective at long range either, converting 11.2 of those attempts, resulting in a 35.6% success rate, numbers that rank 24th and 20th, respectively.
It’s no secret that this is the weakest part of Morant’s game offensively. He’s averaged 3.8 threes per game this season and has managed 30.3 percent. In order for him to unleash his full potential, he must become a respectable long-range shooter. It’s one thing for defenses to prefer him for shooting beyond the arc, but quite another for them to sag considerably, compromising his ability to attack the rim.
It would also be up to Memphis to go to the free throw line more often. Despite how often Morant and his company lobbied the rim, the Grizzlies managed 21.3 free throws per game, tying the Orlando Magic for 17th place. For his part, Morant averaged 5.9 in the regular season and increased that number to eight in the playoffs. However, despite enormous body control, he does a lot of hard falls around the basket which is reminiscent of a young Dwyane Wade. Morant has a very effective float that he should start to lean on even more, and increased skill beyond the arc could also help reduce the amount of punishment Morant takes in training towards the rim.
Defensively, Memphis is particularly good at putting pressure on the ball. The Grizzlies tied the Philadelphia 76ers in generating the most steals per game this season (9.1). That, combined with their effectiveness in limiting their opponents’ second chance opportunities, grabbing 35.3 defensive rebounds per game, the ninth-tallest in the NBA this season, went a long way in helping Memphis teams reach 110. 5 points per 100 possessions, the seventh best defensive rating in the league. However, the Grizzlies need to beef up their three-point defense. Opponents average a check mark under 13 and have made three per game against them, converting 36.7% of their attempts over the arc, both ranked 18th in the league.
Internal improvement will likely be the key to most of Memphis’ growth next season. But they have the 17th pick in the draft, and as previously reported, with so many young talent on their roster, their exploration of the commercial market could be how they correct some of their weaknesses and strengthen the supporting cast around Morant.
On the horizon, tough decisions regarding rookie extensions, especially regarding Jackson’s next contract, loom; Additionally, key veterans such as Jonas Valanciunas and Kyle Anderson are entering the final year of their contracts. A patient approach may be the best, but there is also no guarantee that a player’s value will increase or even stay the same next season. This is all the more reason for the Grizzlies to thoroughly examine the possibilities available to them in the commercial market.
Memphis doesn’t have a clear path to the title, but has a franchise cornerstone, a loaded roster of young talent, and the Grizzlies are in good shape when it comes to the cap. They also have a lightly protected 2024 first-round pick that the Warriors owe them, which could become a valuable asset that helps them move up. Whether they achieve this and how high they climb depends on their creativity, diligence and luck. Time will tell us.
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