Memphis Grizzlies
The 2020-21 Memphis Grizzlies season can be defined by winning both play-in games to make the playoffs as the 8-seed in the wild West.
What did we learn?
There is more Grit ‘N Grind lingering within this group than you’d think. It was the defense that was their rock this season, finishing 7th in the NBA in defensive efficiency.
Memphis was able to overcome playing the majority of the season without Jaren Jackson Jr, their second-best player who did not make his season debut until April 21st, recovering from his repaired meniscus surgery.
Ja Morant also suffered a nasty high-ankle sprain in the third game of the season that was supposed to cause him to miss 5 weeks. Ja missed 18 days and eight games — the only games that he would miss all season save for the second-to-last game of the season. The Grizzlies went 4-4 in those early eight games without Ja and it was a “next man up” mentality all season long from a team that played together as a unit. The Grizzlies finished this season with a whopping twelve different game leading scorers. TWELVE.
We had pondered if the Grizzlies this season would struggle to replicate their young surprise team success from 2019-20 with the element of surprise being gone, but when you play sound team basketball like this team does, they can get through almost any storm.
It all starts with Ja. The Grizz feed off his energy, they embrace his fearlessness. There might be more Westbrookian tendencies with Morant than we originally thought, but you will always take the guy who has the unwavering confidence that he’s going to get the job done. Ja is about that life.
Dillon Brooks further emerged from a tough-nosed irritant defender to an increasingly well-rounded player, contributing even more on offense. In the 10 games that Brooks scored 24+ points, the Grizz went 8-2. On defense, Brooks can shadow pretty much anybody, locking them up and squandering their ability to get open, free or comfortable.
Jonas Valanciunas was as important as ever, the backbone of the defense and the enforcer down low. Valanchoony set career-high marks in field goal percentage and rebounds per game for the second straight season.
Grayson Allen continues to prove that he is seriously a player you want in today’s game, shooting 39 percent from 3 on 5.5 attempts per game. Three-point shooting burgeoned from elsewhere, too. Rookie Desmond Bane knocked down a remarkable 43 percent of his 3’s on four attempts per game, and De’Athony Melton wasn’t far behind at 41 percent also on four attempts per game. Melton shot a putrid 28.6 percent from 3 just the season before, adding another component to his plug-and-play style off the bench for the Grizz. It’s so helpful to have players like that who are a boon for any lineup.
On the other hand, Brandon Clarke’s three-point shooting dropped from an average 36 percent down to a wistful 26 percent. On low volume, yes, but BC’s numbers dropped across the board after his very efficient rookie season. Expectations might have been too high for Clarke who can still jump with mad hops and use his athleticism to provide help in other ways. His assists, steals and blocks per game numbers were all up.
Kyle Anderson really stepped up when Ja missed time with the ankle injury. It was the best season of Slow-Mo’s career, starting the most games for the Grizzlies this season at a very nice 69.
We learned who Xavier Tillman is, a rookie who was already good pals with JJJ from Michigan State, a ready-made role player from the jump. A couple of other WHO HE!? characters: rookie Killian Tillie from Gonzaga and second-year John Konchar a.k.a. Big Jitty from Purdue-Fort Wayne.
The return of Jaren Jackson in April took some ironing out as JJJ played limited minutes and didn’t quite have this 3-point shot under him yet. He’s still sure not reluctant to hoist them, though.
The Grizz took care of both the Spurs and Warriors in the play-in behind the same sound team-ball they played with all season. And Ja showed out on the biggest stage against the Jazz in Round 1, averaging 30 points a game and dropping an electric 47 points in Game 2, announcing his arrival to the playoffs by taking it right to Gobert almost every chance he got.
The Grizzlies didn’t have enough three-point shooting in the end to hang with the Jazz, but this is a definite unit that maximizes everyone’s talents together. Props to head coach Taylor Jenkins.
It honestly feels kinda Spurs-y up in here, which is crazy to say just two years in, but there are innate qualities of winning programs that these Grizzlies have.
Now it’s time for the real winning to begin.
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Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
Over 30.5 wins, putting our trust in Ja on this one.
Grizzlies 2020-21 Record: (38-34)
YES, our preseason Over/Under prediction hit!
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What’s Next?
At the #17 pick in the draft, would you play it safe or take a swing for the fences? It feels like the Grizzlies will go the sure route, but rolling the dice here could lead to a big payoff.
The Grizzlies have 13 players under contract heading into next season, so maneuvering this roster will require a trade. Memphis is a very rare team that currently does not have any one player set to make more than $14 million per year next season.
The Grizz could decline Justise Winslow’s $13 million team option, though, which would give them some cap space. Winslow still can’t shoot a lick, a deplorable 35% from the field and egregious 18.5% from 3. Yet his all-position defense is still pretty useful.
Keep JJJ healthy for an entire season! In his first three seasons, JJJ has missed 98 games which makes his upcoming rookie extension an intriguing one.
Continue to mesh the lingering elements of Grit ‘N Grind with The Fun House.
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Favorite Grizzlies Highlight from the 2020-21 Season:
In his second career playoff game, Ja dropped his career-high in points on the road against one of the top defenses in the league.
Fearless.
