After a weekend of bad vibes and worse news as the injury list kept growing and growing and growing, finally some positivity hit the Memphis Grizzlies news cycle. Ja Morant’s shoulder injury is a Grade 1 AC Joint Sprain, meaning he is week to week - and not out for a longer stretch as could’ve been possible.
That breeze you felt around 7 PM CT yesterday was the city of Memphis exhaling.
But Ja will be out tonight against the Phoenix Suns - as will Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke, and Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, and Santi Aldama.
That is a lot of production on the bench - not to mention the likes of GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., who of course remain out.
Phoenix is floundering, but the Suns still have a healthy Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to contend with. Devin Booker is now questionable for the game as well, meaning there’s a chance the Suns Big Three takes on a Grizzlies team whose 3rd man in such an alignment right now would be Jaylen Wells.
Far from ideal. But the Memphis Grizzlies must still play the game. How can they win tonight - and moving forward - even in their current state?
Shoot the heck out of the three ball.
Assuming the starting five remains Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, John Konchar, and Jaren Jackson Jr., there are five potential threats (theoretical threats - looking at you, Konchar) from three. That level of “gravity” can be a benefit to a team bereft of dribble penetration scoring beyond their stars.
Then consider the key reserves are the likes of Cam Spencer, Jay Huff, and Luke Kennard? Letting that basketball fly from beyond the arc isn’t just a prayer to keep games close - it’s a legitimate strategy. Memphis loves to touch the paint every offensive possession, but more often than not those drives and cuts should result in kicking to open shooters. It’s what they have in terms of personnel at the moment.
So lean in to it. Set some records. Make it rain.
Protect the rock.
With great pace, comes greater propensity to commit turnovers. That isn’t surprising - it’s simple arithmetic. More possessions, more lost possessions. Unfortunately for Memphis, with so many offensive options out at the moment, that really cannot be a thing. The Grizzlies need every chance they can get to score the basketball.
Against the Thunder the Grizzlies had 21 turnovers, which led to 33 Oklahoma City points. There’s just no way Memphis can endure such a lopsided split. They must be less careless, even if that means sacrificing a possession or two pace-wise.
Let stars be stars.
Desmond Bane has had a resurgence of late. Over his last 10 games per ESPN he is shooting at a 51.4% overall/41.5% from beyond the arc/92.3% from the charity stripe clip. It goes without saying, but that is really good.
Between teams like the Suns not having players that can defend Jaren Jackson Jr. (he went off against Phoenix last season) and Bane’s return to form? Sometimes it’s easy.
Those two get paid lots of money. Time to work.
