Before you roll your eyes at the thought of the Grizzlies having the deepest roster in the NBA, picture this. It is November 10th. You have three starters out - your entire back court, among them a top-15 player in the entire Association in Ja Morant. Beyond that, you are down two key bench rotation pieces who figure in to both your present and future.
Do that math. It is 50% of your rotation that you are missing.
Now go out and beat the Portland Trail Blazers by 45 points.
Sure, Portland is not very good and isn’t really trying to be. But to dominate the Trail Blazers - a team with only one player on the injury report, Matisse Thybulle - that completely with so many Memphis contributors out is significant.
Want to call the Trail Blazers effort in to question? That’s fair. But explain how Memphis won, with the same key players out (including Ja and Desmond Bane), against Washington in a double-digit fashion?
Sure, they are another bottom feeder in the NBA at this point. But with so many players out due to injury, Memphis is depending on guys like Jay Huff, and Scotty Pippen Jr., and other players who have spent more time in the G-League than the NBA.
They’re just meeting that moment - and Memphis is 7-4 because of it.
The depth begins with Jaren Jackson Jr., who continues to shine when given the opportunity to be the best player on the floor for the Grizzlies. This isn’t an argument for moving on from Ja Morant or Desmond Bane. It’s an acknowledgement of the leap that JJJ has made as a player on both ends of the floor, but especially offensively.
He’s a walking, talking mismatch. And that will only become more pronounced once Ja and Bane are back.
Beyond the former All-Star who perhaps you argue we should expect great contributions from, take your pick. Santi Aldama is well on his way to a career season. Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey both are looking to be tremendous draft selections and contributors. Jake LaRavia had six - SIX! - “stocks” (blocks and steals) against Portland.
The previously mentioned Huff and Pippen Jr. - you know, the former G-Leaguers - combined for 29 points on 16 shots. Luke Kennard had an off shooting night, but posted 11 assists against the Trail Blazers.
11 assists! From a three point specialist!
The new-look Grizzlies offense deserves credit for this development. The players are getting more comfortable in the scheme, and the movement/motion taxes opposing defenses. But the scouting and development of these players is also significant. Once healthy (if that ever actually happens) Memphis will have 13 - 13! - players that you can legitimately argue are NBA rotation contributors.
Given how banged up the Grizzlies have been over the last season and change, that makes a world of difference. How Head Coach Taylor Jenkins and the front office utilizes that depth in the months ahead will be fascinating to see.
