The first half of the Memphis Grizzlies-Charlotte Hornets game went exactly as you would’ve expected it to go. Memphis dominated the Hornets in almost ever aspect of the game. The Grizzlies scored 78 points in the first 24 minutes of the contest and were up by 30 at halftime.
Then the third quarter happened - and Charlotte won that frame 36-28. Now it’s important to point out that Memphis still won the game. Decisively. And sometimes, when you’re bludgeoning someone so badly, you can lose focus and play with your proverbial food.
But how Memphis “allowed” the Hornets to “hang around” was reminiscent of how the Grizzlies have lost games to better teams this year. And it served as a reminder that while the trade machine is fun, internal improvement is the straightest path for growth for Ja Morant and company.
Where must Memphis improve? I am so glad you asked.
TURNOVERS. In the first half against the Hornets, the Grizzlies committed seven turnovers. In the third quarter? Eight turnovers were committed by Memphis. This is usually where people point out the pace that the Grizzlies play with - the fastest in the league - and how more possessions and pushing tempo will naturally lead to more turnovers.
Yes...but that doesn’t change the fact that before last night’s game 16% of Grizzlies possessions ended in a turnover, placing Memphis 24th out of 30 teams in the Association in turnover rate as a team per Cleaning the Glass. That’s not good enough, regardless of how fast you play. Protect possessions, keep chances to score, limit transition and easy opportunities for your opponent.
Sloppy play leads to competitive stretches with bad teams and losses to good ones.
FOULS. When the Grizzlies offense is in rhythm, it is a sight to behold. But Memphis at times slows themselves down by their inability to defend without fouling. The Grizzlies going in to the Hornets game were again 24th in the NBA in another statistic per Cleaning the Glass - opponents free throws made per 100 field goal attempts.
This was an issue last season too...but remember, Memphis was really bad last season. Staying in front of live ball creators, keeping verticality...these are things that night in and night out create problems for Memphis. And it brings games to a crawl...and allows for opponents to either close Memphis leads or build upon their own with the clock stopped.
And without the Grizzlies getting out and running.
USE ZACH EDEY BETTER. The Edey point has been made in this newsletter before. It is as if the coaching staff doesn’t trust Edey to do much beyond the basics of screening and rebounding for short stretches of time. Mark Williams, the Hornets big man who has been playing better of late, had a career night against Memphis. He scored efficiently in the paint and dominated the lane.
If only Memphis had a legitimate center who could’ve made him earn it more consistently. Oh, the Grizzlies do...and yet he only played 19 minutes in the contest. If Edey can’t get the job done, Memphis needs to trade for a center who can. Because the West has centers that are better than Mark Williams.
Several of them.
