Sure, it could’ve been fun focusing on the historic offensive output the Memphis Grizzlies displayed on Thursday night. The most points scored in team history - and the team feels they could’ve scored more! - is worthy of celebrating. But no disrespect to the Toronto Raptors, that franchise has won one away game all season long. Maybe a record shouldn’t have been broken, but the offense should have thrived.
And that level of output should not be expected moving forward from the team as a whole. Zach Edey individually, though?
That’s a different matter entirely.
On a recent episode of Locked on Grizzlies, I spoke about how Edey evolved in-game again Ivica Zubac of the Los Angeles Clippers. Zubac won that individual battle to be sure, but a lot of the victory came at the expense of Jaren Jackson Jr. (who it may be time to just call it and say he’s not a center - at least not against actual more traditional centers).
While Edey did get pushed around early, he found his football as the game went on and even started using some of Zubac’s own tricks against him. Positioning under the rim, utilizing his 7'4" 290 pound frame to shove a bit in physical play...in the span of a 48-minute NBA game Edey grew.
Figuratively, of course. Not literally.
Fast foward to the Toronto Raptors game last night - the one with the record-breaking offense. Edey was the star of the show with Toronto unable to defend him since their traditional center, Jakob Poeltl, was out with an injury. Kelly Olynyk could not handle him, nor could anyone else.
The key, though, was how he achieved his double-double. It wasn’t as the low block mauler that he was at Purdue on his way to back-to-back National Player of the Year awards. He hit perimeter shots. He made passes to slashers out in space. He collapsed as the roll man from a variety of angles.
Basically, he showed that there’s more to his game than 20th century big man play. Edey can play in this modern style. He fits this era.
He belongs in this NBA - and with these Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis does not need him to be this caliber of offensive weapon every night. There’s a decent chance he’s not even the best rookie on the team - Jaylen Wells (17 points on 5-10 shooting from three) is putting up numbers himself and was a 2nd round selection, not a Lottery one.
The Grizzlies also still have stars like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane who have both the experience and talent to carry the offensive burden on most nights.
But it’s awesome to see a polarizing player like Edey find himself in the NBA setting. He adds a dimension to this team - a physical, dominating force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor - it sorely needs.
And when the opportunity presents itself, he is getting better at taking advantage of that advantage he possesses.
Which will only make the deepest team in the NBA that much deeper.
