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Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.

Choosing Ja joy and Edey excitement over despair with the Memphis Grizzlies

NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Brooklyn Nets
Nov 4, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) fights for the ball against Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) during the third quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images|Brad Penner/Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Grizzlies lost another basketball game Monday night. Ho hum. They gave up numerous made threes to players who usually don’t make them. Yawn. Multiple Memphis players missed their three point shots...AGAIN.

It can sound like a broken record at times. But this election day, the choice is clear. Instead of focusing time and again on what bad is happening for the Grizzlies in any given loss - today, let’s choose positive thoughts.

For example - I am positive that I didn’t dream Zach Edey’s dominant performance against the Nets. And I am also positive that another “Dream” would be impressed with the game the “Big Mane” played if he were to see it.

Not since Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon has an NBA rookie imposed his will on a basketball game the way Edey did in Brooklyn Monday night. It hadn’t happened in decades...and probably won’t happen again for some time. But the scope of the dominance isn’t what matters. What does matter, is that Edey can absolutely contribute in the same way he was elite on every night moving forward.

Edey can rebound at a high level. He can score efficiently. Zach can keep learning NBA angles, and pursuing shot takers and making them think twice before testing him near the rim. He can make the paint his, and impose himself on the lane on a game to game basis.

The improvement in Edey in just the first three weeks of the season has been remarkable. And if you’re a fan of the Memphis Grizzlies, why would you let a game where 50% of the originally projected rotation didn’t play take away from that joy?

“Joy” is also the word that should be used when describing Ja Morant playing basketball. The MVP dark horse/likely All-NBA winner was once again the talk of social media after making not one, but TWO 360 lay-ups in-game.

You read that correctly. Click the links tagged above, watch them both, then come back. I’ll wait for you.

...

Back now? Cool. Wild, right? TWO 360 lay-ups! ABSURD.

Ja Morant is box office. He’s Broadway, one of the biggest stars on the biggest stage. He provides something that in the 21st century is fading more and more - a shared experience. People have so many options of things to watch and ways to spend their time and money.

But when Ja Morant does something jaw-dropping, rest assured it’ll be on social media with quickness. And his return to the floor on a consistent basis is worthy of celebration.

Yeah, Memphis lost. But the Grizzlies are 4-4...which is better than what they were this time last year. Morant is back. Edey is getting better by the day. The good for Memphis outweighs the bad - at least for now.

Make the choice this election day to make that the focus. Better days are ahead for the Grizzlies. Ja Morant and Zach Edey will almost surely be a part of them.
Listen to the full episode

League at Large

The NBA is better when the Pistons compete

Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.

Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.

This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.

Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
Masterclass performance against the Lakers
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.

Home and Away

Milestone
Zach Edey made NBA history in the Grizzlies’ game against the Nets, setting a new benchmark for rookies. (Sports Illustrated)

Feel Good
Ja Morant’s spectacular layups went viral, highlighting his dynamic play and thrilling Grizzlies fans. (Sports Illustrated)

Feel Good
The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)

Legacy
Check out 40 years of professional NBA photography by Nathaniel S. Butler. (Lit Hub)

Analysis
Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)

Fantasy Cheat Sheet

Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?

Locked On - Zach Edey
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers


The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.

Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards


The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons


The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
See all game breakdowns

3peat (ICYMI)

Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.

Grizzlies fight off flailing Philly thanks to thriving Morant and rising rookies
Memphis has had the benefit of taking on two troubled NBA Finals contenders from the Eastern Conference the last two games. The Grizzlies will feel no sympathy for anyone, of course - the struggle has been real in their own right. Hosts Joe Mullinax and Damichael Cole discuss how Memphis got their groove back (at least for now) and more on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!

Ja Morant, Taylor Jenkins express frustrations after Grizzlies lose to Nets
Despite being heavy favorites, the Memphis Grizzlies loss a home game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. In this episode of Locked on Grizzlies, host Damichael Cole recaps the game, Taylor Jenkins’ decisions and Ja Morant’s postgame displeasure.


When should Memphis Grizzlies fans wonder about Zach Edey’s NBA transition?
It hasn’t been the start to his NBA career that Zach Edey surely envisioned for himself. And while the sample size is clearly too small to reach any real conclusion, the fact remains that the Memphis Grizzlies eventually will need more from the “Big Mane”. Hosts Joe Mullinax and Damichael Cole discuss when the time to “worry” should start, plus preview Grizzlies-Nets and update injuries to Ja Morant and others, on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Listen now
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