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How Ja Morant’s defense is powering the red-hot Grizzlies
Dec 1, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) shoots as Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) defends during the third quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
No team in the NBA’s Western Conference can claim to be as hot as the Memphis Grizzlies. Six wins in a row now have gotten the Grizzlies back to a familiar spot - near the top of the playoff standings. Memphis is only a half game back from the #2 seed that was theirs the two seasons before the last one. And only three teams - the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, and Cleveland Cavaliers - boast a better point differential than the Grizzlies.
There are lots of reasons for this. From Jaren Jackson Jr. looking the part of an All-NBA contributor to possible Rookie of the Year votes for Jaylen Wells, the list of big-time contributions is long but distinguished.
Perhaps the biggest reason - especially the last two games - is also maybe the biggest surprise.
Ja Morant is playing really good defense.
No, seriously. REALLY good defense.
The 1st quarter of the Indiana Pacers game aside (lets all agree that never happened and move on), over the last two games Morant is showing some of the best effort of his career on the defensive end of the floor. And that effort is directly connecting to better play.
Because when you are as athletic as Ja Morant is, being a poor defender is more choice than a set in stone struggle. While lots of reasons - not excuses, reasons - have led to Ja’s “choice” in the past (offensive usage, first and foremost) that is not transpiring at this stage.
The numbers back this up too. Opposing teams are scoring -2.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with Ja on the floor as opposed to when he is off of it, per Cleaning the Glass. This isn’t the stat that stands out, though. It is in line with the -3.3 points per 100 possessions he’d been contributing to the last two seasons.
What is remarkable is that teams shoot -4.2% worse when Ja is on the court in terms of effective field goal percentage. That’s good for the 90th percentile according to Cleaning the Glass among NBA point guards. That of course is thanks to his teammates as well...
Still - that’s elite. If it holds, it’d be a career best. It’s largely coming from perimeter defense - teams shoot 7% worse from beyond the arc when Ja is on the floor. As a player who has been targeted time and again as a weak link in the defensive chain, that mark being so strong is impressive.
His offensive accolades will always outweigh what he does defensively. But as Morant continues to close the gap between his best-of-the-best offensive impact and his defensive work, it will only make him that much more dangerous as an all-around basketball player.
And the Grizzlies will be at the top of the playoff picture to stay.
December 1, 2024; Sacramento, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada/Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
You’d be forgiven if, a quarter of the way through the season (yes), you haven’t given the following teams that much attention. Maybe your main rooting interest has been struggling, and it’s taken all your psychic energy to will them through the slump. Better yet, maybe your team is thriving and you’ve been enjoying the ride. Maybe you’re still looking for a team to get behind, in which case, the following three franchises would make great options.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks being on this list has not alleviated my general wariness of the Hawks as a whole, but they’ve been playing through some of the things that make me doubt them. First, the Hawks love to play up. That is, they tend to excel against technically better and markedly more skilled teams; teams farther along the competitive timeline that I always get they feeling Atlanta would rather emulate than put the work in to be at the same level with.
This season, the Hawks are still playing up — they’ve beat the best in conference Cavaliers twice — but they’re recognizing what should be easy wins, like against the Charlotte Hornets. With Trae Young injured and in and out of the lineup, Atlanta’s bench has provided some of the most needed and entertaining offensive bursts in the league, with De’Andre Hunter back with a vengeance after being out for 10 games with a knee injury. Hunter’s regularly putting up 20-plus points per night, and hounding the glass.
Atlanta has a string of high-low games this week, facing the Pelicans, Bucks, Lakers and Nuggets, which should be an ample test to whether they can play and stay consistent.
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
Analysis The Memphis Grizzlies are back to their dominant ways at home, showcasing their strength at the FedExForum. Key factors include defensive intensity and team chemistry. Home court advantage is playing a crucial role. (Beale Street Bears)
Stat Four key stats highlight the Memphis Grizzlies’ strengths and weaknesses this season. Notably, their defense ranks high, but turnovers remain an issue. Delve into the statistical breakdown for more insights. (Beale Street Bears)
Analysis Marcus Smart’s impact off the bench is a game-changer for the Memphis Grizzlies. His defensive prowess and playmaking abilities provide a significant boost. Learn more about Smart’s contributions. (Beale Street Bears)
Watch Ja Morant’s stellar performance against the Pacers is going viral, showcasing his electrifying play on the court. Catch the highlight reel and see why fans are buzzing. (Sports Illustrated)
Milestone Jimmy Butler misses shot so Bam Adebayo can record a triple-double in Heat win (Bleacher Report)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
What to buy and sell with the streaking Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies have won four straight games and five of their last six. What can Grizzlies expect to stay around for Memphis that has gotten them this far? And what should we be selling off on, for better and for worse, with this team? Host Joe Mullinax discusses that and previews Ja Morant’s return against the New Orleans Pelicans in NBA Cup action on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Marcus Smart’s big night leads Memphis Grizzlies to fourth straight win Marcus Smart scored 25 points in a 131-111 Grizzlies win on Wednesday night. In this episode, host Damichael Cole breaks down Smart’s performance, Jake LaRavia and the bench depth, plus Brandon Clarke’s growth.
Being thankful for a better season start for the Memphis Grizzlies This time last year the Memphis Grizzlies were 3-13 overall, 0-8 at home, and without their superstar Ja Morant. Today? While Morant will once again be out due to injury, Memphis is back to balling out at home and being in the postseason mix. Hosts Joe Mullinax and Damichael Cole discuss all that and preview Grizzlies/Pistons on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
