Grizzlies ten-ish game notebook
The backcourt is awesome, one rookie is shining, and we have an impactful sophomore
Let’s take a gander into the notebook and talk some things that have stuck out in the small sample size of this season.
Bane is rising
Even to the naked eye, it is clear just how impactful Desmond Bane is to this Grizzlies roster, and the numbers make his significance even more obvious. To date, Bane is playing like a top-20 player in the league.
Des is carrying more of an offensive load than last year from both a scoring and distribution perspective. His usage is nearly at 28%, which puts him near the top 5 percent of guards. Normally, you will see a decrease in scoring efficiency in a player with such a drastic increase in touches - his usage rate is up 6 points from last season. However, Bane is averaging three additional percentage points from three over last year and boasts 123.9 points per 100 shot attempts. Bane has broken into the top 20 in the NBA in scoring, both from a total and per game perspective.
One thing that you love to see is that Bane is 6th in the league in three-point attempts. With his impeccable accuracy, Memphis increases their chance of success every time Bane lets it fly from deep.
Let us not overlook his other offensive duties that create shots for his teammates. Bane’s driving and passing is looking extremely crisp this season and he is averaging two additional assists per game already in only 3 more minutes of playing time per game.
Jackson’s absence matters
While Memphis has held their own on offense and ranks in the top 5 per Cleaning The Glass, their defense still leaves much to be desired without their lynchpin from Michigan State.
The Grizzlies are allowing 4 more points per game over last season. While their 113.7 allowance is 18th in the league, that side of the ball will determine how far they make it over the course of the season and certainly in the playoffs.
Taylor Jenkins and Co. are working to rebuild a defensive mindset that was led in the past largely by De’Anthony Melton and Kyle Anderson, who are no longer on this roster.
The return of Dillon Brooks sparked some of that old school tenacity, but without their mobile rim protector, the Grizzlies are still trying to hold together this defense without one of its most critical pieces.
Also, just think about the floor spacing that Jaren Jackson Jr. will provide that fellow bigs Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke couldn’t even dream of creating.
Good Dillon is that Dude
Dillon Brooks has done everything that has been asked of him this season after returning from a few games missed due to injury. He is bringing it on the defensive end against the toughest-level assignments and is making the smart plays on offense.
Brooks is third on the Grizzlies in FGA with just over 13 per game. With Jaren out, this is exactly where Dillon needs to be. He is averaging 15 ppg and is having his most efficient shooting season since….wait, his whole career! He’s nailing 45% of his three point shots and is taking higher quality shots in general.
In addition, Dillon is protecting the ball and not giving it away in the manner that frustrates Grizzlies fans to no end.
If Dillon continues at this rate and maintains his current role on the team, he could see himself with a contract extension to remain in Memphis after this season.
Is Santi the X-factor?
Leading up to the season, I was far more concerned and interested in the development of Ziaire Williams than Santi Aldama. The main difference between them so far is that one is playing and the other isn’t. And the one who is playing, is performing admirably in the starting lineup for a top team in the West.
Aldama has logged heavy minutes so far this season and sits only behind Bane and Ja Morant in that category. Though Aldama has not found his three-point stroke yet, hitting only 27% from three, he is still causing the defense to respect him, which creates more driving lanes for Morant and Bane.
Santi is in four of the Grizzlies’ top five lineups in terms of minutes played and boasts a plus-20.1 net rating. He has made a serious impact on the defensive side of the floor and the Grizzlies give up 23 points per 100 possessions fewer when he is on the court. This is tops in the league.
Aldama is also a big factor on the boards, hauling in 6.5 per game and trailing only Steven Adams in that category.
Brandon Clarke is earning his extension
Though some games he may seem underwhelming, and it looks like his hands were soaked in olive oil before the game, BC is having himself a nice, impactful season.
He continues to be the most efficient-scoring Grizzly in history with elite true shooting numbers on low attempts. Clarke has not found a three-point shot and is yet to make one on the season, but his athletic rolls off of screens have opened up the offense even more for the creative backcourt of the Grizzlies.
He knows his bread and butter and is sticking with it. Over 80% of Clarke’s shots are coming at the rim and over 80% of his total shots are assisted.
Some of the franchise’s best ever are on this squad
Brandon Clarke is the franchise leader in FG% at 59.4%.
Dillon Brooks is 6th in franchise history in threes made and Desmond Bane is currently 8th, only 19 makes behind Shane Battier.
Bane owns the highest free throw percentage in Grizzlies history at 88.3%.
Rookie rankings
LaRavia > Roddy > the rest
Jake LaRavia came into the season off an unexciting summer league, but has settled in nicely with the Grizzlies so far. He has met expectations of stretching the floor by converting at a a clip from three that is currently 4th in the NBA at 55%.
LaRavia has snagged some key rebounds in this young season and has shown flashes of court vision with creative passes. He isn’t going to carry a team, but he has played a key role off the bench in several games already.
Roddy has just as many games where he fails to convert from three as he does games where he hits a three. In four of his five games with a make, he has made multiple threes, eluding that he has potential to being a streaky converter for the Grizzlies. On the defensive end, he is still adjusting to the pace of play, and has not yet made an impact on that end
Morant is a legit MVP candidate
Morant is in elite territory early in the season and sits 4th in the NBA MVP rankings Behind Giannis, Luka, and Spida Mitchell.
Ja is in the top 15 or 20 for nearly every offensive category, including pole position for turnovers, LOL. Morant is shouldering an incredibly heavy offensive load for Memphis.
Though he is averaging fewer minutes per game than last year, Morant has increased his free throw attempts and percentage as well as his overall three point accuracy. Ja remains elite at getting to the rack as well, opening up scoring opportunities for himself and teammates.