1.1.22

Jaden Rivers 

The 2019 draft has shown great promise, with stand outs Zion, Darius Garland, and Tyler Herro standing above the rest is Ja Morant. He’s caused some real damage this season, sporting the 4th seed in a middling Western Conference. Along with his new backcourt partner, Desmond bane their offense has been invigorated as their young guns take new steps. It’s not a secret Ja and the grizzlies had been the fun young team making small steps to a playoff berth and playoff win and it’s nothing new under the basketball sun to think Ja would be a main piece to take them there.

Growth

Ja is an Uber athlete and has shown more of his promise during the 2021-2022 season. He’s made a step in the right direction across multiple facets of the game, being shooting (off the dribble and catch and shoot), penetration, and playmaking have grown. With one of the highest offensive loads in the League, Ja has  created an efficient scoring attack for the grizzlies every time he touches the floor. Not to bore anyone with numbers but he leads his team in PER with 25, scoring with 25 ppg, and 7 assists (as per statmuse) . His pick and roll attack has become extremely effective, being 3rd in points in the paint among players. (thinking basketball ) P.S: Thinking basketball is one of the best pieces of basketball content and inspired this article. 

Team Success

Memphis Is currently the 4th seed in the west, ahead of schedule in my eyes per se. They sit with the youngest teams in the league, being the timberwolves, rockets, and thunder. Out of all those teams the Grizzlies are glaringly better. The young guns are playing way above their age, and cohesively as well. WIth a top 10 offense at 6,  they can play with the best of them on any given night. But the growing pains come along with not only Ja’s defense which expectantly hasn't’ grown much whilst the team struggles as a whole on that end, With one of the easier remaining schedules in the Nba it’ll be interesting to see what the grizzlies can do, even being a dark horse potentially,  given  Ja playoff scoring as well putting him in some good company for year 3 guards. 

To see more of the grizzlies you can see them play against the Nets monday at 7:30 in Barclays on NBA TV.