Report Card: Grizzlies Find Offense Late in Victory over the Mavericks

It was neither easy nor pretty. But all that matters is that the Grizzlies got the job done on Saturday night.

A 112-108 victory for the Grizzlies over a shorthanded Mavericks squad counts the same as any win, but the way Memphis earned the win in the fourth quarter certainly matters. After struggling for much of the game, the Grizzlies uncharacteristically found their offense in the final quarter from an unexpected source: David Roddy.

Roddy’s efforts late, coupled with a very productive first half from Desmond Bane, allowed Memphis to come from behind and get their 40th win of the season. Let’s take a look a few key contributors from the game.

David Roddy – A+

When you pair a career night with being the main reason why a come back win occurred, you get an A+. And there may not be enough pluses to describe Roddy’s efforts last night. 17 of his career high 24 points occurred in the fourth quarter, as he went 7-8 from the field alone. To put it into perspective, Roddy’s efficiency and overall production last night has not been done by a Grizzlies rookie in 20 years. He was the best player on the court when it mattered most.

And yet, his scoring is only part of the story. Roddy also produced multiple rebounds, a steal, and a block in the final frame as well to help Memphis defensively. Roddy has certainly encouraging flashes at time this season, but this performance could really be the starting point of him earning consistent rotation minutes moving forward.

Desmond Bane – B+

Though Bane struggled in the second half, he was the reason the Grizzlies went into half time with the lead. Overall, Bane scored 25 points with seven assists and seven rebounds. He now has four straight games with five or more assists, helping to keep the ball moving and creating opportunities for others in the w/o Ja Morant.

Bane will continue to be looked upon as a primary scoring option, but as his usage increases, his main value will be determined by how often that translates into positive offensive positions. Last night was a great example of how his game continues to evolve.

Xavier Tillman – B

With the Grizzlies missing multiple parts of their usual rotation, sometimes the need to improvise is a must. Last night, with how good he was playing, Roddy was the a big factor late in the game. However, Xavier Tillman continues to be a consistent source of production throughout the game, especially early on, as his role as recently increased.

Tillman had another solid effort, with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block. He has settled into a role of playing 25 to 30 minutes a night, while producing a near double-double and some good defensive moments each game. This is exactly what Memphis needs for him to be, a reliable role player who can provide positive plays on both ends of the court. While he may see his minutes vary based on different lineups opponents use, Tillman as always will be ready for whatever he his asked to do.