Report Card: Hot Start turns into horrid finish as Grizzlies blunder to Bulls

It’s often said that basketball is a game of runs. The Memphis Grizzlies’ road matchup against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday afternoon was perhaps the paradigm of that saying.

It was a slow start offensively from both teams, but the Grizzlies opened things up with a 10-2 run and built an 11-point lead. Chicago responded with a 10-0 run to cut the Grizzlies’ lead to one, but the Grizzlies found their sweet stroke from the perimeter. They went 7/12 from three and made 13 baskets in the first quarter to lead the Bulls by 11.

The offense continued to click in the second. Memphis moved the rock beautifully and played unselfish basketball all-around to get great looks – they went on a 25-9 run and shot 13/25 from three and 53% from the field to give themselves a 15-point lead at the half.

Just when it seemed like the Grizzlies were on track to get their 50th win of the season, things quickly fell apart in the second half. A 28-14 run from the Bulls in the third quarter cut the Grizzlies’ lead to single digits and the mistakes continued to compound. The Grizzlies could not protect the ball or find an offensive rhythm, and the Bulls exploded with a 17–0 run to end the third quarter with a nine-point lead. It was more of the same in the fourth; although the Grizzlies cut the deficit to three about midway through, a subsequent 11-0 run from the Bulls was the nail in the coffin as the Grizzlies fell to the Bulls 107-128.

Let’s take a deep dive into individual performances from a wayward game in the Windy City:

Jaren Jackson Jr – B+ (31 points, 8 rebounds, 5-8 3 PT, 11-20 FG, -7 +/-)

It was nearly a perfect outing for the unicorn if not for one nagging issue: foul trouble. Jaren Jackson Jr picked up two early fouls with no buckets in the first quarter but he exploded in the second; he hit three three-pointers en route to scoring 13 points by the end of the half. He continued his inside-out offensive barrage but was seated early in the third quarter after picking up his fourth foul. He would not come back in until the fourth quarter where he continued to feast in the paint.

He was kept in the game after picking up his fifth foul and almost picked up his sixth but remained in the game after Memphis won its challenge. There’s no question, this was one of Triple J’s most dominant and efficient games this season, especially offensively, but he needs to be able to be on the floor in key moments. His move to the bench in the third after picking up his fourth foul swung the game’s momentum entirely toward the Bulls.

Desmond Bane – A- (21 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2-3 3PT, 8-12 FG -11 +/-)

Desmond Bane was a scoring machine that displayed nearly every weapon in his arsenal. He attacked downhill with ease and frequently blew by defenders to gracefully finish at the rim. Surprisingly, Bane did most of his work this game from the interior; only three of his field goal attempts were three-point shots. His only problems came from keeping the ball secure, as he turned the ball over four times. Bane continues to be a scoring threat at all three levels for the Grizzlies while making stellar leaps as an on-ball creator and facilitator. This was his sixth straight game with 20+ points.

Ja Morant – C+ (17 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2-5 3PT, 7-16 FG, -20 +/-)

Not all triple-doubles are made equal. Early on, it looked like Ja Morant had shaken off the rust after a quiet night against the Clippers. He was more collected controlling his handle in traffic and had an easier time getting to his spots in the paint and finishing. He had 12 points at halftime with zero turnovers.

Things looked drastically different in the second. Morant was stifled by a stalwart Bulls defense that increased pressure on the ball and caused him to become careless. He was met with multiple bodies at the rim and failed to find the net. He scored only five points in the second half and committed five turnovers. It has been a tough two-game stretch for Morant, but he will look to rebound next game up.

Overall Grade – C+

They say it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Unfortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies just couldn’t finish this one the right way. In the first half, they kept the ball secure and displayed exemplary ball movement to generate open looks, but they strayed from this successful strategy in the second half; they committed 16 turnovers and allowed the Bulls to catch fire offensively, surrendering what was once a 23-point lead. The Grizzlies will look to get their 50th win of the season on Wednesday when they face Portland Trail Blazers back home in the FedexForum.