Game Preview: Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies (3/8/2024)

When: 7:00 PM CST, Friday, March 8th, 2024

Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

How to Watch/Stream: Bally Sports SouthEast

Fresh of an unexpected victory in Philadelphia, Memphis will now face Atalanta. This will be a game of two teams… Each with very different postseasons on their horizons.

On the one hand… You have the Grizzlies. Though they’re coming off a dubski, they are still in firm position. Firm position to receive a potential lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

Their postseason dreams? Well their very non-existent this season. The Hawks? Well they’ve got a bit brighter outcome. At least as of now.

Noticed I said a bit? The reasoning? Well the Hawks are in the ten seed. And—you could argue—the arrow is pointing down for them.

They’re 3 games up on the Nets and 5 up on the Raptors. Each could make a play for the ten seed by season’s end. It’s not probable I’d say… But definitely possible.

So with each team entering the contest with their stakes at varying degrees… This showdown in the South offers plenty to keep track of. Especially as the season enters it’s final leg.

The Name’s Trip

Fresh off of sitting three games, Jaren Jackson Jr. suited up again on Wednesday. And he did not disappoint. In fact, it almost seemed like he felt like proving any and all doubters wrong against the Sixers.

He exploded for 30 PTS, 11 REB, and 6 BLK in that game. And to be honest… He’s had games like that all season. Give it a look see.

Trip has 10 games this season in which he’s scored at least 30 points. He’s got 22 games where he’s put up at least 25. And while we’re at it, 36 games putting up 20 points or more.

Not sure what else you could want from the guy. Considering the double—sometimes triple—teams that opponents throw his way? JJJ is playing about as well as he can.

And yet? The disrespect not only continues… It runs rampant. I’m not sure what Jaren needs to do. To earn the respect of the league, the refs, everyone. But the guy is doing his damnedest… And I don’t expect tonight to be any different.

Jake Making His Case

Well not sure I saw this coming. I’m referring of course to the… What’s a good word? Strange? Absurd? Compelling? Pick one. I’m referring to completely different player we’ve seen Jake LaRavia turn into as of late.

It’s weird. I mean real weird. Like a David Cronenberg movie level of weird.

The numbers back this 180 up too. Look at Jake’s numbers pre-All-Star Break. Before the league’s week long break from hoops here were his averages… 3.6 PTS, 1.5 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.1 STL, and 0.1 BLK. That’s in 11.1 minutes per game in 11 games.

Less than pedestrian right? Well here’s what his production has looked like post the hiatus… 11.1 PTS, 5.9 REB, 1.6 AST, 0.9 STL, and 0.7 BLK. In 7 games while averaging 23.4 minutes in those games.

That’s an incredible jump in production. And not something I thought Jake ‘the Snake’ was capable of. He’s shown flashes since the break of what he can be. I for one, wasn’t sure he had the ability to get to the line the way he has… But I’ll damnit the kid is doing it.

Now, can we blame injuries, injuries, and more injuries for Jake even getting this chance? Sure. But that doesn’t mean he’s not seizing the opportunity. Will he have a spot on this roster next season?

Not ready to say that… But he’s going a long way towards making sure he’s doing his part to make it so.

Varying Lamar Minutes

One of the bright spots of the Grizzlies rotation post the trade deadline? Without a doubt has to be Lamar Stevens. I for one, was unaware of his game…

No mas. Now the dude is fighting tooth and nail to prove he belongs in the 901. And I’m a fan. A big fan.

Because Stevens is the kind of hooper this roster needs. A dude capable of being an offensive sparkplug, who also hustles his behind off on defense. He’s fitting in quite well if you were to ask the Grizzlies faithful.

Thing is Coach Jenkins—it would seem—isn’t doing his part so Lamar can succeed. What do I mean by that? Well it’s the varying degree of minutes that he’s receiving from game to game that I’m referring to.

Stevens has appeared in ten games with Memphis. In those ten games do you know how many he’s gotten more than 20 minutes of action? Only four. In the other six? He’s averaged 20 minutes or less.

That’s something I don’t understand. What he can provide this team outweighs the alternative and it’s not even close. It baffles me sometimes why he sees the floor so little. Lamar’s step-back has become about the most constant part of Memphis’ offense as is.

He belongs on this team, but if doesn’t get more opportunities from TJ? It may end up being an uphill battle.

Photo Credit: (Brandon Dill/AP Photo)