Insider Insights: Grizzlies Open 2024 with Win Over Spurs

Ja Morant and Desmond Bane combined to score 50 points to help the Grizzlies end their three-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

Despite kicking off the game with an easy Desmond Bane layup, rough first-quarter shooting for both teams ensued. The Spurs led 23-20 at the end of the first. Although he began the game shooting 0-3 from three, Desmond Bane was the only Grizzly to get going in the first, making four baskets inside the arc to finish the quarter with eight points.

connect the dots. pic.twitter.com/zPNk2FRvR7

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 3, 2024

The bench unit, along with Jaren Jackson Jr., picked up the scoring to begin the second quarter, but Victor Wembanyama kept the Spurs within two possessions for nearly the entire quarter. Then, with the game tied at 37, the Grizzlies went on a 10-0 run before a Keldon Johnson three ended the second quarter with the Grizzlies ahead by a score of 47-40.

Desmond Bane led the Grizzlies with 12 points, followed by Ja Morant with 11 points at the half, as they were only two of the three double-digit scorers for the game at that point. Victor Wembanyama was the other double-digit scorer, leading the Spurs with 11 points at the break.

Desmond Bane then began the third quarter with a three to extend the Grizzlies’ lead back to ten points. Unfortunately, the Spurs responded with an 11-0 run to regain the lead at 51-50 after a Wembanyama one-footed three-point shot bounced out and back into the basket. However, Desmond Bane went on a personal 7-0 run to put the Grizzlies back in front 57-51. That run got the Grizzlies rolling as they ended the third quarter on a 30-17 charge to lead by ten points (78-68) heading into the final quarter.

give it up. get it right back. splikak. @DBane0625 pic.twitter.com/1tz3hSMW1P

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 3, 2024

The fourth quarter became the Ja Morant show; he dazzled the crowd with a dunk on Victor Wembenyama, among other plays, as the Grizzlies led by as many as 18 points on their way to a 106-98 victory.

left right lemme see you do it @JaMorant pic.twitter.com/GEcAsxF5dm

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 3, 2024

Now for the takeaways:

Better Rebounding Effort

Following the Grizzlies’ recent four-game winning streak, the team stunk it up with three straight losses to end the 2023 year. In the Grizzlies’ last win against the New Orleans Pelicans on December 26th, they outrebounded the Pelicans 50-46 and held them to 43% shooting in the one-point overtime win. Since then, the Grizzlies had gotten outrebounded by a combined 166-103, allowing their three previous opponents to shoot 49% or better from the floor.

To be more specific, regarding rebounding, the centers they had faced in their three previous games feasted on the boards. Denver’s Nikola Jokic pulled down 14 rebounds, followed by the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac grabbing 20 rebounds, and finally, Domantas Sabonis’ impressive 21-rebound effort, which all resulted in blowout losses for the Grizzlies.

With the 7’4″ Victor Wembanyama coming into town, the Grizzlies began the game looking more locked in on the boards. In their first matchup this season in San Antonio, Wembanyama grabbed 13 rebounds, but the Grizzlies outrebounded the Spurs as a team 45-40.

After a promising start from the starting unit, which included Bismack Biyombo grabbing three boards in the first quarter, the Spurs bench entered the game and collectively grabbed 11 rebounds to outpace the Grizzlies 15-10 in the first quarter. The key for the rest of the first half was the Grizzlies stayed close in the battle of the glass, as they outrebounded the Spurs 11-9 in the second quarter, which is something that couldn’t be said in their previous three games.

After a 24-21 rebounding deficit in the first half, the Grizzlies continued to look more competent as they nearly had as many rebounds (32) at the end of the third quarter as they had at the end of any of the past three games (36, 33, 34). Eventually, the Grizzlies gained the edge in the rebounding battle and ended the game by outrebounding the Spurs 46-40 (almost identical to their first matchup).

Taylor Jenkins mentioned that the team called each other out to be more physical, and Bismack Biyombo mentioned that the team went through a tough time the last couple of games, but they will work to continue the positive trend.

The Second Iteration of the Primary Rotation

With the Grizzlies finally rolling out as close to a fully healthy roster as they could on New Year’s Eve, the rotation consisted of a mixed bag. The starting unit began the game as expected, with Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Bismack Biyombo leading the charge.

The bench unit mainly consisted of Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama, Vince Williams Jr., and Derrick Rose in the first. Then, David Roddy and Xavier Tillman followed in the second half before Ziaire Williams and John Konchar joined the lineup in garbage time minutes. The chemistry will take time to figure out, but the first game with everyone together couldn’t have gone any worse.

The starting five remained the same to begin the game against the San Antonio Spurs, and the top four players off the bench were Santi Aldama, Luke Kennard, Derrick Rose, and Vince Williams Jr. once again in the first quarter. For nearly half of the second quarter, the Grizzlies played that four-man bench unit with Jaren Jackson Jr. to good results that helped the Grizzlies flip a three-point deficit into a lead by as many as five points.

As most of the starters returned, Vince Williams Jr. remained on the court in place of starting center Bismack Biyombo and then again in place of Jaren Jackson Jr. before Biyombo came in to replace him at the 2:55 mark of the second quarter. Eventually, Luke Kennard replaced Vince Williams Jr. to end the second quarter with the rest of the starting unit minus Jaren.

However, Derrick Rose did not return in the second half due to thigh soreness, but Taylor Jenkins decided to go with an eight-man rotation, playing only the other three primary bench guys instead of replacing Rose’s minutes in the third quarter. An eight-man rotation won’t be ideal going forward, so expect someone to step into Rose’s spot if he has to miss extended time.

Start/Stop/Continue

CONTINUE sticking with the current nine-man rotation. Of course, this is subject to change based on player rest on back-to-backs (Derrick Rose) and performance, but they must have consistency for this team to develop the needed chemistry to succeed. As long as health permits, the nine-man rotation of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bismack Biyombo, Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama, Derrick Rose (with a contingency in place), and Vince Williams Jr. must continue to get as much time as possible to gel as the season nears its midway point later this month.

Coming Up

The Grizzlies remain at the FedExForum to play a back-to-back against the Toronto Raptors tonight at 7 PM CST. They will then hit the road for a three-game West Coast trip beginning Friday night in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

Final Quote

“We got to stay consistent, and the consistency is through everybody. Win or lose, we still got to smile.” – Bismack Biyombo.