After coming up short in a thrilling overtime finish against the Jazz on Monday, the Grizzlies rested GG Jackson, Zach Edey, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Jake LaRavia on the 2nd of three games in as many days. This allowed the Grizzlies to see more from rookies Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells along with many players that didn’t get an opportunity in game one.
Early on, the Grizzlies struggled without many of their main pieces. The only bright spot for Memphis was Cam Spencer, who scored 11 of their 17 first quarter points. However, the 2nd quarter was a different story as the Grizzlies opened with a 14-4 run cutting the Philly lead to 4.
Jaylen Wells bounced back from his early struggles and delivered the game tying bucket with 0.9 seconds left in the half. Heading into halftime, the Grizzlies had climbed all the way back led by 24 combined points from rookies Spencer and Wells.
Once the game got close, neither team could build another substantial lead and with 5 minutes left the Grizzlies trailed by just one point. Down the stretch it was the rookies who continued to shine as Wells got a second chance floater to fall as time expired.
The Rookies steal the show
Missing many of their main players, there were not a lot expectations coming into the game on the Grizzlies side. But Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer had other plans. With the Grizzlies history of picks in the 2nd round, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see their two newest additions being productive early on.
Early on, Spencer showed off his ability to play at his own pace and knock down the three ball. His 5 years of college experience showed in his play on the court, his utilization of ball fakes and patient decision making is a breath of fresh air compared to what we usually expect from Summer League guards. His old school approach to the game along with a modern jumper makes him one of the more intriguing players to watch throughout the summer league. Through two games, it’s clear that Spencer’s potential is much higher than your average 53rd overall pick.
For Wells, the most impressive part of his game was his ability to bounce back after a rough start. It’s very easy for young players to fold under pressure when the shot isn’t falling, but Wells was able to fight through it and come through when it mattered most for the Grizzlies. Even though he was inefficient overall, the second half was much better and closer to what Wells showed in college. After starting 1-7, Wells would go 8-16 for the rest of the game showing great shot selection and touch around the rim especially on the game winning floater.
How Can the Rookies translate to the regular season?
With Zach Edey dominating the paint in game one and big games from both Wells and Spencer, it’s clear that this Grizzlies class has a lot of potential. Edey will likely be a starter for Memphis, but the other rookies will be in less defined roles. Spencer already looks to be the type of player that could play either guard spot and thrive, his playmaking could be really helpful in the second unit. Wells translates to being a prototypical 3 and D wing with scoring upside. As the summer league goes on look for all three rookies to improve and show what skills can translate to the next level.