Insider Insights: Memphis Blitzed by Brooklyn

The Grizzlies began the game by hitting only two of their first 10 shot attempts as they fell behind 16-6 midway through the first quarter. They couldn’t get within eight points for the rest of the quarter as the Nets extended their lead to 12 points to end the first quarter leading 30-18.

The Grizzlies’ shooting woes turned the tide to begin the second quarter as they made their first four shots of the period, but the Nets had an answer for nearly every basket as they extended their lead to 15 points at 42-27. Despite a better shooting quarter overall the turnovers kept mounting for the Grizzlies and the Nets capitalized with 14 points off their 10 turnovers, leading to as much as a 27-point lead before leading the Grizzlies 66-40 at the half.

After falling behind by 27 points again early in the third quarter, the Grizzlies went on a 12-2 run to cut their deficit to 17 points at 73-56. However, the Nets responded with a 6-0 run and they eventually pushed their lead back to 27 points again before leading 89-66 to end the third quarter.

Not much changed in the fourth quarter as the Nets continued to roll to a 111-86 win over the Grizzlies. The Nets had seven players score in double figures, including their entire starting five.

In a game with many lowlights, there was a positive takeaway:

The Compelling Case for Lamar Stevens

When the Grizzlies traded Xavier Tillman to the Boston Celtics the day before the trade deadline most did not think much of the return value of Lamar Stevens as a player. Lamar Stevens’ expiring contract was the headliner for the trade that also netted the Grizzlies two second-round picks in a deal to trade another expiring contract.

Playing in his 4th season in the NBA after going undrafted out of Penn State, Lamar Stevens’ journey in the NBA included him playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers for three seasons before being traded to and being waived by the San Antonio Spurs last July. After playing 18 minutes per game with Cleveland last season, Stevens signed with the Boston Celtics in September and brought a veteran presence to the locker room that star Jayson Tatum appreciated.

Now at age 26, the 6’6″ combo forward has not only been a revelation in his short time with the Grizzlies, but a needed spark to a team that has had a lot of transition and roster turnover this season due to injuries. Entering last night’s matchup, Stevens had scored in double figures in three of his four outing with the team after not scoring in double figures all season with the Celtics. Also, he has consistently brought toughness and a willingness to play any position as he has been asked to play center some and averaged 7 rebounds in those four games as well.

After his performance against the Brooklyn Nets that included him scoring in double figures again with 17 points on 89% shooting and grabbing 6 rebounds, Lamar Stevens continues to show the consistency that the Grizzlies may need to look at retaining this offseason. The Grizzlies’ problems this season were the back half of the roster lacked veterans and consistency and Lamar Stevens has checked both boxes and should be highly considered in the Grizzlies’ roster plans this summer.

Start/Stop/Continue

CONTINUE playing hard. The season is what it is at this point but the effort is rarely questioned by this team. Even with last night’s blowout loss the effort was there, it was just not their night with shooting and ball control on the offensive end.

Coming Up

The Grizzlies hit the road to face the Western Conference leader in the Minnesota Timberwolves to complete their season series on Wednesday at 7 PM CST.

Final Quote

“We’re going to be better Wednesday” – Taylor Jenkins