Insider Insights: Thunder Bulldoze Grizzlies

That could’ve been worse right? I mean… For a minutes there it kind of seemed like we were heading that direction. At least Memphis was able to stop the bleeding at some point.

But there was little the Grizzlies could do against the West-leading Thunder. Which is what that team played like last night—a conference leading squad.

Whereas, Memphis? Well, there not exactly what I would call a ‘conference leading squad’. At least not as their current construction has them.

And yet, they were still able to somewhat hang with OKC. Kind of. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander did have 23 PTS in 3 quarters… But otherwise? The boys were able to keep pace throughout parts of the game.

As such, one can still find pieces of the game with positive spins on them. And this contest was no exception.

GG Jackson II Is Him

If there was single thing I had to chose—gun to my head—that was a positive last night? It would be the performance of GG Jackson II and it’s not even close. In fact… I’d be willing to go one further…

GG was the best player Memphis had on the court yesterday.

It’s not as if that’s news to anybody though right? If you watched the game that is. GG had 30 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST, and 1 BLK in 37.33 minutes. And that was on 52.6/30.3/87.5 splits. Not bad at all right?

28 teenagers have scored 25+ points 3 or more times in a single season in #NBA history.

GG Jackson is the only one to do it as a non-top 20 pick in his respective draft.

— Shawn Coleman (@StatsSAC) March 11, 2024

It’s another feather in the ‘productive season’ cap for the rookie. On the season his per game averages are as follows… 11.7 PTS, 3.6 REB, and 0.8 AST on 42.8/36.1/72.1% shooting splits. That’s in 21.2 minutes per game.

But if you factor in recency bias? Well those numbers get even better. Since the start of January those stats have either stayed steady… Or they’ve improved.

Since the start of the year look at GG”s numbers… 13.1 PTS, 4.0 REB, and 0.9 AST with 43.2/36.0/72.1% splits. And that’s in 23.7 minutes per game.

All signs are pointing to an increase in production with an increase in his minutes. Which is exactly what you want to see in a player. Oh yeah… And he’s 19 years old. Still.

Working on both ends 💪 @_ggjackson @santialdama pic.twitter.com/B05E6OVt8E

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) March 10, 2024

Jackson is passing every eye test so far. And I’d argue it goes beyond his production—he’s operating on a certain level of fearlessness. One I find incredible to watch.

What do I mean by that exactly? Well since January he’s appeared in 27 games. And in those 27 games he’s attempted 10 shots or more in 13 of them. The Grizzlies have been looking for a player like that—an unafraid bucket getter—for a while.

GG Jackson II is him. And thank the hoops gods they found him.

A Tale Of Two Nardos

It seems like every time Luke Kennard goes off and reminds folks he’s one of the best shooters in the league… He follows it up with a stinker of sorts.

That feels rude. It’s not every time… But it was definitely stinker last night.

Against OKC, Kennard put up the following… 3 PTS, 2 REB, and 2 STL in right over 22 minutes. His shots in that span? Well he went 1 of 6.

That’s after not playing in the previous game. Before that?

Well in two games prior he’d totaled 40 PTS, 4 REB, and 9 AST. Oh. And he went 13 of 21 in that span as well. The game before that was another middling affair but you get the point.

It seems that for every stretch of good ball Luke has… He’ll pair that with an injured stretch paired with some bad games. It’s confounding.

Because Kennard has what it takes to be 6th Man of the Year candidate. When he’s firing on all cylinders? It’s all there. Which is what makes these two side of Kennard all the more furstrating.

Still, the team should’ve extended him yesterday. The best version of Luke Kennard is gong to be key to the Grizzlies’ success moving forward.

Not Far Off

What was the prevailing thought in my head after last night’s loss? Against a Thunder team that appear to be the darlings of the NBA? First of all—been there done that—but second of all?

Well this Grizzlies team isn’t that far off.

They’re not. Not at all. From competing with the best of the West. Is that weird?

jackson and jackson pic.twitter.com/CyET4Eakeu

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 10, 2024

I say no. Because look at how the guys held up last night. And that was no Ja Morant. No Desmond Bane. No Marcus Smart. No Brandon Clarke. No Vince Williams Jr. And no true center.

When this squad is back at full strength? It’s going to be like the Grizzlies never left the Western Conference’s upper echelon. And I for one cannot wait.

Photo Credit: (Kyle Phillips/AP Photo)