MEMPHIS – The Grizzlies have a specific plan to overcome some of the defensive struggles that have hampered their progress in recent games.
It starts with collectively talking their way through it.
“I always want to address that, making sure we’re on the same page, making sure our guys are having those conversations,” coach Taylor Jenkins pointed out as the Grizzlies prepared for their current three-game homestand. “That’s important to the success in the game, especially with our defense. There are so many factors we’re trying to clean up right now. And one of the biggest ones is communication.”
After holding off the surprising Trail Blazers for a 111-106 victory Wednesday, the Grizzlies returned from Portland on Thursday having salvaged a four-game trip with a 2-2 split. Wins over the Kings and Blazers bookended a pair of erratic defensive performances in Utah, where the Grizzlies were beaten up and dissected in consecutive losses to the Jazz.
Defensive slippages and injuries impacting preferred playing rotations have combined to leave Jenkins and the Grizzlies in search of stability. They hope to settle into more of a rhythm at home as they face three games in four nights against the Hornets, Wizards and Celtics.
The team’s four-hour flight back to Memphis was filled with individual film study and largely positive vibes after one of the Grizzlies most complete games of the season. Memphis got back its pseudo starting five, with shooting guard Desmond Bane returning to action against the Blazers after missing Monday’s blowout loss to the Jazz.
After scoring 20 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Memphis avoid completely squandering a 17-point second-half lead, Bane’s presence provided more evidence of what’s become undeniably obvious. He lifts the Grizzlies to a completely different level when he’s available in the backcourt alongside All-NBA point guard Ja Morant.
When the Grizzlies are relatively whole and right, they are capable of balanced efforts like the one in Portland, where they defensively limited the Blazers to 40 percent shooting from the field and scored 20 points off 20 forced turnovers. That defensive commitment coincided with an offensive output in which Memphis shot 46.4-percent on threes, made 38 baskets on 28 assists and scored at least 111 points for the sixth time in eight games.
The quest now is to do something they’ve struggled to do early this season.
Keep it going.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,” said forward Dillon Brooks, who routinely takes on the top perimeter defensive assignment nightly for the Grizzlies. “It’s attention to detail, knowing your personnel. We know we have to be more communicative on the defensive end so we can make it easier on us to get transition buckets and spark our offense.”
The sample size remains small just eight games into the season. But the Grizzlies are determined to reverse some of the disturbing trends they’ve seen defensively.
Memphis returned from the road trip ranked 28th among 30 NBA teams in defensive rating. Perhaps the biggest problem has been defending the paint, where the Grizzlies are allowing 50.5 points per game. Transition defense has also been spotty, with teams scoring 19.4 points a night directly off Memphis turnovers.
Another weakness has the Grizzlies ranked dead last in the league in opponent second-chance points at 18 a game due to struggles ending defensive possessions by securing rebounds. The overall tally has opponents averaging 119.2 points on 47.2 percent shooting against Memphis.
In other words, there’s plenty of work to do.
This isn’t a team that shies away from what’s required for a defensive turnaround. The Grizzlies also ranked in the bottom third of the league in many of these same defensive categories last season through their first 20 games before forging a complete turnaround.
After that sluggish start last season, the Grizzlies finished with a franchise-tying 56 victories for the second-best record in the NBA. One of a handful of teams that ultimately ranked in the top five in offensive and defensive rating, the Grizzlies advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to eventual champion Golden State in six games.
Jenkins is neither taking the early defensive issues lightly, nor the path to progress for granted.
“It’s really just about getting our guys to really understand the importance of every possession, being locked in with the many adjustments we make from game to game,” Jenkins said. “A lot of it, though, is just principle and communication-based things. When we have those breakdowns, as much as possible, I want them to play through mistakes.”
Understandably, this point of the season requires patience. Especially with the Grizzlies still without two of their more impactful defenders in All-NBA defensive team member Jaren Jackson Jr. and second-year swingman Ziaire Williams.
Both Jackson (foot surgery rehab) and Williams (knee tendinitis) are progressing in their respective stages of rehab, and the hope is one or both could return later this month. But until then, the Grizzlies are relying on several players who are either rookies or new to starting roles. That novice group includes second-year power forward Santi Aldama and rookie first-round picks Jake LaRavia and David Roddy.
All three have experienced a mixture of encouraging moments and growing pains. They also benefit from a group of veterans who constantly hold them to high standards, sharing in their breakthrough moments along the way.
“Guys who are injured aren’t just sitting down and watching the game – they’re into it, locked in and trying to give off energy and piece the rookies together,” Brooks explained. “Me, Danny (Green) and Ja are constantly in their ears, for them to not have those mishaps. It’s just always about being engaged and being in the iPads (film study) and being diligent in your craft.”
It’s been a bumpy start to the season defensively. There have been four different starting lineups through the first eight games, including three changes during the four-game trip.
But trust the Grizzlies to eventually find their stride.
“It’s been some different lineups and some things out of our hands, health-wise,” guard Tyus Jones added. “But that’s never an excuse. We’re just trying to lock in. That’s the key for us, knowing that it’s still early. You can see the progress on the offensive end of the floor. And now, we just have to put it together defensively.”
The right message is being communicated.
Now, it’s about the Grizzlies building toward consistent results.