Grizzlies put up feisty effort, but fall short to the Knicks
The Grizzlies are now down to 8 active players, but they put up a fight against the New York Knicks. Unfortunately, the Knicks' firepower prevailed. GG Jackson scores career-high 20 points.
The Memphis Grizzlies came into this game off a back-to-back, with an insanely long inactive report.
Their opponent, the New York Knicks, came into Memphis with a 5-1 record since making the trade for OG Anunoby.
Early in the game, the Grizzlies showed a lot of effort but couldn’t convert on or generate clean looks. And to make matters worse, Jake LaRavia sprained his ankle on a drive — which officially had the Grizzlies with more injured players than active. The Grizzlies managed to salvage a run towards the end of the 1st quarter, primarily sparked with the activity from Vince Williams Jr. They closed the 1st quarter with a 27-25 lead.
The Knicks found a rhythm in the 2nd quarter due to some firepower off the bench. However, the Grizzlies weathered through the storm and played some feisty basketball — accumulating a ton of steals and deflections. GG Jackson, Vince Williams, and Luke Kennard held down the fort for Memphis — all scoring 12 points apiece going into the half. The Grizzlies led 58-53 at halftime.
The Knicks came out with a punch to start the 2nd half, as it mainly just seemed like they had more juice than the Grizzlies — who are both shorthanded, and coming into the second game of a back-to-back. Despite the Grizzlies’ efforts, they couldn’t come away with a victory, as the Knicks win 106-94.
Core 4 Takeaways
This is a really good moment for GG Jackson’s development. In a healthier season, Jackson would be having a “redshirt rookie” season — using the G League to iron out his weaknesses and make him a well-rounded player ready to contribute a year or 2 down the road. Well, it’s his time for his moment. GG Jackson scored 20 points on 9-14 shooting, showcasing his ability to get buckets at 3 levels. His activity was encouraging, as he finished with 6 rebounds and a block. It won’t be perfect, as he’s still just a teenager. Games like tonight though bring a massive bright-side, optimism into what he could grow into.
Vince Williams Jr. continues to be a spark. Vince Williams Jr. had his most well-rounded game of his career — finishing with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 stocks. His role has increased to heights no one of us could’ve imagined due to injury. However, his activity and energy were persistent. He crashed the glass for rebounds and got his hands on balls for deflections. With the uncertainty of Desmond Bane’s injury, Williams has the chance to grow as a multi-faceted wing, which should help in his development towards next season and beyond.
Letting Luke Kennard find his game inside the arc. Kennard was likely at the top of the scouting report for the 1st time since his Detroit or Duke days. His outside jumper was off due to tired legs, finishing 2 of 8 from 3. However, his game inside the arc was probably the best it’s been since he arrived in Memphis. He made 4 of his 5 attempts on 2’s, utilizing DHO’s to either find a teammate or to get to his spots near the paint. This stretch, with heightened responsibilities and defensive attention, is an opportunity for Kennard to show that he’s more than a shooter — and why the Grizzlies saw his playmaking potential when they traded for him.
Defensive activity is the way. The Grizzlies’ activity defensively was sharp, especially for the second night of a back-to-back. They forced the Knicks into 22 turnovers — finishing with 14 steals and 23 deflections, spearheaded by Xavier Tillman’s 6-steal performance. Given the hit the team has taken offensively with injuries, they have to make up for it with activity. Obviously, there has to be energy offensively with even more crisp player and ball movement. Defensively though, maintaining active hands and staying feisty could be catalysts in catching teams by surprise on a nightly basis.
The Grizzlies battle the Golden State Warriors tomorrow for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day game at 5:00 PM CST. Stay warm and stay safe, Grizz fans.