The Grizzlies depth is something to be thankful for
The Grizzlies have found a competitive advantage with its depth. Don't be surprised if they continue to lean on it, as it's been a revelation to be thankful in the early part of the season.
The pressing question in the Grizzlies’ sphere — whether it’s among media or fans through various mediums — is what a healthy rotation looks like. That question has multiple layers to it, as it usually pertains to which players, but it’s now also including how many.
That’s a testament to the depth of the Memphis Grizzlies.
They’ve leaned on the majority of the roster through the early season — as they’ve lost 97 games to injury at a $12.6M per-game value, per Spotrac, with key players in the crowd (Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Marcus Smart, Zach Edey, Vince Williams Jr., GG Jackson, and Luke Kennard).
I’ll answer the rotation question later here, because credit goes to the roster. Their depth has been a catalyst for their 11-7 run. They’re the only team in the NBA that’s in the top-6 in both Offensive Rating (115.9) and Defensive Rating (108.4) this season. They’re also in the top-5 in the following categories:
1st in blocks per game (7.6)
2nd in points per game (120.4)
2nd in assists per game (30.1)
3rd in rebounds per game (48.9)
5th in field goal percentage (48.3)
The Grizzlies’ depth is something to be thankful for.
“It’s pretty reminiscent of some of the teams that we had two or three years ago,” Desmond Bane said. “We have multiple guys that you could rely on.”
The Grizzlies’ depth has brought steady contributions across the box score, not just in points per game. They currently have:
7 players averaging 10 or more points per game — Jaren Jackson Jr. (22.8), Ja Morant (20.8), Desmond Bane (15.5), Santi Aldama (12.7), Scotty Pippen Jr. (12.1), Zach Edey (11.1)
7 players averaging 3 or more assists per game (Vince Williams would make it 8, but there’s a 2-game sample) — Morant (9.3), Pippen (5.8), Jake LaRavia (4.0), Marcus Smart (3.8), Luke Kennard (3.6), Bane (3.5), Aldama (3.4)
5 players averaging 5 or more rebounds per game — Aldama (7.8), Edey (6.9), Bane (6.6), Jackson (5.6), LaRavia (5.1).
“Guys are taking upon themselves to do what it takes to win,” Ja Morant said. “That’s what we all got to do collectively as a team for 48 minutes, and to have multiple guys come in and affect the game in many different ways is a plus for us.”
The new offense has helped a lot first and foremost, especially in the scoring and assist departments. The Grizzlies’ motion-centric offense forces defenses to account for all five guys out on the court, which could lead to steady scoring nights across the board. Players are finding cleaner looks with better rhythm, as they’re moving as the ball swings and locating open space.
Taylor Jenkins has always empowered everybody on the floor to be a playmaker, but now he wants players to be advantage creators. Like some will create advantages at various degrees, this philosophy yields into high-quality looks with great player and ball movement.
It makes the Grizzlies’ offense harder to guard.
“Moving the ball around, having everybody engaged,” Santi Aldama said. “It’s way easier to win games. And other teams, you know what three players you want to score, but here, you got to figure out how to guard the whole team and guard Grizzlies basketball — not just one guy or two.”
The rebounding is what pops off the page. The Grizzlies have typically been a strong team on the glass anchored by elite rebounding — as Jonas Valanciunas and Steven Adams both averaged double-digit boards during their time in Memphis. They’re rebounding at a similar rate — only 2021-22 (49.2) had a higher average than now. Two philosophical concepts are tied to this trend: pace and possessions. The Grizzlies want to play fast, and players crashing from the perimeter lead to grab-and-go situation. In addition, they want to generate extra possessions on the offensive glass. They’ve been successful there — 3rd in offensive rebound rate (33.7%), per Cleaning the Glass — by sending multiple bodies at the glass and keeping the ball alive with tip-outs.
There’s also the simple mindset of not being selfish and just making sure to corral a rebound.
“Whoever gets it, gets it” is how Santi Aldama put it. They just don’t want to get killed on the glass.
The depth and the contributions across the board increase the margin of error each and every night, especially when players have been in and out of the lineup due to injury. For example, Desmond Bane has started the season shooting 32.4% from 3. Past Grizzlies’ teams wouldn’t have been able to survive from beyond the arc in a Bane slump. This season though, they’re 16th in the NBA in 3-point percentage (35.2%), as they have six players shooting league average or better (35.8%) from 3 on at least 2 three’s a game — Jay Huff (45.6%, 3.8 attempts per game), Luke Kennard (44.2%, 4.3), Jaylen Wells (39.5%, 4.8), Scotty Pippen Jr., (39.3, 3.1), Jake LaRavia (38.5, 2.2), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (37.8, 5.1).
Over the course of an 82-game season, the depth becomes a competitive advantage. It could help teams amplify strengths or alleviate weaknesses. Teams have to stack competitive advantages together in order to really compete at a high level.
“We’re trying to find our competitive advantages everywhere possible,” Taylor Jenkins said. “I have a lot of different guys to step in on the floor, and play that relentless style of basketball. That's what we're pressing upon, so if we can find this competitive edge, we're going to try to lean to it as much as we can.”
When it comes to depth and competitive advantages, it all traces back to a question from the beginning of the article: what does a healthy rotation look like?
Obviously, many people may read that question and say “it’s never going to happen” after Ja Morant reappeared on the injury report a game after returning from his hip injury. However, the hypothetical question will still exist until we see it, and let’s be a bit positive for the holiday season.
It’s a good problem to have.
“It just shows how deep our team is,” Brandon Clarke said. “It is a really good issue to have as a coach.”
The question diverts to how many will be in the rotation. Will it go to 11? Taylor Jenkins opened the portal on the idea when he started the first five games of the season with an 11-man rotation. On Monday, with the returns of Morant and Smart, Jenkins went back to an 11-man rotation.
Will it become a new norm for the Grizzlies?
“I can envision playing a deeper rotation,” Taylor Jenkins said. “As guys are coming back, it’s about who’s playing the best and giving us the best chance to win. We’ll make those decisions when we get there, but we can lean into the energy that’s needed, the pace that we need to have, the full court pressure and activity defensively.”
The answer may lie within the Grizzlies’ style of play. The adjustment to the style and pace they want to play at will be at the forefront through this early portion of the season — the expanded rotations may even speed up the learning curve for it, too. However, larger rotations with shorter bursts of minutes may be optimal to successfully run this system. Fresh bodies help sustain this competitive advantage.
“I think this is why they’re doing this,” Jake LaRavia said. “It’s definitely hard to play at that pace for the full 48 minutes, so when you’re playing 3-4 minute stints, whatever it is — it helps you stay fresh.”
While the Grizzlies have trended with 10-man rotation with a longer injury report, the rationale of an expanded rotation has worked. If you want some fun with early-season sample, the Grizzlies join two teams that have averaged 30+ assists while sporting an Offensive Rating of 115 or higher and a Defensive Rating of 109 or lower, the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors and this year’s Warriors — who’s also going deep with rotations.
If the dividends keep paying off for the Grizzlies, and it doesn’t jeopardize winning, don’t be surprised if it sticks for the time being. While it may not be a playoff recipe, it can be a useful data-collector to find the right lineup combinations for the postseason, when rotations tend to shrink. In the meantime, it’s a competitive advantage needed in the regular season to ensure good playoff positioning in the ruthless Western Conference.
Now the question boils down to who’s in the 11-man rotation. Zach Edey will replace Jay Huff after his return. But what about when Vince Williams and GG Jackson return?
Jake LaRavia, who’s been one of the five most steady contributors on the team? Jaylen Wells, who’s earned the trust of the coaching staff with a starting spot and tough defensive assignments with his solid two-way play? Luke Kennard, who’s been the team’s best shooter and a reliable veteran facilitator as well? Scotty Pippen Jr., who has admirably filled the point guard understudy well? Vince Williams and GG Jackson will get shots at the rotation, as they’ve emerged as key fixtures in the Grizzlies’ short and long-term plans.
Tough decisions are on the way. Something will have to give.
Will it be a locked 11-man rotation? I wouldn’t bet on it. This isn’t an unfamiliar decision for Taylor Jenkins. In 2020-21, when Jaren Jackson Jr. returned from his near season-long injury, the last two rotation spots were juggled between Brandon Clarke and Xavier Tillman, then Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones. Don’t be surprised if something like that plays out. It gives them more adaptability to matchups and to the hot hand.
Nonetheless, players will have to be ready to play, if the Grizzlies want to sustain its desired pace.
“You got to be ready to go when your name gets called,” Luke Kennard said. “Just because we’re playing so fast, guys need a breather here for a couple minutes but it’s fun. We know when you’re in there, you just got to play as hard as you can and be in the right spots.”
Even with tough questions along the way, this predicament is a good one to have, a welcomed one for any organization. Who wouldn’t want the problem of having too many good players for rotation minutes?
“It’s good decisions that we’re going to have to make with a deep roster,” Taylor Jenkins said. “I’m really proud of the guys that are getting the opportunities right now.”
Deja vu could’ve struck again with injuries piling up on the inactive status report. Instead, the Grizzlies’ depth has helped steer the ship the other way and keep them afloat in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies’ depth is an early takeaway to be thankful for through the first 18 games of the season, and it could be vital for maintaining its pace in the marathon of a NBA season.
Stats found on NBA.com. Follow me on X and Bluesky.
If you choose to support my Substack, SubTsakalidis — aka “SubTsak” — follow this link to my Allie’s Allies St. Jude fundraiser page. If you choose to subscribe, all proceeds will go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
We’re also hosting a watch party for the December 3rd game between the Grizzlies and the Mavericks at The Skybox Grill in Collierville. Food proceeds and winnings from a surprise raffle prize will go to St. Jude.