Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
The Grizzlies currently have the longest winning streak in the league.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Eric Gay/AP.)
So we know that the Memphis Grizzlies got off to a slow start. Ja Morant got hurt for a bit and they went 2-6 in their first 8 games. They seemingly had a hangover after their not-so-good performance in the bubble. And it didn’t help that the team just wasn’t healthy.
Still, they persevered. They got a big win over Brooklyn and then was able to get through both the Cavs and the Wolves. After a postponed second game with the Wolves, they were able to get close wins over the Sixers and the Suns.
Then they were off for the next 12 days because of contract tracing. But it was like they had no rust as they beat the Spurs twice convincingly after such a long layoff.
Suddenly, Memphis has won 7 straight.
First off, the Grizzlies’ depth is shining. It’s all about the next man up. They’ve had five straight games where they had five players finish in double figs in scoring. And in their contest against the Spurs on Monday? They had NINE PLAYERS in double figures. What the heck?
It’s also amazing that they have a ridiculous 11 PLAYERS averaging 8 points or more. It’s like they’re taking turns on blazing the nets. For instance, Gorgui Dieng scored 19 points on Monday. On Saturday, DeAnthony Melton led the team in scoring with 20. Jonas Valanciunas had scored 24 but he was also supplemented by a 20-point game by Grayson Allen against the Wolves on January 13th. Desmond Bane is shooting over 50 percent from three. Xavier Tillman has been a boon for the Grizz. Tyus Jones had a career-best 14 assists on Monday. And I haven’t even mentioned Morant, Brandon Clarke, Dillon Brooks, and Kyle Anderson. Plus they have a 12th player playing important rotation minutes in John Konchar.
We know the Grizz pride themselves on their blue collar ball. Well, this young team has shot up to 2nd in defensive rating. They make their opponents work for it. They outhustle teams. We see unheralded guys like Melton and Jones fly around the perimeter on and off the ball. It’s incredible to see such a young team just get at it and they might suddenly be ahead of schedule the way they’ve been playing.
And it’s great that they DO have a star to build around. Morant hasn’t played as many games due to injury but you’ve seen what he can do. He opened up the season with a 44-point performance. You’ve seen his breathtaking drives. His eye-popping dunks. The way he operates the floor. The guy is just so good and, sometimes, I get a little miffed that he still doesn’t get as much pub as the giant Zion Williamson. Morant is a gem.
So yeah, the Memphis Grizzlies are terrifying. Now let’s see them follow it up against the tough Pacers. And then the voices about the Grizz might get louder.
Bullet Passes
Not only are the Grizzlies hot but the Rockets have won 6 in a row. They made a franchise-record 28 threes and have fallen one short of tying the record the Bucks set earlier in the season. The Rockets scored 48 points in the first quarter!
So much for the league getting back into a rhythm. The Pistons/Nuggets game was postponed right before gametime.
LaMelo Ball got his first start when Terry Rozier couldn’t go. He finished with 14-5-7.
But it’s Malik Monk who stole the show. He made the game-tying three to send it to overtime and overall, he made 9 threes and 36 points off the bench. And Monk had been out of the rotation, sometimes!
(In a nifty note, Jimmy Butler demanded the ball and he would end up missing the potential game-winner in regulation.)
How about 38 points and 12 assists for De’Aaron Fox?
That Lakers Nintendo Switch sure turns on the right time, right?
By the way, as for the hecklers? That lady ain’t 25, man. You be the judge.
Those poor, poor Dallas Mavericks. Longest skid in the league at 6 straight losses.
Chris Paul has scored 63 points in the last two games. But it was someone else that stole the show…
NBA Scoreboard
Feb. 1, 2021
Watch This Play
Devin Booker returns… and promptly leads the Suns to victory with this clutch shot.
#DevinBooker. In his first game back.
FOR. THE. WIN. ‼️#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/qVNMPcnJbE
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 2, 2021
The Suns continue to rise while the Mavs just… continue to set.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.