Memphis Grizzlies: 5 players performing well so far this season
By Chris Kern
Garrett Temple
Garrett Temple is off to a great start this season, playing the best basketball of his long career. He had continued to improve into a good role player over the past few seasons but he has now taken the next step.
He has become a legit offensive threat to go with his elite defensive ability. His 12.2 points per game average would easily be a career high if he can sustain it.
Temple has been a three-and-d type of player in recent years but he has continued to evolve his offensive game.
He has been much more confident in his ability to attack the basket and it has led to him doubling his free throw attempts from a season ago. Last season he shot 1.2 a game and this season it is up to 2.8.
For how much he has evolved as a complete offensive player the three-point shot is still his go to. So far this season 37.4% of his shot attempts have been catch and shoot three-point attempts.
His best game of the season has to of been his 30 point performance in the home opener against Atlanta. He went 10-11 from the field including 5-6 from three-point range.
Temple has struggled in some of the recent games but he has still made some clutch shots for this team.
He made a game-tying three in the final 40 seconds to force overtime against Philadelphia whom they would go on to beat.
His play down the stretch against Milwaukee was exactly why they brought him to Memphis. He was great defensively all game and helped them get crucial stops.
It was a couple offensive plays midway through the quarter that completely changed the momentum after the Bucks had gone on a huge run.
The Grizzlies were down by five points with just over five minutes remaining and Temple went on to score six points on back to back possessions to give Memphis the lead.
He had an and one finish around the rim followed by a three-pointer from the corner as the shot clock expired.
That six-point swing helped the Grizzlies get a road win and is just one of the many instances in which Temple has made a big difference.
He has played well so far this season. There were some questions coming into the season about who would start at shooting guard. Temple has answered all those questions and then some.