Memphis Grizzlies: 2018-19 First Month Awards
By AJ Salah
Sixth Man of the Month: Shelvin Mack
Many Grizz fans wondered just how Shelvin Mack fit into the picture when the team signed him in the offseason. After all, Memphis had just drafted Jevon Carter and seemingly sought to develop Andrew Harrison; both presumably backup PGs.
A month into the season, Harrison is gone, Carter is Hustling, and Mack has been simply indispensable as instant offense off the bench. Shelvin’s 11.2 ppg is by far the most by a Memphis reserve; a full 52% higher than MarShon Brooks’ 7.5.
Mack is also producing with sublime efficiency: .509 shooting, including .463 from deep while rocking an almost 3:1 assist-turnover ratio.
His attacking has guided the Grizzlies’ challenged offense through dry spells when Gasol or Conley sit. Meanwhile, his defense is basically break-even, when juxtaposed with Memphis’ elite all-around team D.
Mack can get buckets in a variety of ways and has been consistent, dependable, and extremely clutch for the Grizzlies in the close games they seem to love so much.
On a roster where scoring depth was an obvious deficit, he’s bolstered their bench with Chandler Parsons broken again, and Kyle Anderson who is still a tentative scorer.
Mack’s efficiency might not be sustainable. His career .430/.333/.736 shooting splits suggest a regression may be on deck. But his lights-out boost of bench scoring has made him easily Memphis’ best reserve so far in 2018-19.