The Memphis Grizzlies Must Improve From The Three-Point Line To Get Back On Track

The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled to make three-pointers as well as defend it. This has been a big part of the team’s recent struggles.

The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled to hit three-pointers recently but their inability to defend the three-point line may even be the bigger issue.

Both of these were on full display in a recent home loss against the Detroit Pistons. They allowed the Pistons to make 16-40 from three-point range while they made just 4-18.

That is a 36 point difference in what was a seven-point loss. For a team that is offensively challenged like the Grizzlies, they won’t be able to win games that way.

Outside of Jaren Jackson Jr. going 2-2 from deep in that game, they were just 2-16. They missed countless open threes while the Pistons were knocking them down.

Detroit shot more than twice the amount of threes Memphis did. That’s the way the Grizzlies play and it has cost them way more than it should.

In today’s NBA it isn’t an effective way to win games and despite Memphis’ hot start the cracks are starting to show and this is a big one.

The Grizzlies defense is predicated on getting steals and blocking shots and they do that by playing more help defense than most teams do.

Teams are starting to see that when they study film and they have been able to find open shooters off initial penetration.

Many times it’s not the first pass that leads to the open shooter but after a couple of passes around the top of the key and then they are usually able to get an open shot.

So far this season they are allowing opposing teams to make 11.2 three-pointers per game which is 17th in the NBA, they are making 36.2% though which is 24th.

While they started the season making three-pointers at a good clip they have really struggled recently as they are currently making just 9.3 three’s per game which is tied for 27th in the NBA. They are making 34.7% which is 21st in the league.

For a team that is so limited on the offensive end, they have to be able to knock down open shots when they come and recently they haven’t and that’s why they’re losing a lot of games.

They were doing better from the three-point line to start the season and that was a big reason they started the season 12-5.

The team as a whole have fallen off but the main two guys are Shelvin Mack and Garrett Temple. They’re still having good seasons compared to the rest of their career’s but their absurd starts were huge for this team and they have missed the shooting those two were bringing.

Whether the answer is bringing in new faces or just working with the current guys this team has to find a way to be better from the three-point line on both sides of the court.

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Since Nov 23 when they were 12-5 and on top of the west, the numbers have been embarrassing.

They have made just 8.6 three-pointers per game at a 32.8% clip. That is 29th in makes and 28th in percentage.

Their ability to defend the three-point line hasn’t been much better. They’re allowing 12 made three-pointers per game at a 37.6% clip. That is the 23rd most makes at the 26th worst percentage.

There’s a variety of reasons that go into this but it has to change. If that means giving up a couple of more easy twos a game then so be it.

The Grizzlies offense just isn’t good enough to overcome the point difference. That is a 10.2 point difference from the three-point line and a lot of the recent losses have been because of this.

This team has a lot of issues they need to fix, there’s nobody that should say this is their only issue. If they can improve in this area then they will start to at least be more competitive, otherwise, there is no chance this team makes the playoffs or even stays in the postseason race.