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Memphis Grizzlies: With Injuries On The Wing Yuta Watanabe Deserves A Chance To Play

By Blake Monroe

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 16: Yuta Watanabe #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 16, 2019 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 16: Yuta Watanabe #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 16, 2019 at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Yuta Watanabe may only be the second Japanese player in the NBA but he is no stranger on the court. The Memphis Grizzlies need to start giving him the opportunity to play.

With Kyle Anderson and Dillon Brooks out with injuries, Yuta Watanabe should be an alternative option. With the losses continuing to pile up the Memphis Grizzlies need to give him a chance.

When the loss to the Bucks seemed inevitable, J.B. Bickerstaff experimented with more of his younger players. Little did he know, this mash-up of talent would bring the deficit to 10 points in 5 minutes after the 20 + point lead Milwaukee had.

Watanabe used this time, alongside Jevon Carter, Justin Holiday, Ivan Rabb, and Omri Casspi, to show the league he was made for more than the G-League court. His tenacious defending, passing ability and offensive awareness made him a dominant force on the court.

He was able to steal the ball on passes as well as blocking shots against some of the best players on the number one team in the Eastern Conference. In six minutes, Watanabe had three rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Just imagine a player of his talent for a longer period of time.

If one watches the last few minutes of this clip and a fan can see that Watanabe looked like he belongs on that court.

Just think what the Grizzlies could have done if he had been playing instead of Garrett Temple or another player in the first half. That doesn’t mean he should take up a lot of those guys minutes but there’s no reason he shouldn’t get a chance to play alongside the main guys.

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His ability to make plays at such a young age will make him a more dominant force over the year. There will be no surprise if receives more minutes this season. What will be a surprise is if he does not.

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