Memphis Grizzlies: 3 takeaways from Jaren Jackson Jr.’s debut

Memphis Grizzlies F Jaren Jackson Jr. picked up where he left off defensively

Jaren Jackson Jr.’s debut was a mixed bag. The Grizzlies forward did a lot right in his debut, scoring the ball pretty efficiently and taking a lot of shots, even if only one long-range bucket dropped.

But it was the defensive end that saw him step up on Wednesday night, as he was a shining star in an otherwise dark galaxy that is the Grizzlies’ performance against the Clippers.

Los Angeles was playing without Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, and their top three point guards. Yogi Ferrell played in his first game on a 10-day contract and looked like one of the best point guards in the league. Almost nobody looked good for Memphis in this game.

But Jackson Jr. stepped up, blocking four shots on the night. He brought energy and rim protection to the paint — two things that the Grizzlies have lacked so far this year. He did get pushed around a bit on the interior, but he played well for a guy who hasn’t played NBA basketball in eight months.

That said, he did struggle with fouls, accumulating 5 fouls in only 18 minutes played. This is a number that could become worrisome when his role grows.