Memphis Grizzlies: 3 jaw-dropping statistics from the 2020-21 season
The Memphis Grizzlies led the NBA in points in the paint by a relatively wide margin
This is where the stats get more interesting.
Do you know how the Memphis Grizzlies were a subpar 3-point shooting team last season? If you didn’t, watch a couple of games. It was painful at times.
This very same team all but made up for their long-range shooting woes by scoring in the paint relentlessly. A large portion of this can be explained by way of Jonas Valanciunas, one of the most physically dominating centers in the league. That said, there are other factors that went into this.
Rather than having a power forward in Jaren Jackson Jr. who often kicks out for a 3-pointer, Memphis saw Kyle Anderson get crafty and score in the paint on a semi-frequent basis. In fact, everybody on this team scored in the paint.
The Grizzlies led the league in floaters by an extremely wide margin. The obvious in Brandon Clarke hit a handful of floaters, Ja Morant hit more floaters than you can count, and rookie Xavier Tillman developed a deadly floater game.
As a result, the Grizzlies scored 55.8 points per game in the paint, 1.4 more than the next closest team in the New Orleans Pelicans.
Next. Why Josh Giddey should be on the Grizzlies' radar. dark
Memphis scored in the paint the old-fashioned way and in the most efficient way imaginable.