The Memphis Grizzlies have created a path of destruction in preseason play
The Memphis Grizzlies have been dominant this preseason. Their 3-1 record won’t necessarily dazzle anyone, but their sole loss game with almost every starter on the bench. When the primary rotation players have been in the game, the Grizzlies have, for lack of a better term, massacred every team that they have come up against.
The first game was a blowout waiting to happen, with the Grizzlies defeating the Bucks by double-digits after just three quarters of play. This game would be canceled in strange circumstances due to a false fire alarm.
In their second contest, the Grizzlies defeated a young Hornets team by 30 points in a game that was never close. Memphis dominated the contest from start to finish. They’d follow this with a close loss, which came while the Grizzlies were playing without key starters like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
On Monday, they came back in full force with another dominating win, this one against the Detroit Pistons. The Grizzlies would go on to win the game by 35 points. At the center of these dominant team performances, you’ll find Ja Morant, who has looked as promised this year, improving in every facet of the game.
Memphis Grizzlies PG Ja Morant holds one of the most impressive preseason stats in the NBA
You could make the argument that Ja Morant is significantly better in every way. He’s continuing to blow past defenders and get to the lane with ease, his mid-range shot has become a huge threat, and he’s still the best passer on the team.
But one area that may not be spoken of overly frequently is Morant’s ability to score in the paint, which has only improved from a season ago. On a Grizzlies team that led the NBA in points in the paint per game, Morant was the primary threat down low. This has continued into the 2021-22 NBA Preseason, where Ja Morant ranks second in the league in points in the paint currently, according to Grizzlies PR on Twitter.
The degree of difficulty for a point guard to accomplish this, even in just three games, cannot be understated. Morant is half the size of some of the guys who are defending him in the paint but doesn’t struggle at all. He thrives.
And that’s not even the best part.
While Morant is second in the league in the paint, he’s currently the best NBA Preseason scorer in transition, leading the league in fast-break points with 7.7 per game. This is a testament ot his speed, which has been on full display over the past week.
If Morant can continue this into the regular season, the Grizzlies should have no trouble remaining the league’s premier scoring team down low.