The Memphis Grizzlies are currently on a three-game winning streak following a four-game losing streak that had the team in disarray. However, they have righted the ship, especially in the close games department after three of their losses during the four-game losing streak were lost on a last-second shot.
Eight of the Grizzlies’ last 10 games have been decided by seven points or fewer and Memphis has gone 4-4 in those games, including winning their previous two games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns. As their stars Ja Morant and Desmon Bane have stepped up in the absence of Jaren Jackson Jr., their rookies have struggled lately.
Due to those struggles, Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey are trending in the wrong direction in the new Kia Rookie Ladder.
Jaylen Wells remains in 2nd place
Jaylen Wells swapped the second and third rankings with teammate Zach Edey two weeks ago and has remained in second place since then. However, a four-game week of scoring less than 10 points and shooting 20% from the field has Wells on the verge of falling down the rankings with other rookies around the league stepping up.
Despite his struggles shooting from the field, Wells has continued to be the Grizzlies' most reliable perimeter defender, which will always translate to winning as evidenced by the Grizzlies' three-game winning streak. He has also improved his performance on the boards as he has grabbed more rebounds than his average per game (3.3) in each of their last four games.
He grabbed a season-high four offensive rebounds in their victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on March 9th. While Wells has struggled with his shot lately, his consistency on the defensive end will keep him in the Rookie of the Year race.
Zach Edey falls to 4th
Zach Edey missed the last game of the Grizzlies' four-game week due to ankle soreness and is questionable for their game against the Utah Jazz tonight. Edey scored in single-digits in all of the three games he played in the last week but he posted rebounding lines of nine, 12, and 12 in each of those games.
His last two games were especially effective on the offensive glass as he grabbed nine offensive rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks and seven against the Pelicans. However, his shooting performance (10-26) allowed the number one draft pick Zaccharie Risacher to pass him in the Rookie Ladder rankings.
Edey's odds continue to fall in the Rookie of the Year race (+2500 on FanDuel) so it is becoming less likely that he will win the award. Regardless, the Grizzlies' rookie center is showing his value in what the team needs from him in the rebounding battle.