Breaking Down the Memphis Grizzlies Rotation
The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled to figure out their rotation early in the season. Despite having a deep roster, some players haven’t played up to their potential early on in the season, and head coach Taylor Jenkins has been forced to shuffle the rotation as a result.
Ja Morant has been his superstar self on a daily basis, but outside of him the Grizzlies have struggled on the offensive end of the floor. Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. have had some big-time moments, but other nights they’re a non-factor. They’ve been without a key player on both ends of the floor, with Dillon Brooks missing most of the season thus far due to injury.
Currently Kyle Anderson is getting the majority of the backup power forward minutes, it’s forcing the Grizzlies to decide between Xavier Tillman and Brandon Clarke as the backup center. Both guys have had games where they’ve sat out because of a coaching decision, but for now, it seems as if Clarke is the guy they’re rolling with.
Both are older players who had long college careers, and they’re willing to do what’s best for their team. The Grizzlies have a glut of young players, so having these older guys coming out of college gives this young core a veteran-type presence, even though they haven’t been in the league for long.
Another position the Grizzlies have been mixing and matching the minutes is at the backup wing spots. Zaire Williams was the team’s first-round pick this past summer, and they’ve prioritized him in the rotation as they try to get him acclimated to the NBA game. His play has been up-and-down, but his potential has been on full display, and he has a chance to be a vital part of this team moving forward.
The backup point guard position is one which Tyus Jones has locked down. He’s a reliable backup and is one of the better options in the entire league. His ability to take care of the basketball and knock-down shots is super effective. He almost exclusively plays when Morant is on the bench, but his skill set allows them to play them together if needed.
John Konchar is another guard they can rely upon in a variety of ways. He isn’t a big-time scorer, but he plays tough defense and can impact the game on both ends of the floor. Not being a big-time scorer hurts the offense at times, but this team has enough offensive firepower that isn’t an issue most nights.
They also have a few end-of-the-bench guys who are talented players despite not being asked to play consistent minutes for this team. Sam Merrill, Jarrett Culver, and Killian Tillie are the three main guys who can earn a spot in the rotation. With the injuries, this team has had and their limited impact, it’s hard to see it happening anytime soon.
Taylor Jenkins is still trying to find the answer in regarding what his most productive rotation is. This team will need to be patient with this process as they still are looking at things from the long-term view. They’re going to be a work in progress, but the pieces are there for this team to be competitive in the western conference.
-Chris Kern
Twitter: @ChrisKern11