Without Morant, the Grizzlies are still moving forward, and today won 123-95 at home to the Warriors, widening the gap between the two sides to 5 wins, basically locking in the West End and even the second place in the league, and increasing the team's winning percentage to 90% in Morant's absence. "No Mo Bear" sets an example for "No Ku Yong". So, in the absence of "Bear Big" Morant, who played the role of "Bear Two" and led the Grizzlies to play such a good result?
Although the Grizzlies are a new model of team basketball, after Morant, Jarren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bain, Dillon Brooks and Adams are basically at the same level, and they are all called the second leader of the Grizzlies.
Statistically, after Morant this season, the team's highest average score per game is Bain (18.2 points), Brooks (17.9 points) is behind, followed by Jackson (16.4 points). Bain is also the Grizzlies' player with the most total appearances (2127 minutes) this season. Among the Grizzlies who played more than 1,800 minutes in total this season, Bain ranked third in efficiency (17.5) (behind Morant with 24.7 and Adams), first in true shooting percentage (58.8%), and second and third in offensive and defensive efficiency, respectively. The only three in the top three of these four statistics this season are Bain and Adams.
So while the Grizzlies may not really be a two-boss, if you have to choose a two-boss among Bain, Jackson, Brooks and Adams, Bain should be a reasonable choice, at least this season. In fact, just last season, as a rookie, Bane was only the 8th placed scorer in the Grizzlies, and this season he has ascended to the top two scorer of the Grizzlies after Morant, so it is no wonder that he is considered one of the candidates for the most improved player award this season.
In today's game, Bain played 27 minutes, 7 of 15, including a stunning 5-of-6 three-pointer, 3-of-4 free throws, a team-high 22 points, 3 assists and 2 steals, and a plus-minus of +31 also led the game.
Bane, 23, was born on June 25, 1998 in Richmond, Indiana. As a child, Bane and his mother Marissa and his sister would always wander around until he was 2 years old when he settled in his great-grandmother's house and spent his childhood there.
At first, Bane had more success in baseball than in basketball, but he was more inclined to the latter. As a child, Bane was also an athlete. Under the guidance of his great-grandfather, he practiced baseball until his sophomore year of junior high school, and also threw himself into rugby and soccer.
Later, Bane came to Seton Church High School, a small private high school in his hometown. In his senior season, Bain averaged 30 points per game, leading the entire Indiana state, while also having 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 3.2 blocks. In a game against Lincoln High School, he exploded with a jaw-dropping 62 points, setting a new school record. In his four years of high school, Bain scored a total of 1991 points, setting a new Indiana high school record.
But despite this, Bain still did not receive an invitation to any of the NCAA's first-tier colleges, and even 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals did not rate him, and he became a "sporadic high school student." It wasn't until May 2016 that he committed to playing at Christ College Texas (TCU).
But in his first week at TCU, Bane was a hit, winning the Freshman of the Week in The Big 12. The game that most made Bane "show his face" was against the University of Kansas, which was the number one in the United States at the time. In this game, Bain scored 16 points and hit three free throws in the final 2 seconds, leading TUC to a narrow 85-82 victory. Subsequently, Bain also led the TCU to the NIT League (equivalent to the NCAA's sub-league) championship.
In his sophomore season, Bain averaged 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, led the TCU to the NCAA Championship, and led the 12th Division with 47.2% three-point shooting; in the junior season, Bain averaged 15.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, and was selected as the best second team in the Big 12 division. That season, in games against the University of Texas and the University of Nebraska, Bain scored 34 and 30 points. After resisting the temptation to enter the NBA, Bain returned to the TCU and averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in his senior season, making him the best team in the Big 12 District, and once again leading the Big 12 Zone with a 44.2% three-point shooting rate.
Conventionally, players who have been in the NCAA for 4 years are considered to have little potential to tap, not to mention that Bane is from an obscure TCU. Therefore, to be selected as the last person in the first round of 2020, Bane is already going to burn incense. He also became the first TCU player to be selected in the first round of the NBA Draft since 1995. Two days after the election, Bane was sent to the Grizzlies, and his wonderful relationship with Memphis began.
In the rookie season, Bane made a remarkable shot, averaging 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds per game, shooting an overall rate of 46.9% and shooting 43.2% from three-point range, and he was selected as the best rookie second team. He also became the rookie with the highest three-point shooting percentage (at least 150 shots) since Curry in 2009-10. So far this season, Bain has hit 211 three-pointers, setting a new Grizzlies record for 202 three-pointers in a single season set by Mike Miller in 2006-07.
From the beginning to the end, but eventually into a big instrument, ordinary but not ordinary, Bane's growth trajectory and style of play are in line with the Grizzlies' team culture. Perhaps, the hat of the second Grizzlies will never be fastened to his head. But being part of such a vibrant Grizzlies team is a relief for Bane. (Supine Braces/Hairy)