In the game to beat the Pelicans, the Grizzlies scored 55 points in a single quarter, and Ja Morant said of the team: "Too XX strong" / Ja Morant says Memphis Grizzlies look 'damn good' in 55-point quarter, win over Pelicans
Published: April 9, 2022 US time
Publisher: ESPN
Article by Andrew López
Article translated by de Gaulle
The NBA has had several strong teams this season, the Bulls before All-Star Weekend, the Green Army after the start of February, and the Suns at any given time. In addition, the Grizzlies without Morant also maintain a very high winning percentage and competitive state, achieving an impressive result of 20 wins and 4 losses, which is also the guarantee that the Grizzlies can stabilize in the second place in the West for a long time.
But everyone understands that in the playoffs, what determines the real height of a team will be the color of the stars in the team. So at the moment when the playoffs are about to start, the return of the Grizzlies core Morant can be said to be just right. After taking a few games off on March 19 due to a sore right knee, Morant returned to the court in the team's penultimate regular season game of the season.
Although he rested for a little month, Morant, who could return to the field, seemed to have never been absent. In his first game, he scored 21 points and nine assists on 27 points, helping the team beat the Pelicans by a 141-114 score to end the previous losing streak and show what kind of energy the full Grizzlies can burst out.
In fact, before this big win over the Pelicans, the Grizzlies had already locked up their second place in the West. Still, they showed no mercy to the Pelicans' men. In addition to letting Morant return to find a feeling, the team also sent Dillon Brooks, Bain, Jalan Jackson Jr. and Adams, the four main players, to start with Morant.
The purpose of this is naturally to let these 5 first strikers have more run-in time. According to statistics, counting this game with the Pelicans, Morant and the other 4 starting teammates have played a total of 11 official games, accumulating 109 minutes. But even in this small game time, the Grizzlies' starting five-Tiger lineup has exploded with tremendous energy. According to statistics, when these 5 players appeared together, the Grizzlies averaged 119.7 points per 100 possessions, 94.8 points per 100 rounds, and a staggering 24.9 points per net win.
The more powerful the weapon, the more it must be wiped out in a pinch near the playoffs. Not to mention that as a young team, the Grizzlies also need to prepare for the more intense playoffs in advance. "I think the overall spirit of the team is good, but we still have a lot of work to do," Said Dillon Brooks, "overall, we can always find ways to play well around each other." ”
Dillon isn't bragging about it, and while the Pelicans aren't as strong as the Grizzlies, they're also in good form at the end of the season. However, such a team that locked up a playoff seat in advance still looked vulnerable in front of the Grizzlies, and in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies even pulled away to a point difference of more than 40 points. It is also this disparity in strength that allows the Grizzlies to control the playing time of the main players very well.
However, because Morant has just returned, he needs more game time to get back in shape. That's why he's played the most of all starters and why he'll continue to play in the fourth quarter. "I feel like I need a game or two to regain the feeling of my legs," Morant said after the game, "and there's nothing more effective than playing a real game, which is unmatched by any training." So, I just want to be ready for the next game. ”
Compared to Morant's eagerness to fight, the Grizzlies' coaching staff is relatively more planned. "We want Ja (Morant) to be able to play his best," said team coach Jenkins, "and I think it's a process that takes." For example, at the beginning of the game, when he made a few moves, the direction of the ball rebounding did not go as he expected. But he didn't force it either, and then he began to pass the ball to his teammates continuously. Later, in the second half, the situation improved significantly, and he performed very well, obviously stepping on his own throttle to the end. ”
Inspired by Morant's comeback, the Grizzlies played a hearty offense, scoring 141 points in a single game, creating the team's second highest single-game score this season. Particularly commendable was the third quarter, when the Grizzlies blossomed on multiple points, shooting 20 of 26 in a single quarter, including 7-of-10 shooting from outside the three-point line. In this way, the Grizzlies scored a high score of 55 points in 12 minutes with a strong offensive force, showing the team's terrifying attack power.
According to statistics, there were only three teams before the Grizzlies, who had scored more than 55 points in a single quarter. By the end of the third quarter, the Grizzlies had already scored 119 points, five more points than their opponents, the Pelicans. "Tonight in this game, I think we look too xxx strong," Morant said of the team after the game, "just look at our performance in the third quarter." ”
After winning the game against the Pelicans, the Grizzlies took their 56th game of the season. This number of wins has already equaled the team's historical record. If they can win in the final game of the regular season against the Celtics, the Grizzlies this season can write a whole new piece of history.
For the Grizzlies, of course, their eyes are no longer just on setting a regular-season record. Facing the upcoming playoffs, the Grizzlies, who reached eighth in the West through the playoffs last year, naturally want to achieve better results than the previous year.
"Being able to get back on the field and fight alongside my teammates is something I've been looking forward to since March 19th," Morant said. Coming back to the pitch made me very excited and I had a lot of fun in the game. Next, I'm going to be well prepared for the upcoming playoff journey. ”