Game 21: Memphis Grizzlies (6-14) @ Chicago Bulls (7-14) - 8:00 PM ET

[ducler]

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[VCfor3]

Well that was ugly

[Whole Truth]

I know Memphis are young & developing but It's important to stay focused. They fought back from down 20 to get within 1. (Nice to see them claw back a game). Crowder hits the corner 3 & the entire bench erupts like they just won the game. Timeout is called by the Bulls, Memphis come out the timeout with a couple sloppy plays, giving up 3 straight 3''s & the 11 point lead back ...

Nice return game for Jonas, An efficient 32 & 13 on 12 for 17 shooting.

Off set by the starting rotation of Crowder, Jaren, Tyus & Brooks putting up 41 combined points on 15 for 51shooting . These 4 starters put up only 7 more points than Jonas on 34 more attempts. That is potentially 102 points, in a single digit loss.

I wouldn't have mind this game as much, if Jaren had played better …

I like the Jonas/Melton pairing. Melton quietly impacts the game with another 8/7/5. He & Jonas are the main reasons Grizz closed that 20pt gap. I wonder if Memphis are having buyers remorse on Tyus... For me Melton is clearly better on both ends.

[Whole Truth]

It bares repeating.

The 4 starters for Memphis outside of Jonas, shot a horrific 15-51 from the field.

[VCfor3]

I think Tyus can get out of his slump, but yeah Melton is looking like the better player atm.

[Jamaaliver]

JV dropped 30+ last night?

How the heck did I miss that headline?!?

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[Whole Truth]

JV dropped 30+ last night?

How the heck did I miss that headline?!?

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Most people don't pay attention to non flashy bigs who put up 12pts, with questionable defense.

However for those that don't know or cared to find out. He averaged those 12pts along with 9rbs for the better part of his career on 8 shots a game in around 22mins. He's always been an efficient offensive weapon, overshadowed by DeRozan being a high usage wing. Those 2 defensively were like oil & water. DeRozan was the high usage star, so Jonas played in his coat tails & got benched often since his rookie year to benefit DeRozan defensively. (DeRozan needed a big to erase his mistakes & Jonas needed better ball pressure, denial). Jonas played his entire career, 90% of his mins with DeRozan & against starters only. Very few mins without DeRozan against bench units/lesser players. Which would/should skew a lot of advanced stats.

Last night Jonas took 17 shots because Memphis had fallen into a 20pt hole. Like Last year, if he averages 14-16 apg, which he hasn't so far with Jenkins trying to develop the youth, he's a 20+ scorer in less than 30 mins on good efficiency, with questionable perimeter defense. That's where Melton comes into play being the best defensive option between himself, Tyus & Ja.

Along with Jaren & Clarke he gives the Memphis front court an additional dimension, IMO. Where other see him as expendable.

[Whole Truth]

I think Tyus can get out of his slump, but yeah Melton is looking like the better player atm.

I don't know if in the long run Melton is the better offensive option but what I do know is that right now he's clearly & will continue to be the best defensive option between Ja, Tyus & himself.

Melton is a low usage defensive utility knife.

Jonas worth is in his offense & rebounding where he would benefit being high usage playing with Melton who provides better ball pressure defensively than either TYus or Ja.

- Memphis could start games with Jonas, Jaren, JA
- Sub in Clarke to play with Jaren, Ja
- Sub in Melton to play with Jaren, Clarke
- Sub in Jonas to pay with Clarke, Melton

or Memphis could simply run 2 units of

1 - Jaren/Clarke/Ja (2 3&D wings that get out in transition. (Josh Jackson), who can potentially be point forward, + 2020 pick).

2 - Jonas/Anderson/Brooks/Melton (1-2 FA floor spacers at SG/SF)

[VCfor3]

I think Tyus can get out of his slump, but yeah Melton is looking like the better player atm.

I don't know if in the long run Melton is the better offensive option but what I do know is that right now he's clearly & will continue to be the best defensive option between Ja, Tyus & himself.

Melton is a low usage defensive utility knife.

Jonas worth is in his offense & rebounding where he would benefit being high usage playing with Melton who provides better ball pressure defensively than either TYus or Ja.

- Memphis could start games with Jonas, Jaren, JA
- Sub in Clarke to play with Jaren, Ja
- Sub in Melton to play with Jaren, Clarke
- Sub in Jonas to pay with Clarke, Melton

or Memphis could simply run 2 units of

1 - Jaren/Clarke/Ja (2 3&D wings that get out in transition. (Josh Jackson), who can potentially be point forward, + 2020 pick).

2 - Jonas/Anderson/Brooks/Melton (1-2 FA floor spacers at SG/SF)

Yeah a strategy trying to incorporate some of that is probably our best bet this season.

[Whole Truth]

Yeah a strategy trying to incorporate some of that is probably our best bet this season.

I figured these rotation decisions by Jenkins, was a tanking strategy.

-Clarke & Ja have the most chemistry & they hardly play together.
-Jonas & Ja are a weak pairing in the 1-5 pnr, where Jonas would benefit from Melton's ball pressure & Ja, from Clarke's ability being --to erase defensive mistakes.
-Jonas would get more touches off the bench is developing Jaren requires him getting touches.
-Ja has had issues, with Jonas in the paint/pace. Where Jaren & Clarke who has chemistry with Ja can play in space n pace.
etc..

The problem is these adjustments could lead to losing the 2020 pick, which I think is a crucial addition at a pivotal point in the rebuild. Don't want to convey this year & have to tank next year, when the team on a whole should be better, pick or not. Better to have the pick added to next years potential jump forward.