Can Ja Morant save the Grizzlies season?
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- čas přidán 29. 12. 2023
- Is Ja Morant better after returning from suspension? In this enhanced segment from the Thinking Basketball podcast, Ben and Cody break down the hot start for the Memphis Grizzlies All-Star guard, including his improved strength and balance, elite passing, and shot selection on his drives (can a player shoot TOO much at the basket)?
-Full episode-
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Ben Taylor is the author of Thinking Basketball, a Nylon Calculus contributor, creator of the Backpicks Top 40 series & host of the Thinking Basketball podcast.
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#thinkingbasketball - Sport
I really appreciate how you guys add real footage of plays as you’re discussing the examples. Other channels just add generic old and irrelevant footage
Most channels do footage that's relevant. You're thinking of the one made up channel in your head that you made up so you can make a cute comment
Copyright nro
especially AM Hoops
@CookieDaMann true but he does that because it's definitely easier for him and not very Important to him and to us
@@twerktospecno
2:37 I want nba fans to use the term “court map” more often. Not every player is tall like LeBron or Jokic so not everyone has good court vision to make the open passes. Having a good court map is a completely different skill. Double team comes or the defense collapses, Ja can’t physically see his teammates, but he has the awareness to know where his guys are at all times
really great point. great passers in both basketball and soccer can see and process information really quickly, but they also can basically "see" what's going on even if they're looking away because they have this mental map of what's going to happen. it's like they get one glance and they have a TV view video in their head of what comes next. you'll hear them asked "how did you know to make that pass?" and they'll say "idk I just knew he would be there"
But that's a chemistry thing, not really a skill thing . Also in the NBA players switch teams a lot so it's kinda so hard to get to that level of chemistry but I think it really is a big advantage and definitely helps winning championships(even though nuggets didn't need that with the joker being able to see over everyone).
This also applies in defense. Players who are all over the court in defense have great court mapping. Guys like Adebayo, Draymond, JJJ etc.. ie. the 'roamer' types of defenders who just plugs the gap wherever it is needed
5:50 Couple of points on Ja’s efficiency that I recall from Ben’s own videos. In a video on Kidd’s passing, Ben breaks down the idea that more turnovers is not necessarily a bad thing. A lob pass is far more valuable than any other pass on the court because of its conversion rate, so making that more difficult pass is more beneficial to the offense, even if it results in more turnovers. Ben has made a similar point on Kyrie’s efficiency at the rim which applies much more. Although his field goal percentage indicates that Kyrie is barely average at converting at the rim, if you watch the game and see the actual attempts, you’ll realize that his ability to convert at his percentage is remarkable considering the shot selection. In a recent episode of JJ Redick’s podcast, Cam Thomas talks about shooting “grenades” which are basically low efficiency end of the shot clock attempts. We know that the further you get in the shot clock, the more inefficient the possession, so the ability to just go and get a difficult bucket even at a below avergae fg% is incredibly valuable, especially in the playoffs. I’ll conclude with a point Ben made on Embiid’s midrange in a recent episode. Based on just his midrange shooting, the PPP is not impressive, but that does not take into consideration the free throws drawn, or the passes created from that action. In the same vein, even if Ja’s attempts at the rim suffer in terms of PPP, I’d bet that the offense that creates in terms of three point kick outs or lob attempts are incredibly efficient (Kidd example, by drawing more of the attention on his own shot attempts, I would bargain Ja’s turnovers are better in these situations as it opens up the floor for his teammates)
This was a really interesting read
Agree with all of it except the kyrie point. I feel like you lose some value if the only way you can get good rim shots is through those really difficult shots where as better rim finishers can get easier rim finishes and boost their percentages which makes their rim finishing more valuable.
Essentially if you commit 2 turnovers in 6 attempts to throw alley oops (4 hit), that’s about a 1.3 or higher points per possession average.
@@shaunsimon9189 yup. While there is some value in being able to make extremely difficult shots. Kyries inability to generate easier shots due to his size and also his lack of creation for others are both huge issues.
@@gjfwangThat's true. I would still push back just a little, because Turnovers can take away the defensive advantages of a high offensive efficiency. A life ball TO leads to more transition offense than a missed shot. But of course Lop Passes can go out of bounds too and in general I'm not disagreeing with you point, just trying to specify it....
Loved watching his meteoric rise from unranked to second overall pick back in 2019. Excited to see him in his prime hopefully filling out the D Rose dream.
Maybe he can destroy his knees AND get suspended for guns at the same time! A true combo-guard
He’s a criminal
@@RCTricking3 REPLIES
@@whaleking6445 So is Giddy
@@whaleking6445every time i write a rhyme these people think it’s a crime to tell em whats on my mind
if he can stay on the court then maybe
staying out of his head is key
When is the "Best of NBA Offense" series coming back? I LOVE it! Such great work!
This aged so bad lmaoooo
Cant predict injuries
If Ja can save the Grizzlies that will be a Cinderella story
His shooting must be on point though
Lol 'shooting' . Heh.
I mean, it might be a little too late for them to be a top 6 seed, but a play in spot is very realistic. But making it out of there is largely a matter of chance. I wouldn't put too many expectations on them tbh
Yeah not happening
Watching some of the bigs blow the assist is painful lol
I agree with Ben about the shooting outside the paint. If Ja can get that to league average or above average, you'll have defenses really second guessing what to defend. The elite players have that change of pace. Excellent point about Desmond Bane being a great running mate. The defense can't fully collapse in the paint if there's a knockdown shooter on the court because the ball will find them.
Even though the highlights come from him doing things like MVP Derrick Rose, to me it's the mix of Tony Parker in paint finishes and drawing fouls in transition like MVP Russ that helps them get into the penalty and open up teammates with the pressure he puts on the defense that impress me the most.
I know we don't call carry anymore but that carry at 7:30 was egregious lol
He carries the ball better than anyone I've ever seen, that is for certain.
So does Poole. Everybody carries
Guy carries the ball on every possession!
Like every other player dude
It depends if the goal is the get to the playoffs and lose
Or tank and get better picks for a more successful next season...
That seems to be how many clubs play it
But is Ja electric?
Yes
That's true too
Bro did you not see the playoffs last year? Miami made the finals as a playin team. LALakers conference finals as a playin team.
Also, you want to build a winning culture. How do you see this tanking with the current roster, shut down Bane? or JJJ? They are only 6 games out of the playins and 8 to reach 6th seed. It just makes no sense to decide to tank this early in the season with this roster.
@@liekegerritsen1620 Ja especially wouldn't agree to it, with all the other main guys too not wanting to sandbag as well.
Especially with the injured guys that could help when coming back.
You have a really good voice dude
just through the 5 games that Ja has played so far, it’s frustrating to see how many times Ja creates a GREAT shot for a teammate just for them to brick wide open threes or miss at the rim. it’s past time for Memphis to start trying to bring in guys that have established themselves as consistent shooters. I like a lot of the guys they’ve drafted recently; Vince Williams, David Roddy, Santi Aldama and Zaire Williams all play hard and defend pretty well, but none of them - to this point - are reliable jump shooters or play finishers. it’s so much more difficult for Ja to get to the rim when he’s surrounded by lineups full of guys that the defense doesn’t fear on the perimeter. hopefully Luke Kennard can help with that problem whenever he gets back from injury.
in previous years, Memphis has been able to get away with not being a great jump shooting team by relentlessly crashing the glass and creating extra shots with physical frontcourt players like Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke. now that they’re both out, it makes for some really rough dry spells for Memphis’ offense.
he is basically the same archetype as westbrook, lots of rim pressure but trouble finishing(better shot selection tho), eventually people will notice that, so if his shot doesnt come back to decent he is going to struggle and the grizzlies too.
The first thing I noticed from his first game was he looked way stronger then he ever has
Bro just went out for the season
I drafted Ja Morant in the 90s in fantasy and stashed him. My trust in him was well deserved, it would appear.
another banger
Memphis remained a tough team with Ja out but just couldn’t score enough and now they get their best player back the difference is night and day , i think a play in spot is up for grabs for them.
i like that you add how his teammate cannot finish an open dunk compilation.. the big man and wings have been horrendous
Bruh Ja is nasty but every one of those clips he’s either carrying it or a ridiculous quick travel 😂
Man your not wrong. Ruins it for me, it’s blatant
Yall don’t know ball
LeBron fouls and/or travels on every drive.
@@lymphomasurvive Please don't come to this channel if you're just going to complain
This is such a lame overreaction. Does Ja sometimes carry, sure. This is a common issue in the NBA, I'll give you that. Does it happen in every clip or even when it happens, does it really give him an advantage every time (often when crossing half court), of course not.
He's being hindered by poor spacing around him as well. The Grizzlies would massively benefit from a center who can either make 3s or atleast be an elite rim threat to sit in the dunker's spot when Ja drives, someone like Luka has on the Mavs in Derrick Lively
Haven't seen highlights like these since prime drose
what really "jumps out to me" is the brutal carries that are allowed these days.
Like maybe as quick as anyone I've seen. A very good passer. But a minus defender, just an ok FT shooter, and not a good enough range shooter to make teams consistently pay for how much they have to back off him.
He's still young but he's getting close to his prime years and his game still is lacking in some important ways.
Not to mention his maturity and the mental aspects of being a professional and a leader.
He still has a ways to go. I hope he gets there.
he's actually a plus defender now, at least he was last year and has been so far this year.
I’ve been listening to the pod for 2 years and just realized Cody has long hair…
He needs to do the steve Nash trick he doesn't need to stop pressuring the rim just stop jumping 1 on 3 at the rim u got hops but not westbrook body
Reminds me of an even taller and stronger pre-injury D Rose. Just so explosive around the rim, things we haven’t seen since, well Derrick fucking Rose.
Taller ? No. stronger? Hell no. But appreciate your passion
maybe not stronger but a little more balanced. still hits the floor a little too much though.@@MrDiMES123
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Once that 3 starts falling he’s on a whole other level.
another curse by this channel on a star player
Please do D Rose
It’s crazy how you pronounce archetype lol
Has athleticism, working on shooting all the time, nothint can stop him
"Live trigger" off the bounce lmao
This aged well
He can and he will
Whenever I watch Ja he sometimes reminds me of Manu
He reminds me so much of young AI
Great critiques; both epic. The negative critique of Ja begs the question: “how in the world does he score so much as non efficient he is?” And “How crazy would an efficient Ja look like?!?”
why does cody record inside the sauna?
😅😅😅😅
Damn i went to watch this video too late
This aged as well as the Super-team in Brooklyn...
They failed to mention Ja's arsenal of weapons he's not shy about flashing.
Not to mention he’s always carrying.
(That one’s a twofer)
Very entertaining player. I wish him the best.
Well this is a little awkward now
yeah i loved his gun signs as well
Russell Westbrook, Derrick rose type of player
I love Ja, but sadly no. The Grizzlies have way too may holes to fix (3 point shooting and REBOUNDING). If Steph couldn't save GSW during the 2020-2021 season, then I highly doubt Ja can save this season.
Edit: You changed the original title, but my opinion still stands.
No he can't, Regardless of the positives you listed. in any top level competition you can not afford to put yourself, and your team, in a disadvantage like Grizzlies are in and come out unscathed. They can beat Pistons and Spurs, but then who can't.
He needs to improve his shooting before he becomes old
No, the west is loaded. The Grizzles have to many teams to leap over. Memphis will not make it into the post season.
Nearly 50 games left in the season and only 5 and a half games out of the play-in, it's not the most likely but I'd say they still have a good shot.
@@brandonhodge5136 they are going to start losing... they were a losing team before Ja, they will be a 50/50 team with Ja. So they will end with a losing record. Just because the team wins 4 tight games, means nothing. (and now they already lost 2)
He's like AI if the refs never called a travel or carry.
People are making way too much out of these 4 games.... This team is not going to be an amazing team. Watch them start taking a bunch of losses in upcoming games.
Sadly Ja is out for the season with a torn shoulder...
No matter what he does and how much he achieves he will always be the little man playing with a gun who is probably scared of the dark😂
There is no 100 point game he can do that won't make first laugh at the kid Ja Morant and then give my respect towards the game 😂
Yes, he can.
I just need this dude to stay away from guns. That's it.
Can he just do that? Can he!? Please Ja!
Give up his 2nd amendment right? I guess freedom isn't free anymore
@@TrillBill he has to think.about the Black people of the USA who are shot to death at alarming rates everyday due to America's history of discrimination and laughable gun laws. AND he has to think about the children of the USA who look up to Ja, and who may one day grow up to be school shooters. Please Ja. Please. Think of the kids man.
4:36 was painful to watch
no
Hes really a baby jordan out there now lol
NOPE!
Doesn’t seem like it.
A rose/westbrook archetype. However, the sustainability of this type of play does not age well.
Even though his defense still needs improvement (though it has gotten a little better, disregarding flu games), he’s still a considerably better defender than Doncic. Also he does get blocks and steals with all those ups and athleticism. But yeah, I think he should work on the defensive pressure, though I think his awareness has improved. Part of the issue is his offensive style just takes sooo much gas (Doncic does not have that excuse at all). As a Memphis fan, I was kind of happy when he got the 25 game suspension because his body works better with that rest, come playoff time. To be real, if you look at injury time now versus 90s, the season should just be about 18 games shorter.
I believe he will not be effective in a playoff situation. It's much harder to drive when there is high defensive intensity. How do these same numbers hold up in the playoffs/clutch moments? And he is matchup-hunted on the other end which is hunted for key baskets throughout the game.
0:47 Feels outdated and not good, great you got the paint clogged and a bunch of guys who cant enter now.
maybe in the 90s but everybody grizzlies has the abilty to shoot so collapsing the paint draws everybody towards you saw you can get a 3
@@jamalwalker but stationary shooters are also not good in the long term. It's better to have MOTION and space.
Edit: that was just one play tho
Ja is a great shooter too 😊
Pop pop pop!
I see what you did there 😂
31% is not good
The real question is can Ja Morant save his own career before he ruins it with stupid decisions🤣
Ja can’t make a 3 to save his life
Ja Morant is now out for the season.
He's very special. I'm not a big fan of his personality off the court and especially as the face of the league. However, his leaping and ability to finish/squeeze through traffic is prime D Rose-esque.
WTF DOES PRBH MEAN WTF
💀
Ja morcarry
thought the thumbnail was that player the US got back from Russia
I swear everytime one of these sensational videos comes out, the opposite occurs and something bad happens to that player or team lol this did not age well, their season is cooked
Because of his carrying
LOL
dog @ 7:05
The grizzlies were clearly better without him
euh last 3 games the grizzlies have lost stop lying
you guys are reaching. Anyway, you’re very overdue for a Jaime Jaques breakdown. I know you hate the Heat, but if you want to be an actual objective basketball channel. Ja Morant is really low on the totem pole lol
Rose 2.0
Hyper reliant on his athleticism. Makes very poor decisions (and we're just talking on court here) with regards to trying to posterize people and just jumping into the defense without a plan.
Injuries will take away his career, that is if he can stay unbanned long enough.
I thought this channel is called Thinking basketball, did you guys use your brain in your Top 25 under 25 podcast? Waste of time
This is probably the worst take I’ve heard from y’all
26ppg 8apg on 48% and 12% with 4 TO's a game is hardly incredible. De'aaron Fox's numbers piss on his, 30ppg 6apg on 49% and 40% with 2.5 TO's and i never hear u say a peep about him. The media's ability to Hype up one player and ignore another becuase ones a loud mouth moron with "Street Cred" and down play and flat out ignore the other becuase he doesn't do something stupid every other month astonishes me.
he's overrated.. another steve francis
Overrated
I am so tired of hearing about this guy. He can't even hit a jump shot. It's like he's LeBron James but more exciting. All he can do is dunk and lay up the ball.
outside shots He shoots and hit at a very low percentage just like LeBron. All it takes for ja is one leg injury and his career is over. All he can do is lay up and dunk. He never developed a jump shot
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂why is he so mad
bro doesn’t know ball
Lebrons shooting like 38 percent. You don’t watch ball. Sush.
Somebody give this baby his sippy cup 😂
Not mad just don't like your hero.....you guys need to find a mentor cuz this guy shouldn't be it
Didn't help much at all against my Clipps though..
This aged well