A new major challenge presented itself tonight against Ja Morant with this move from Memphis to the Denver floor. Deprived of Desmond Bane, but also Kyle Anderson and Dillon Brooks, the Grizzlies expected a difficult match but were able to count on their dazzling leader to achieve a 15th away success this season (118-122).
The Memphis number 12 has already taken on many challenges this season. This recital of 38 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists on the floor of Nikola Jokic, reigning MVP, is another. The latter therefore had to recognize his defeat despite his fourth triple-double in a row and congratulate his opponent for the evening. An exercise that Ja Morant must have appreciated at its fair value, he who was not bothered by the presence of the Nuggets pivot to hammer the racket as he is used to.
Congratulations from Nikola Jokic
“He’s playing at a very high level, he’s an incredible player. He finishes with 38 points tonight. He controlled the game, he set the pace… Of course, he made a few mistakes (6 loose balls), but he continued to play. It is a very good”, underlined the Serbian after the game.
For his coach, Taylor Jenkins, Ja Morant has taken a new step this season in his leadership and the way he keeps all his teammates involved until the end. Rightly so, since it was on a decisive pass from Ja Morant for Jaren Jackson Jr in the corner that the Grizzlies definitively killed the game tonight, 40 seconds from the end.
“Ja was fantastic tonight with of course 38 points but also a good division of the ball, and aggressiveness on transition”, said coach Jenkins after the meeting. “As we said, we preferred to play this team on all-court, as much as possible, because on half-court, they were going to put Aaron Gordon on him, blitz, do double strikes, switch, offer him different things. But I think he did a good job, in particular by doing “hockey-assist”. He also knew how to take his shots at his spots, on the pick-and-roll with Steven Adams to attack the circle, go for free throws. He put in a great performance, reading the right readings between when to attack and when to move the ball, and that was key to the game tonight. We knew they were going to be over-aggressive on him and on our gaps. A lot of players stood out, but Ja was very good in his decision making.
The right choice at the right time
The Memphis coach also recalled that Ja Morant stood out as a leader through his obsession with victory and his willingness to do everything to achieve his ends. With 38 points in their pocket and an opportunity to drive to the circle, how many would have tried their luck? The Grizzlies No. 12 went for the pass and Jaren Jackson Jr gave it back to him a hundredfold.
“It’s the action of the match”, added Taylor Jenkins. “They had put a second defender on him on previous possessions, he gave the ball to De’Anthony Melton for a drive that we thought was okay but was blocked well. The next action was more or less the same. Ja drove and drew three defenders. We always say that it’s up to him at that moment to make the right choice, and very often, that’s what he does. It was a wonderful pass. Ja and Jaren have been connected on several game-winning shots this season and in previous years. He has confidence in his teammates and it’s a great sign of leadership, to tell the guys that he was going to move the ball around, and that they had to be ready. And for Jaren Jackson to put that shot when he had just come back into play, it’s a very important action.
For his third year in the NBA, the leader of the Grizzlies has the feeling of having taken a new step in his process of progression.
“I would say that I have more experience, I have more of a scoring role”, did he declare. “When I have the ball in hand, I have to make sure we’re all in the right places to get good shots. My first two years allowed me to learn, to see the field better and to be one step ahead of my opponents. Today, I play at a fairly high level”.
Each big performance like the one tonight gives more weight to his candidacies for the All Star Game and the race for the title of MVP as Memphis is now in third place in the Western Conference with 32 wins for 16 losses. “Our team plays winning basketball, everyone contributes to it, but it’s clear that Ja has a big mark on it all”, recalled Taylor Jenkins.
Ja Morant | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
2019-20 | SAME | 67 | 31 | 47.7 | 33.5 | 77.6 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 17.8 |
2020-21 | SAME | 63 | 33 | 44.9 | 30.3 | 72.8 | 0.9 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 7.4 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 19.1 |
2021-22 | SAME | 34 | 33 | 48.5 | 35.8 | 77.7 | 1.3 | 4.5 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 3.2 | 0.4 | 24.7 |
Total | 164 | 32 | 46.9 | 32.7 | 75.6 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.3 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 0.3 | 19.7 |