Did Ja Morant really need that kind of motivation or inspiration? Tonight, on the occasion of the Grizzlies’ visit to Chicago, “highlights” of Michael Jordan were broadcast on the giant United Center billboard. ” I watched. And then I started scoring a lot. It probably played a role “Admits the leader, not hiding his desire to shine in the lair of the former legend of the Bulls.
Mission accomplished since the All-Star broke his career record in the regular season (he had scored 47 points in the last playoffs against the Jazz) with 46 points (15/28 on shots including 3/4 from afar), 4 rebounds and 3 passes. An offensive eruption marked by some hyper spectacular gestures like his authoritarian “alley-oop” finished with one hand in counter-attack or his magnificent lay-up after a 360°.
” He’s a really good player.”recognizes Coby White. “He’s really good at shooting between the lines that we try to drop in defence. Contested floaters, contested mid-range shots… These are the shots he made. He was really good at penetration. Once started, it’s hard to stop.“
Everyone who has tried to slow him down, from Ayo Dosunmu to DeMar DeRozan to Javonte Green, can attest to that. Once it picks up speed, in transition or on set play, it is almost unplayable. His feints, like his dribble on the counterattack with which he gave the impression that he was going to let go of the leather, and his variations in rhythm when he approaches the circle are fatal.
Ja Morant simply sees it as a question of ” defense reading “. ” These are the same lay-ups that I have throughout the year. No matter the defense sent against me, I have to continue to be aggressive. “
What he did throughout the evening with multiple contortions towards the circle, sometimes stopped by a foul from the defender which allowed him to obtain 15 passes on the throwing line (13/15). ” I’ve seen too much, it’s getting a little boring “, laughs his teammate Steven Adams, who sees in Ja Morant “ such an amazing player “.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMJa8E2uyKw
| 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 | 47 | 33 | 48.9 | 32.4 | 75.3 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 5.9 | 6.8 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 26.7 |
| Total | 177 | 32 | 47.2 | 31.9 | 75.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 20.6 | |
