A few days before the end of the regular season, the Grizzlies continue to refine their game for the post-season. The unexpected absence of almost three weeks from Ja Morant during the month of March, the cards were reshuffled a bit, since Jaren Jackson Jr. took the opportunity to finally be more productive in attack, and other elements, like Desmond Bane, also increased in power.
The leader, until then accustomed to playing the leading roles, was thus invited to tiptoe back and gradually reintegrate into a collective articulated around a new hierarchy. Even if he remained a formidable offensive weapon in the device of Taylor Jenkins, he must now learn to evolve more behind.
“For me, it’s about getting used to not being the main option anymore,” did he declare this week-end. “I just have to find my place. Jaren and Desmond have taken on this role. For me, you just have to give them the ball and when I have my chance, I take it”.
The collective can emerge strengthened
Taylor Jenkins had made things clear upon his return and Ja Morant did not balk, and he takes for example four fewer shots on average since his return.
“We talked about it with Ja when he came back to the team, in terms of the way the team plays. Since he was no longer with the team, he was no longer in our meetings and all that, we gave him a summary of the situation, telling him how well his teammates were playing, Jaren in particular, who was one of the main players we talked about. In pacing and systems, he did a good job in his first two games, continuing to involve Jaren, Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard, and others. He is well aware of our way of playing now, and it is also up to me to ensure that JJJ gains confidence quickly in matches and does not wait for the start of our first rotations. »
For the latter, it is also a great opportunity to strengthen his collective, by getting the best out of the players who are supposed to be Ja Morant’s lieutenants, and whose role will be predominant in the playoffs.
As such, Taylor Jenkins would be serious about playing late games with Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard on the wings, two shooters who could give Ja Morant more space for his penetrations.
“There’s a lot more space with those two at the same time. We then just take what the defense gives us.”underlined Ja Morant.
| Ja Morant | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | 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 | 57 | 33 | 49.3 | 34.4 | 76.1 | 1.4 | 4.4 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 27.4 |
| 2022-23 | SAME | 59 | 32 | 46.3 | 30.7 | 75.2 | 1.0 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 26.5 |
| Total | 246 | 32 | 47.1 | 32.1 | 75.4 | 1.0 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 7.4 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 22.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
