Colin Rafferty –
Friday night Grizz games just hit different, the smell of BBQ in the air, Ja jerseys about, and the feeling of hope and joy from the past few days of gift giving filled the Forum for an outstanding game.
Your Memphis Grizzlies took down the Milwaukee Bucks last night 125-104, getting the Beale St. Bears within 1 of .500.
The return of 12 was filled with all kinds of Ja highlights, some great passes, an emphatic dunk, a couple of smooth layups and the Grizzlies were able to hold off the Bucks.
It is just a completely different looking team when he is out there, he makes things happen and the team obviously feeds off his energy.
The Forum was packed high, and the crowd was ready for the leader to be back out there.
Photo Credits: Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal
Ja finished with 17 points, 10 assists, and 4 rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way with 24 points and 9 rebounds, with help from Cam Spencer’s 19 points.
Jaren has shaken off the bad start to the season and is looking like prime Jaren again. He was blocking shots, getting good looks down low, and even grabbed 9 rebounds, they will need more of his aggressive play to start the new year.
After having back-to-back career games Santi Aldama cooled off a bit as he put up 12 pts, 7 reb, and 3 assists. His shot from deep wasn’t falling early, but he was able to make some good moves and create some opportunities in the second half.
The team played like a team, and they took care of business, it’s a small start but they look and feel like a better team, just need the wins to prove it.
The Grizzlies shot 51% from the field and only 38% from three-point land, but it was enough for the Bucks as they were 43% from the field and a terrible 38% from three.
The game started off with the Grizzlies coming out and grabbing a lead, to only relinquish the lead and fight back throughout the second and third quarters.
The Grizz were getting to their spots down low and were feeding Jaren early. The Bucks had no answer for Jaren and were scrambling to make sure he wasn’t just bullying their big men and posting up right under the basket.
Photo Credits: Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal
Things turned in the third when the Grizzlies defense helped create some turnovers and force the Bucks into some bad offensive sets, this in turn, helped fuel the Grizz to build a lead and continue on to their 15th win of the year.
The Bucks were led by Alex Green who posted 20 points, Bobby “Crazy Eyes” Portis had 15 pts, 12 reb, and 3 assists.
The Grizz had 7 guys go for double digit points, it was a full effort from the group, and it was started with defense. This team can be a problem for those who they face because they are young, quick, long and willing to get a little nasty.
It gives me hope that, when and if, the Grizzlies can get to a somewhat full and healthy roster, they have the pieces all around that could make a deep playoff run.
As it stands right now, your Memphis Grizzlies are in the 9th spot in the West, only a game behind Golden State, and 4.5 back from the Rockets who hold the 5th seed.
It was a great way to end the Christmas week and head into a weekend full of sports.
Just keep winning and stay healthy, this team could be a force to deal with coming soon.
The Grizzlies will be back in action on Sunday as they will hit the road to hopefully avenge the disgusting loss to the Washington Wizards last week.
It is a mid-afternoon game that starts at 5, be ready for another opportunity to get to .500 against a team that is the worst in the NBA.
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