Suns Scorch Grizzlies, Led By Former Grizz Brooks.

Colin Rafferty –

Your Memphis Grizzlies lost last night to the Phoenix Suns, 117-98.

They looked like a team that was coming off a hard-fought back-to-back with a bunch of guys that were injured. That is what they looked like because that is what they are.

They looked tired, out of place, and not in rhythm. Despite having fewer turnovers than the game against the Spurs, the Grizzlies conceded 25 points on 18 turnovers.

Most of those points came as the Grizzlies were unable to get back on defense and the Suns would launch 3/4 passes to a guy under the basket.

That cannot continue to happen.

I don’t care what the team looks like on paper, you have to get back on defense, especially when you are taking three-point shots that are 6-8 seconds into the shot clock.

They were outmatched and played like they had given up.

They were outrebounded, had significantly less assists, and seemed to not care to try and get the ball in deep. They shot 12-37 from three-point land, of which many were terrible looks.

Iisalo needs to figure this out, he cannot keep doing these platoon substitutions. There is no rhythm and no feel for these substitutions, once it hits the 7-minute mark guys get pulled, even if they are the ones leading the charge.

I mean you cannot expect me to be excited when guys like Olivier Maxine Prosper is bringing the ball up the court, HE IS ON A 10 DAY CONTRACT FOR CHRIST’S SAKE.

I will say, he was the only one looking like he was playing with a sense of urgency.

Jaren Jackson Jr. led the way for scoring with 19 pts, Cam Spencer, KCP, and Javon Small added 14 pts. Other than that, there was nothing to note in terms of play from the Grizz.

Landale played 21 minutes and had 0 points and 8 rebounds, they needed him in a bad way, and he was nowhere to be found.

Whatever the offensive scheme was for that game, never and I mean never pull that out again.

The Grizzlies were relying on a three-point shot, that they do not have outside of Cam Spencer, and they never seemed to get the ball across half court without having someone meet them.

When they play well, they outrebound the other team and keep the turnovers to a limited amount.

They did neither and got blown out.

For the Suns, Dillon Brooks led the way in scoring with 21 pts, he made sure the Grizzlies fans knew he was there. Phoenix had 7 guys with double digit points. Grayson Allen, another former Grizzlies player, added 19 pts off the bench.

It was clear that Phoenix plays with an edge defensively, and the Grizzlies looked like they were a pee-wee team playing the seniors in high school.

The Grizzlies now fall to 16-21 on the season and have the league leading OKC Thunder coming into town on Friday.

If Iisalo plans to start/play GG Jackson 25 minutes again, it might get ugly.

He has zero sense of the game, it’s unfortunate, but he needs to be moved on from. He is young and personable, but the team is not built for him to come in and make an impact. I also have serious doubts that he is a contributor for us.

The abysmal 2023-2024 season that saw the Grizzlies land the most signed players in a year, due to injury, gave people the hope that this young kid was going to be something interesting, if not special.

They have missed the mark on that one. It is his third year and he is 21, he has been on the G League most of his time, with some stunts with the Grizz when we need the help.

He is not providing help, he is getting beat on his assignment, taking wild shots early in the shot clock, and turns the ball over because he is either moving too fast, or he passing to a spot where someone used to be.

I hate ragging on the guy, but c’mon man if the Grizzlies are up by 3-4 don’t take a shot with 20 seconds left on the shot clock, we aren’t that good right now.

Conceding points is not the game we can play, we need to kill the clock, look for the best shot and pass the ball around.

Part of that issue lies with head coach Tuomas Iisalo, he has zero set offense. It is a “feel” and a “sense” for what is going on in the game, where all the other teams that continuously beat the Grizzlies look like they have a plan and execute it.

Frustration is building into apathy, and when there are apathetic fans, there is a lost team.

You can feel the energy shift in the stadium.

Everyone is on pins and needles, waiting with bated breath on how they will end up losing. This coupled with the desire and want for the Grizzlies to do well is running its course.

The fans are irritated and are saying wild stuff. I will not entertain some of these “thoughts” fans have of trading away star players.

What that tells me, is that you see these other franchises that make moves, so the Grizzlies should do the same.

Did we not just see Trae Young traded for a bag of peanuts to the Wizards? What do you think that does for the Hawks? Doesn’t make them better and it certainly doesn’t make them a more enjoyable team to watch.

Listen carefully, if you want the Grizzlies to do well, you keep the stars that people talk about on the team; AND the ONLY guy that when the chips are down, you can call upon and know he will respond.

If you want to be the Wizards or Hawks and potentially see this team get moved, keep saying stupid stuff.

When the Grizzlies moved on from Desmond Bane they made a choice, they are going with these guys. When injuries derail your season, sometimes without it even starting, you don’t just hit the panic button and think it will turn around.

Look at all the teams that thought they thought were “better” off with a new coach, new player, new scheme, or new GM; they are all the same crappy teams that are in the bottom of the conferences every year.

Some teams hit, sure, but those are organizations that are historically run well, or they get lucky and foist some other bad team into a trade for someone like Paul George.

The Grizzlies got the grace of God by getting the number two pick years ago, would it have been different if they got the number 1? Maybe not, but if they had gotten the 3rd or 4th pick, we would be scratching and clawing for the number one seed again within a few years.

I say all of that because I do believe that the Grizzlies are a good team, they have good pieces, maybe one less than some of the championship worthy teams, but they are closer than people and fans want to accept.

Zach Edey makes a difference, Ja makes a difference, when your top two guys, (who by the way are really good) are on the floor they look and play better.

When they are not, well, we have seen what that is.

The play-in tournament is what they will be looking at, so get healthy and stay in that realm. If they can tread water and stay in that area, they would be one of, if not the top team nobody wants to play.

Where it goes from there is up to the higher power, whichever one you believe in.

The Grizzlies will look to get back on track with a tough game on Friday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.