Has Zach Edey become the most important player on the Memphis Grizzlies?

Has Zach Edey become the most important player on the Memphis Grizzlies?

Is Zack Edy the most significant member of the Memphis Grizzlies in this moment? It sounds crazy to say out loud, but it might just be true if you listen to the words of one Tumaso. I’m going to put the Michael Cole to the test trying to read between the lines or maybe read a little too far into an Iselo quote. Plus, John Morant being called the worst waste of talent essentially in NBA history. I don’t want to put words in Nick Wright’s mouth. It’s tricky uh tricky business, but all sorts of hot takes out there about Jawb plus Grizzlies, Pelicans. It’s a loaded edition on this Thanksgiving Eve Locked on Grizzly Show. Let’s lock in. You are Locked On Grizzlies, your daily Memphis Grizzlies podcast, part of the Locked On Network, your team every day. Welcome to this episode of Lockdown Grizzlies. It is I, Joe Mullenac, senior contributor over at Bee Street Bears, joined by the incomparable, the remarkable, somebody that I am grateful for each and every time that I am fortunate enough to share the podcast stage with him, Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for the Commercial Appeal, Mr. Deich Cole. Deich, how are you on this Thanksgiving Eve, sir? Man, I’m doing good. You know, we we’re talking about Thanksgiving Eve. I tell you what, Joe, I’m thankful. I’m thankful for a lot. I’m thankful for a lot of them this Thanksgiving Eve, but yeah. How you doing, Joe? How you doing? I’m doing okay. I’m thankful, too, right? I was I was talking to some folks earlier on Wednesday. You know, we have so much to be grateful for. There’s a lot more that brings us together than divides us. You hear that all the time, but it really is true. And I do love Thanksgiving because this time of year, right, there’s like a Canadian Thanksgiving, allegedly a Canadian Thanksgiving. Um, American Thanksgiving, this time of year, a very uniquely American holiday. There’s family, there’s friends, there’s food, there’s football, all sorts of great things to enjoy. Democ Cole is going to take you guys on that journey on our Thanksgiving episode later on. But first, we have our Thanksgiving Eve edition of the show and the dynamic duo rides once more. Certainly something to be grateful for. Today’s episode of Lockdown Grizzlies is brought to you by the good folks over at Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code lockdown NBA for $20 off your first purchase. We are free and available wherever you get podcasts as proud members of the Lockdown podcast network. Your team each and every single day. Also the number one sports podcast network out there. We are so grateful to be a small part of the Lockdown podcast network. Whether it’s Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, YouTube, wherever you catch a podcast, become an everydayer. Like, comment, rate, review, subscribe. Make the Michael and I a part of your everyday NBA and Memphis Grizzlies content consumption. It’s been a great year for lockdown Grizzlies. It’s been a great month, great last couple of months for lockdown Grizzlies. We are riding high. I wish the same could be said for the Memphis Grizzlies. Things are so bad in Memphis to Michael that they are practicing on the day between games. If you’re not on YouTube, my hands on my That’s not usual, is it Joe? That’s not a usual. That’s not usual. So shocked that they’re actually practicing and to Isel was shocked, too. He said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s not go crazy. This is not practice.” I Yeah. Yeah. He he wouldn’t he said I wouldn’t call it a practice. Easy on the on the P word, right? Um but it was something else that Isel said between the game against the Denver Nuggets and the practice that wasn’t a practice on uh w on Tuesday, excuse me, that caught me off guard. And it was this idea that the game plan against the Denver Nuggets was completely blown to smitherines. It was undone by the injury to Zack Ed. And we’ll talk more about Ed’s availability going into the Pelicans game tonight. Uh migraines, it sounds like this happened last year too if I remember correctly when it comes to Edy for a couple of games. Um questionable for the game. We’ll get to that later on in the show. But Edy had to come out of the game against the Nuggets and it completely discombobulated whatever schemes were devised for this contest. And that took me a back to Michael because in case anybody missed it, I don’t know how you would miss the 6’11 245 lb near max contract player that was on the floor. Jiren Jackson Jr. was active for that particular contest. So you have a player in Zack Edy who 18 months ago we were being told by several smart basketball people might be the worst pick in the history of the NBA draft. And that looks very silly, right? And I think that was chastised for good reason at the time. But it’s almost like this pendulum has gone to the entire opposite side now. And Zack Edy is blowing up game plans when players like Jiren Jackson Jr. are on the court active for the game. What are you trying to say, Joe? What are you trying to say? I’m trying I’m just asking questions. And as I have a tendency to do at Joe Molenax on X, I I got people a little bit fired up on a Tuesday. I apologize. Actually, I don’t apologize. It’s kind of my thing. That’s That’s you, Joe. That’s you. I asked a simple question. Is Zack Edy the most significant member of the Memphis Grizzlies? Because you have a Nemax player who was active for the contest that apparently the game plan went to hell and he was still in the game. And then you have a John Morant, who we’ll talk more about a little bit later on in the program here, that apparently is so dependent on Zack Edy that without him, he is a shell of the player that he once was. and he is the one max contract guy on the team. So, I’ll put it to you to Michael Cole, somebody who knows this team better than anybody. Am I overreacting at this stage of the season on November 26th? Am I overreactive saying that Zack Edy is currently the most significant member of the Memphis Grizzlies? I don’t think you’re overreacting. Um I I do not think you’re overreacting. I I don’t exactly agree because to me, I will say Cedric Coward uh giving W look look. We’re not far apart. We’re both We’re both leaning in a younger direction here. We’re both leaning in in a younger direction, but that’s a fun take. I’m going to say such a coward is based on what he’s brought to the table and what we think he can be and what the Grizzlies will invest in him going forward. 100%. It is important to make sure this guy stays on a quote unquote straight and arrow. But with that being said, you know who I have number two. It’s not Joe. It’s not Jiren. Zagini. It’s Zagini. I’m here, Joe. I’m I’m with you. I’m with you, Joe. I’m I’m right with you. I’m not far from you. You’re But you’re taking what I thought was a pretty hot take. And you’re you’re turning up the burner. Turn it. Turn it up. You have a hotter take than me. Put the stove on high. So, and Jiren Jackson Jr. are not even in the top two. No. On the team in terms of significance. No. No. Now, now let me let me let me add some additional context to that because those those two players are in the top two in terms of, you know, if you look at it from the perspective of what they meant to the franchise over the, you know, last few years, right? What they’ve done, all of that good stuff, yada yada yada. But they make over $70 million combined. They make a bunch of money. But here’s where I am, Joe. Here’s where I am. I’m looking at it from I’m looking at it how you look at it, Joe. You always say, “What’s your phrase, Joe? Are we trying to win a championship or not?” Isn’t that what you say, Joe Monax? That’s your word. We didn’t get the t-shirts made, but it is something I say. Here’s here’s what I said on X uh on November 23rd. It was It was the night after the November 22nd game against Dallas. I said it was a post that was showing Zach’s stats uh from the game against Dallas. And I said, quote unquote, “This dude is going to be a really good NBA player. He’s been so impressive. Memphis has struck in the first round of these last two drafts with Edy slashcoward. Edycoward. I highlighted those two dudes for a reason. This wasn’t this wasn’t some type of accident. This was I highlighted those two dudes because uh I do believe when you talk about a championship window, you talk about who can you win a championship with. I think you can win a championship with Zack Edy as your starting center. I think you can win a championship with Sedic Coward as one of your starting wings. There’s a conversation to be had, Joe. I mean, look, we’re we’re talking. We might as well have it right now. There’s a conversation. Stumbled into something here. You You stumbled into something. We’re here now. There is a conversation to be had about the fact, can you win with a point guard who is a below average three-point shooter at the end of the day? I I love a lot that Job brings to the table, but can you win a championship? Can he can he you know at the end of the day he can make your team better. Yeah, we’ve seen John elevate teams but can you go against Oklahoma City and go into a game with Josh point guard and say we can beat them. Can you do that? I’m I just don’t think so. Now what about Jiren Jackson Jr.? Uh yeah, he brings all these, you know, the isolation scoring, the potential defensively, but at the end of the day, I mean, we see what we see and then the two stars in the Grizzlies have flaws, have notable flaws, so to speak. And so I’m I’m at the point now where yes, they’re very important. I’m not going to discredit that. Jiren Jackson Jr., the longest tenure player with the Grizzlies, John Morant, I say it all the time. I cannot tell you Joe enough how many times people call me and say hey is John Mar playing today? Is John Mar playing today Michael? And I say hey he’s playing today. They say okay I’m coming. And I say no he’s not playing today. I say all right well I won’t be at the game. John Mor is the ticket seller. He is the best ticket seller that the Grizzlies have ever had. And he is a floor raiser, so to speak. But does he get you to the ceiling of a championship ceiling? Um I don’t know, Joe. I don’t know. And um I’m leaning more towards no than yes. Uh but I think, you know, not saying that Zack Ed is the ultimate piece that gets you to a champion. I’m not saying that. But he is someone I can see as your start and center. And I say, “Okay, you can you can potentially win a championship with him.” Cedric Cow, we we know that’s the case. There are a lot of wings like Cedric Coward in NBA uh that have been on championship teams. Now he can elevate himself to a whole another level, but there’s proof in the pudding with a wing with the 3 and D arch type. So look, Joe, you you put me you I got in the hot seat today. But uh it’s it’s all good, man. This this just how we feel. We’re talking about how we feel. I’m this is something that is rare for me to say. I am speechless. I’m gonna have to gather myself. Michael’s going to have the next couple of shows solo. Uh we’ll be back together on Tuesday. I’m st I’m stammering. I’m stuttering. It is very rare for Demich to have the hotter take than me. I got to absorb this information. How do you feel? Hit me up on XJOMX at Demichc to to hit up the hot take artist that is the Michael Cole. Let us know in the comments. Do you agree that not only is John Morant and Jiren Jackson Jr. not number one in terms of most significant Grizzlies right now. They’re not even in the top two per to Cole. And again, I think he makes a sound argument. Like that’s the hardest part. That’s the I you know it’s bad when I agree with the hot take. Maybe he’s gone too far to Michael this time. But let us know in the comments. Hit us up on social media. Let us know how you’re feeling when we come back here on Lockdown Grizzly. Speaking of going too far, uh there’s some national talking heads that I think have gone a little too far when it comes to the John Marant discourse. Stick around here on Lockdown Grizzlies. We’ll talk about that next. Today’s episode of Lockdown Grizzlies is brought to you by Game Time. 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Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code lockdown NBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply, of course. That is the code LK DNBA for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. So, it’s hard to bounce back from uh that that hot take fest that the Michael Cole took us on earlier in the program. We we we switched bodies, didn’t we? We I I I felt it was an out-of- body experience. It really was. But um you know we we try not to aggregate talking head conversations on here too often. Kendrick Perkins sometimes pisses me off. But this time it’s it’s not just one voice. I’m going to use one voice as the example here, partner. But it’s been a cavalcade, right? It’s been a choir of different uh national pundits. I don’t think I’ve seen one national pundit on the side of John Morand in this whole jaw clay saga. That isn’t really a saga. We talked about trash talk before. I agree this wasn’t really a big thing. It’s still a thing, believe it or not. And Nick Wright over on First Things First on FS1, you have to watch the whole segment at FTF on FS1. They shared it. Uh, but this is a quote from Nick Wright to Michael. I think Jaw’s a clown. That’s my reaction. It’s hard to find a player of that caliber that squanders it all. Just rank immaturity. And if you watch the entire segment, he discusses what he means by that. you know, Stfan Marberry gets brought up, Steve Francis gets brought up and guys, you know, like Steve Francis just got bad at basketball, right? He didn’t he his skills diminished. Uh Stfan Marberry rubbed some people the wrong way, that sort of thing. There were injury concerns. They even bring up Penny Hardaway on this episode of the show and compare him to Penny’s faulk from Grace. But of course, Penny, his issues were injury related, right? So, they are saying this is going to be the first of its kind where it’s somebody, and I’m paraphrasing Nick right here, where they lose everything essentially because they’re a jerk to everybody. And that took me a back. And I want to stress um and you’ll have a chance to respond here in a second. The the fact just drives me crazy, Joe. I know it does. This is not connected to what you were talking about before. The stuff you were talking about before is basketball specific like you talked about with the shooting and that sort of thing. that that that’s different from this stuff. The the the fact that again you me just trash talk, right? That it has accelerated this much that it’s become ammunition to add to multiple other claims against John Morant. This happens almost on a nightly basis in the NBA. Trash talk among other players. And there are no two think pieces two days later uh talking about how it’s gonna end somebody’s career. I understand that Jaw has baggage, but the two things don’t have to be connected. The the seeking and searching for connections, it’s exhausting at this point, isn’t it? Jaw has things that he needs to get better at. I said at the time, I wish he hadn’t done what he did to Clay or said what he said to Clay, but I’m acknowledging that it’s not that big of a deal. This is getting out of hand, is it not? It it’s it’s been out of hand. It It’s This is ridiculous. Like, we shouldn’t even be still talking about this stuff, but uh I mean, I guess that’s what it is when you’re John Morant, right? U things get magnified when you’re John Morant because of his past coincidence, because of, you know, the situations that he’s been in. You know, when anytime he becomes, you know, someone who’s in the headlines or so to or anything like that, it’s magnified. Uh, so it I think it just comes with the territory or whatever, but um that doesn’t mean I have to be okay with it or just say, “Oh, cool.” All right. Like I don’t think that anything Jaw has done recently, you know, should lead us to having these type of talks. Like he’s he’s talking trash to Klay Thompson who doesn’t talk. If you It’s funny, Joe, because you go look at the next game that Klay Thompson played. Guess what? the bench. They was they whoever the Mavs were playing against in that game. I believe they also called him a bum. They were talking trash to Clay in that game. Like this isn’t this is NBA. This is basketball. This is competitive sports. And I already said look with me when it comes to competitive sports. I’m going to talk trash. It’s just part of it. I feel like I got to get the mental edge on you. And I’m going to do what I can to kind of try to weaken you or damage you from a mental standpoint while keeping it respectful. I’m not gonna go outside of the lines, but I’m going to tow it. I’m going to tow those lines a little bit to try to get you. I was say, didn’t you say a couple episodes ago you were going to talk about people’s girlfriends or No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Joe, I didn’t talk about their girlfriends. I just said the girlfriend’s name. They would get in the letter box. I would just say, you know, Alexis. Major difference, though. I would just say, “Yeah, yes. Yeah, come on, man. Give me Give me I’m not that type of guy. You know me. Come on.” Like, I would just say Alexis or I would just say whatever the girl’s names. I wouldn’t go any further than that because in their minds they’re like how does he know my girlfriend’s name and they’re already I win. I win at that point. But you were journalistic power even back then. Even even back in 2014, 2015, Joe. But uh yeah, this this whole thing with John Morant is just exhausting. Like uh I think again this all goes back to 2022, 2023. He’s been put on this pedestal that he’s going to be judged differently, right? A lot of things and I think I saw Gilbert Arenas kind of touch on this, but like a lot of things that J Morant kind of ends up doing. Other players will be able to do and it won’t lead to this. It’s just it’s the situation that Jaw’s in and quite frankly it’s not fair, but it is what it is as people like to say. So, uh yeah, the discourse has gone it’s definitely gone too far because at the end of the day, we just got to look at it for what it is. And uh we’re not doing that. we’re looking at it from the mistakes that he made uh when you know in 2023 and and and whatnot. So, you know, I think that’s just kind of uh the hand he’s been dealt at this point. All the credit that has been given to the Amazon broadcast and the NBC broadcast, the moving away from talking heads and these kinds of hot takes you that they aren’t uh exempt from this in this particular instance. John Morant has plenty of things you could talk about in terms of a potential falling off of his basketball skill. The fact that he’s not finishing at the rim the way that he used to. He’s not attacking the way that he used to. They briefly in the Nick Wright clip, they passed right over the fact that you could make an I don’t know that I would agree with it because he’s entering his prime in theory, but you can make an argument statistically and just by watching the games that that maybe John Morant has lost a step athletically. Like you can say these things that at least have some semblance of film and data that could back up the take. You can disagree with that feeling, but you or you could disagree with that opinion, but at least it will be backed up by actual basketball conversation. This is something that is strictly just uh you know, he’s a jerk. That’s kind of subjective. You know what I mean? Like what what does it mean to be a jerk in the year 2025? There’s all sorts of things that happen around the globe that, you know, we’re not going to get on to on a locked on Grizzlies podcast. What makes somebody a jerk this time of day? The fact that he called him a bum and talked trash to him and you didn’t know that Cam Spencer’s brother played for the Golden State Warriors. How is that John Moran’s fault? Like, I don’t see how the there’s not that there’s a difference between correlation and causation. And I’m not sure that we are consistently focused on why you said and I didn’t disagree with if you picked up on that what you said earlier in the show that John Morant is not the most significant Memphis Grizzly at this moment and neither is Jiren Jackson Jr. that should be the headline. That should be the focal point. And yet we’re talking about a guy that wasn’t active in a game calling a guy that is past his prime a bum in a game between two losing basketball teams. I I think that we’re we’re we’re killing the lead a little bit here. We’re not really following what the real story is. And that’s what annoys me the most when it comes to this situation at this point. It’s not fair to jaw, right? Like as a professional basketball player, if you’re not performing the way you’re supposed to, you’re paid a ton of money. That’s different. I think that that’s fair game to talk about. But to say somebody’s a jerk and that’s the reason that his career is going to end, that’s one of the worst takes I think I’ve ever heard on a on a talking head program. But let the Michael and I know in the comments. Hit us up on X at Michael CjoinX. Are you tired of this jawarant discourse? I have noticed that things are starting to turn a little bit on jaw on social media. You’ve probably seen it as well, Demich. Um, and again, I don’t know that that’s entirely fair either, but I do believe that, you know, even in Memphis, there is some kind of starting of of having things kind of, you know, you’re either in or you’re out. And people are starting to ask that more about John Morance. At least that’s what my timeline has looked like in my mentions. When we come back here on Lockdown Grizzlies, we’ll finish up this episode of the show. Grizzlies, Pelicans. Correct me if I’m wrong, partner. This is a cup night, right? NBA Cup. This is the NBA Cup game, Joe. You knew it. It’s the cup. Of course I knew it was the cup, Joe. You knew it. Of course I knew it was the cup. This is an important game. Dare ever disrespect the NBA Cup again, dear listener, dear viewer. I knew exactly what it is. A cup night in America, and we are going to freaking focus in and give it the respect it deserves. Coming up next here on Lockdown Grizzlies. Today’s episode of Lockdown Grizzlies is brought to you by Drip Drop. When I’m hydrated, everything just works better. My focus, energy, mood, even my skin. That’s why I have been using Drip Drop. 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Keep your body and mind performing at their best with Drip Drop. Closing out this episode of Lockdown Grizzlies here. It’s been a a hot take riddled episode of Lockdown Grizzlies to Michael Cole, Memphis Grizzlies Beatr Writer for the Commercial Appeal. My co-host, I’m Joe Mullenax with you. Uh very excited to be a part of the number one podcast sports network out there, Locked On Network. Your team every day here at Locked On Grizzlies. And the Grizzlies have a cup night ball game tonight going against the New Orleans Pelicans. And the Pelicans don’t look now to Michael. You know, you look at the record and you’re like, uh, the Grizzlies got a shot in this one. The Pelicans are trending down a little bit. Nay net negative not the case. They have a young man who I don’t think it’s possible to make that trade look right. Oh, I know where you’re going. But he is not. He makes it close, doesn’t it? Basketball. He is a lot of fun to watch play. I of course am talking about the New Orleans Pelicans rookie Derek Queen doing some really impressive things as a big man. It’s almost like Marcusaul and Boogie Cousins had a baby when I watch this guy uh play basketball is kind of the vibe I get. And and maybe teenage Nicola Yokis. There you go. I I Yeah, I like that too. Um I think that he’s he’s unique. I like watching him play. I’m excited to watch this game tonight and I’m excited to watch how the Grizzlies defend this guy. Again, we mentioned earlier in the show, Zack Edy, questionable for the game. Migraine. Anybody that’s ever actually had a migraine would never roll their eyes at that designation. I can’t imagine trying to play basketball while having a migraine. So hopefully Zach Edy feels better soon if it’s not, you know, to play in the game tonight just because migraines suck. Um, but if Edy can go, again, questionable means 50/50. If Edy can go, it’s going to be a fascinating matchup. If Edie can’t go, how the Grizzlies handle Queen and Fears, uh, the lead point guard there in New Orleans as well. Zero Fears, best jersey in the NBA. Look at you. Yeah. Ironically, the Pelicans are kind of going through a similar thing to the Grizzlies, right? Zion Williamson is still on the New Orleans Pelicans. And I don’t think folks in Nola would be saying that Zion is the most significant member of that roster anymore. No, I mean, you’re you’re missing Zion and you’re missing Jordan Pool, uh Herb Jones. Those are some of the big injuries over there. So, the Pelicans definitely aren’t some team uh that’s super healthy right now that the Grizzlies are going to go against. Like, sure, Trey Murphy is having another great year. Uh kind of picking up where he left off last season where he kind of had a breakout season. He’s showing right now that that isn’t some fluke. This is some guy that you’re going to have to really account for when you talk about high up on on the Pelican scouting report. Uh and that’s him. So, Derek Queen, yeah, it’s it’s a lot to like about his game. Of course, you know about the scoring uh three levels, right? and then the rebounding and but the passing uh he can really dish the ball Joe like he can he can get busy and he’s someone when he has the basketball you don’t get caught ball watching you know a lot of these centers they they put they turn their head away from the basket and they dip their shoulder into the player’s chest you know you say I can go help and things like that against this guy you got to be careful because he sees exactly what you see so uh yeah I do like that fact that this is a a matchup where it’s another team with a lot of young pieces and things like that the one area where the Pelicans have been good because they’ve been bad uh in many of them is the fact that they can turn you over. Uh they have the ability to force turnovers, but to that point, Herb Jones is not playing. He has the calf injury. How many times have you heard that? Stop me if you’ve heard someone has a calf injury in the NBA uh before. But uh yeah, so he has all this medical science and all this money invested and just can’t get past the calf strains. Hey, you can’t get past the calf strains, man. All pace, pace, pace, pace, pace. Yo, everyone wants to play with pace. Uh, look, you play with Pacers, there’s a risk to it, but uh, yeah, no Herb Jones for the Pelicans in this game. This is a very winnable game, Joe. I’m not gonna This is a game that the Grizzlies should win. Yes, uh, Derek Queen is a tough draw. Jeremiah Fierce, but those are rookies. Like, we’re talking about rookies at the end of the day. Trey Murphy, Troy Murphy, like we we know, you know, what Trey Murphy brings to the table. Uh, really talented scorer, but why can’t the Grizzlies match that? the end of the day, no matter what the Grizzlies on the offensive end, we know with the players that they have that should be available against the Pelicans, they can be a good defense. We know that much. Uh with the Pelicans, we don’t know if they’re going to be good offensively. We don’t know if they’re going to be good defensively. So, the Grizzlies do have that advantage from the standpoint of we can make this game muddy. We can get to the fourth quarter and uh see if we could win this thing. Uh we’ll see what happens with Zack Edy. I wrote a story kind of just updating on where he is, you know, at this point. And look, he was at practice. He was doing his typical shooter, you know, uh, free throws, hook shots, all the stuff that media we typically see him doing at practice, he was doing. Uh, now I know, you know, Thomas Eelo said that he wasn’t doing much, you know, running around uh, and things like that at practice, but the Grizzlies, again, as Joe kind of alluded to earlier, they didn’t have a high intensity practice. So just because Zach Edy wasn’t doing that and it’s not like the rest of the team, you know, was just getting up and down and he was just off to the side or something. So I want to point out the fact that look, he was at practice, he was available, you know, me thinks he has a good chance at playing, Joe, I that’s that’s the situ that’s the direction that I’m leaning in. And if you get Zack Edy for this game, given the matchup, I think the Grizzlies will be in good shape. But again, I I want to stress because people that don’t understand, and I me personally, I’ve never had a migraine, but I’ve been around people that have had them. It can make you physically ill, you know, all sorts of different things. That’s not something that you mess with or even try to play professional basketball with. In my opinion, uh I I I’m okay if he doesn’t play, but I do think that if they were really worried about it, it would have had a different distinction. You wouldn’t have messed with a questionable diagnosis there. It just allows for them within league rules. If they need to sit him, uh, they can. I I’m with you. I think Zack Edy will play. And I think that it’s going to be fascinating. You know, somebody that we talked about not being that significant in Memphis right now, or at least not as significant as Zack Edy and Cedric Howard, Jiren Jackson Jr. is not on the injury report. That means Jiren Jackson Jr. is going to play. And this would be a great opportunity for Jiren to come out and show exactly how he is significant. You know, the second highest paid player on the roster. somebody who again eight months ago we were having a conversation about this dude being one of the top 15 or 20 players in the National Basketball Association and now a rookie and a second you were going to bat for him Joe you were going in hard on here hard for these dudes man like that’s what God is so hard for me thank you to Michael for acknowledging my plight and all of this how much I have fought for Jiren Jackson Jr. and John Mor and it just makes me look like a big dumb dummy. So, I’m go I’m going back in. I’m ready to get hurt again. I think Jiren Jackson Jr. is going to have a great performance against the Pelicans, reminding everybody exactly who he is. It’s going to be a great night for the Grizzlies because of Triple J, not because of some young guy that two podcasters think is more significant at this stage of the game uh than he is. So, it’ll be an interesting game. And to Michael, I know you’re going to have us covered very well on our Thanksgivingish edition of the show. Again, to Michael might push it live Wednesday night, might be Thursday morning. We promise you there will be an episode to close out the week, but then for us here at Lockdown Grizzlies, we’re putting the uh gone fishing sign up for the holiday. We’ll be back on Monday to break down Grizzlies Kings. Uh but you obviously will be taking us into the holiday. Michael, what will you be looking for talking about coming out of Grizzlies Pelicans? Yeah, one of those things that I’m going to be looking for is something you alluded to and that’s Jiren Jackson Jr. and how he kind of continues to, you know, I I think there’s two different conversations going on right now when it comes to Jiren Jackson Jr. One of those conversations is uh you know, some people feel like, oh, when he came back, he kind of messed things up or, you know, whatever the case may be on that end. But the other part is to me what the real issue is. The real issue is what we’ve talked about since the beginning. How does Jiren Jackson Jr. fit into into Tomomas Iselo’s offensive system. I don’t think it’s a matter of, oh, he messed up the vibes or anything like that. This is just what we’ve been seeing. We have not seen Jiren string together a bunch of dominant games like he continuously did last season. So, I want to see, okay, look, there’s still no job. So Jiren’s going to be aggressive, but can he get put into those optimal spots where we see the efficiency that he’s had most of this season and then uh the volume at the same time? Those are two things that I want to see mesh together. Jiren Jiren’s something I’m going to be paying a lot of attention to, but yeah, you want to see the Grizzlies kind of show progression on offense as well. I think we talked about it with Derrick Queen a little bit and you’ll probably talk a little bit more about this on our next episode, so I don’t want to take too much of your thunder here. It’s something that I talk about with Jiren all the time. Derek Queen as a rookie is better at it than Jiren Jackson Jr. is as a seven-year vet. And that is having that head up and making those passing out of those doubles. You you talk about it all the time, Joe. Derrick Green’s better at it right now than Jiren Jackson Jr. I I don’t think that’s debatable and that’s something that Jiren is the h if he’s going to fit in the system, he has to improve upon. But again, I’m sure you’ll talk about that and more on our next edition of the show. Make sure you’re hanging out with the Michael for our holiday edition of the podcast. And then again after Demich solo show, we will be off until the Monday edition of Locked on Grizzlies for the Thanksgiving holiday. We wish you and yours if you’re here in the States celebrating happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy family and football and food and friends and all the things that make Thanksgiving great. We hope that you guys are safely traveling and all those sorts of things. We wish you all the very best. Happy Thanksgiving one and all. Thanks for making Lockdown Grizzlies your first listen today. For your second listen, go check out Locked on Fantasy Basketball with Josh Lloyd. He hosts the number one fantasy basketball podcast, giving you daily tips and helping you win your league all while making you a smarter NBA fan. Find Locked on Fantasy Basketball on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Thank you, Deichel. I am thankful for you, my wonderful co-host. Again, it’s been another great banner year for Lockdown Grizzlies that’s only going to keep going as the dynamic duo continues to grind forth and build our wonderful little corner of the internet we like to call Lockdown Grizzlies. But none of that is possible without our tremendous Everyday, the folks that have helped make not just the Lockdown Podcast Network, the number one sports podcast network, but the folks that have helped lockown Grizzlies grow these last few years. So, thank you guys so much for that. We’re thankful for you. I’m thankful for Demich. I’m thankful for all sorts of wonderful things. And I am thankful that it is time for me to say goodbye. So forward to Michael. I am Joe. Make sure you are staying locked in Grizzlies fans. Enjoy Grizzlies Pelicans. Enjoy a piece of pie for me. And we will catch you next time here on Locked on Grizzlies. See you.

Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey is showing importance. In this episode, co-hosts Joe Mullianx and Damichael Cole break down Edey’s impact, Ja Morant discourse and preview the game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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