Film roundup from the Memphis Grizzlies and college basketball games I watched from 2/9-2/16.
The Memphis Grizzlies went into the All-Star break with two road losses against the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets.
Taylor Hendricks generated two steals that turned into +1’s in the game against the Warriors. The pick-up points were rather high for a 6’9” forward, but it’s definitely an intriguing element of his game that should be tapped into as he finds his stride in the league. This area of his game has been what has stood out to me in early first impressions.
GG Jackson had a season-high 21 points against Denver. His driving continues to pop in his game. In these three instances, he showcases wonderful footwork on the gather to get the looks he wants at the rim — just an uncanny skill for a 6’9” forward.
The Grizzlies signed Lawson Lovering to a 10-day contract — expect more of them as the team holds an open roster spot for the remainder of the season. One way to get thrown into the fire: guard Nikola Jokic in his NBA debut. While Jokic got the best of him down the stretch, Lovering’s individual and coverage defense were instrumental in forcing the former MVP into 9 turnovers.
Games watched
For the NC State vs. Louisville game, I did an extensive breakdown on Mikel Brown Jr. for SubTsakalidis Scouting. He exploded for 45 points and showcased a lot of fascinating wrinkles to his game with his shooting, driving, passing, and defense.
UCLA sophomore Trent Perry has taken a leap with more playing time, particularly with his shooting — making 44.7 percent from three on 6.8 attempts per 100 possessions. In the game against Washington, he hunted threes in transition through these capacities — keeping ready hands, gravitating towards the ball and open space, and maintaining nice balance on his jumper in movement.
Blue Cain had such an awesome sequence against Florida. Off the rearview contest, he grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast to poster the big man.
AJ Dybantsa’s driving is powered by his stride length — an impeccable trait when creating and securing advantages, and finishing around the defense. He possesses bundles of star-quality characteristics, primarily in the mold of a go-to scorer. His driving is his most lethal skill.
Tounde Yessoufou’s playmaking and ball security have been a bit unideal as a perimeter player, but I like the strides he showed in the game against BYU. He parlayed the threat of his jumper to find teammates through jump passes.
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