'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Memphis Grizzlies had arguably their best season in the last four years because they qualified for the 2021 NBA playoffs. However, there are several things that they could have done better in the 2020-21 NBA season.
Finishing ninth-placed during the regular season is not considered a successful season. However, the newly-introduced play-in tournament made it possible for the Memphis Grizzlies to have a taste of postseason action. Although their celebrations were short-lived due to a first-round exit, there is hope for a better 2021-22 season.
With the 2021 offseason approaching, it is the perfect time for teams to reflect on things that were great and others that need fixing. The Memphis Grizzlies will be looking to bolster their roster and have another shot at winning the NBA championship.
That said, here are five things that went wrong for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2020-21 NBA season.
#1 Ja Morant did not reach the height many expected
Ja Morant won the 2020 NBA Rookie of the Year award over New Orleans Pelicans powerhouse, Zion Williamson. Although it took Zion missing a significant number of games for Morant to clinch the award, the Memphis Grizzlies star also had an impeccable rookie season.
Heading into the 2020-21 season, the Memphis Grizzlies point guard was expected to take the league by storm. He was likened to Russell Westbrook because of how explosive he can be. Although he showcased All-Star potential, Morant was inconsistent with his delivery.
Regardless, Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies in points and assists, averaging 19.1 points and 7.4 assists. Credit is due to the youngster for his resolve to lead the Grizzlies through the play-in tournament. Perhaps they could have gotten better seeding if he had turned up the heat from the very first game.
#2 The Memphis Grizzlies were not a great perimeter shooting team
With how the NBA has progressed over the years, three-point shooting has become more of a necessity. Big men are also trying their hands at it as they are bound to get open looks on occasion. Joel Embiid, Marc Gasol and Brook Lopez are some of the centers that have excelled at three-point shooting in recent years.
The Memphis Grizzlies struggled from the perimeter as they did not have high-profile knockdown shooters. Grayson Allen and Desmond Bane were the shooting guards for the Grizzlies, and while they had decent percentages from three-point range, it was not enough to portray the team as a significant threat in three-point shooting.
The Memphis Grizzlies finished the regular season ranked 20th in three-point percentage (.356). They made 803 of 2258 attempts from downtown.
#3 Jaren Jackson Jr. was sidelined for almost the entire season
Jaren Jackson Jr. was one of the most exciting players for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2019-20 season. However, he sustained a knee injury in the Orlando bubble as the season came to a close.
Typically, a meniscus tear keeps players on the sidelines for three to six months, depending on the severity. But the Memphis Grizzlies were more interested in the player's future and decided to keep him on the sidelines for about eight months. Although Jonas Valanciunas did an exceptional job as the 5, the Memphis Grizzlies frontcourt was not as formidable as most in the league.
The center returned just in time to help his team secure a playoff berth. Although he struggled to get points on the board, he was a force for the Memphis Grizzlies defensively as he averaged career-high numbers in blocks and steals. Jackson played only eleven games in the regular season but featured in the play-in and playoff fixtures.
#4 The Memphis Grizzlies' offense was average
Offense was not the Memphis Grizzlies' strongest attribute as they were average going forward. Their performance in the offense was in contrast to their defensive effort as they were 6th (111.0) in the league's defensive rating. On offense, they were ranked 15th in offensive rating (112.0) and also hold the same spot in points per game (113.3).
Dillon Brooks was a menace on defense as he made sure nothing hit past him. Although he put in the same effort on offense, he was not as productive. He finished the season as the Memphis Grizzlies' second-best scorer, averaging 17.2 points.
Valanciunas and Kyle Anderson also provided scoring options for the Memphis Grizzlies but failed to convert on as many chances as they got. Anderson shot 46.8% from the field, while the big man had a field percentage of .592.
#5 The Memphis Grizzlies bench was not always reliable
The Memphis Grizzlies had decent players like Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke come off the bench. However, their contributions were not always effective, talking more about being consistent.
Bane averaged 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds, while Clarke finished the season with 10.3 points per game and 5.6 assists. While asking for an elite bench might be a long shot for the Memphis Grizzlies, a unit that can produce more while the starters take a break is important.
Regardless, it is worth noting that Tyus Jones has been nothing but exceptional as a backup guard for Morant. Although he's not the most explosive player in the league, his efforts on offense are commendable.
The Memphis Grizzlies do not have any players in the top 25 scorers coming off the bench. If they hope to better their 38-34 run in the upcoming season, bolstering their bench quality is essential.
Guess the Lakers players!
