The absence of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart meant that the Memphis Grizzlies would not get a shot on Tuesday night against the Spurs. Gregg Popovich’s team appeared to outmuscle and outhustle Taylor Jenkins on both sides of the court.
San Antonio’s defense, led by players like rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama, was too strong for the undermanned Grizzlies, who finished with a pitiful 87 points despite shooting 20.0 percent from outside the arc and 34.6 percent from the field.
This ineffective shooting effort was directly caused by Wembanyama, who in his thirty minutes of play registered a remarkable seven blocks and changed the course of several others with his incredible length and sheer presence.
GG Jackson kept things positive during his postgame media availability, joking about Wemby’s height and how his trash talk resembles that of a whisper considering he towers over nearly everyone on the floor. Of course, it’s painful to swallow that he failed to reach the 90-point mark for the fourth time this season.
In addition to his fast banter, the gifted young player gave his fellow rookie high marks and even ventured the fairly audacious claim that the Spurs big man already have the makings of one of the greatest defenders in history.
During a three-on-one fastbreak in the third quarter of the previous game, Wembanyama’s defensive intensity was so frightening to the Grizzlies that Trey Jemison and Brandon Clarke were reluctant to drive the lane on him. Instead, they passed the ball to Jordan Goodwin in the corner, who fortunately converted on a reverse lay-in.
Though he hasn’t yet concluded his rookie season in the NBA, the Grizzlies rookie’s remarks regarding Wembanyama don’t seem all that outlandish.
According to thepredictors.com, the center has already amassed an incredible 252 total blocks through 70 games played, which is already more than 85% of every NBA player’s career total blocks.
