UNHERALDED HARRISON PACE, SPACE AND MORE ON GRIZ
Though David Fizdale wants his team to play faster and with more spacing, only half of that recipe was on display Wednesday night in the Grizzlies’ 102-98 victory over Minnesota. The Grizzlies did, for the most part, space the floor quite a bit better than in seasons past. They did not, though, play faster. They finished the game with around 94 possessions, actually just a hair under last season’s average of 95.
The Grizzlies hit 11 three-pointers while allowing Minnesota just six. That combination -- double-digit Grizzlies threes while allowing six or fewer from the opposition -- only happened four times in the last three season combined. Trying to achieve the tricky balance of opening up your offense while maintaining the discipline not to allow your opponent to do the same is not easy. That the Grizzlies did it with a makeshift set of rotations is promising.
“I know Andrew Harrison’s line doesn’t show it but, man, he really made it tough on (Minnesota’s Zach) LaVine,” Fizdale said. “He really did and that kid’s a player. LaVine is a heck of a player. It was hard to take Andrew off of him for that reason.”
Harrison missed 6 of his 7 field goal attempts, including all four 3-pointers and appeared lost at times. Playing off the ball on offense doesn’t come natural to him.
Yet Harrison clearly knew his role when Fizdale informed him Tuesday that he’d start. Harrison went into the game knowing his main objective had to be slowing down the Timberwolves’ young, athletic wing players.
“I’m trying to be a defensive stopper. This guy next to me is really helping me a lot,” Harrison said, referring to Allen. “That’s pretty much it - being stable on the defensive end and being disruptive.
“I know I didn’t play as well as I could on the offensive end. But, at the same time, I’m starting my first NBA game. I can’t even explain it. I’m just happy to be here with these guys.”
There was a moment in the second half when Fizdale showed great patience with Harrison. The 2015 second-round pick, who played with the NBA Development League Iowa Energy last season, dribbled into open space and lost control.
Harrison stumbled without contact or pressure, mishandled the basketball and then watched it sail out of bounds.
Fizdale put his hands on his head in amazement but didn’t pull Harrison from the game. The bench lived with that unforced error as to not shake Harrison’s confidence.
Harrison later misfired on a wide-open 3-pointer. Fizdale got Harrison’s attention during the next stoppage of play and applauded the shot as being a good one.
Griz point guard Mike Conley shared a moment with Harrison immediately following the game.
“I told him 38 minutes… that’s hard,” Conley said. “He did his job. He had times when he didn’t do a couple of things probably the way you wanted it to go but he played hard. He earned a lot of trust from a lot of us veterans.”
Most of Harrison’s shots in the opener were wide open looks. He became less eager to shoot but continued to defend with intensity.
“The shots just weren’t falling,” said Harrison, who had four assists and three turnovers. “It’s new to me, playing off the ball. I’m getting used to it and I’m happy that Coach (Fizdale) trusts me so much to play 38 minutes.”
Harrison quietly made a good impression during training camp. He shot 42.8 percent from three-point range, averaged eight points and four free throw attempts, and showed reliable decision-making.
“I have confidence in myself,” Harrison said.
Count Fizdale as a believer, too. long time. It’s in our hands, it’s up to us to decide what happens, and we’ve earned that right.”
Vince Carter the Wiggins Stopper
In the second half, Wolves third-year standout Andrew Wiggins was punishing the Grizzlies with his array of skills, including his favored fadeaway jumpshot. Fizdale tasked the NBA’s oldest active player, Vince Carter, with slowing the momentum of a player half his age, and that’s exactly what he did.
Wiggins was 0-for-3 from the field when covered by Carter. Carter also stole the ball from Wiggins at one point and blocked a layup attempt.
Carter bullied Wiggins, getting in his personal space, trying to get him to drive away from his favored right hand and force him to use his somewhat shaky handle.
Despite going just 1 for 4 from the field, Carter was a team-high plus-10 because of his dogged defense and his 7 rebounds. He may not quite be half-man, half-amazing, but he’s still got a role to play for this team.
Fizdale’s new Wade
So, you’re a rookie -- it’s your first NBA game, how do you feel? Nervous? Probably. What about if you had missed 17 of your last 21 shots in the preseason leading up to this moment? You’d expect a player in that situation not to be especially assertive. To make matters worse, neither of Baldwin’s first two shots in his regular season debut even touched iron.
But Baldwin has a self-confidence and belief that belies his youth and inconsistency. How about this for a debut? He finished with seven points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals, three blocks, and all in just over twenty-four minutes.
That line is sensational -- and it’s even better than it looks.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Baldwin becomes the first player since the league starting tracking steals in 1973 to begin his career with at least 5 rebounds and assists while having at least three steals and blocks. The first! He also became only the seventh player under the age of 21 in NBA history to record such a line -- the other six are LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady, Kyrie Irving, Brook Lopez, and Lamar Odom. Truly incredible company to join in just his first game.
Baldwin’s performance epitomized the team’s performance as a whole -filled with both excitement and mistakes. But considering the Grizzlies’ injuries and the limitations of their rotation, to get a crucial win in the first game of the season bodes very well for the potential of this team to improve.