Grizzlies fall short vs. Lakers but still on track
Lebron James hit a long 3-pointer in the third quarter and stared down the Grizzlies bench as they called timeout.
The Grizzlies didn’t blink, however. They battled James and the Lakers to the final seconds. A pair of turnovers cut a nine-point lead to three with 10 seconds left.
It wasn’t enough as the Lakers won 94-92 at Fedexforum on Tuesday night. It did, however, show what the Grizzlies (2-5) learned facing the defending champions twice in three days.
The Grizzlies had a season-high 14 steals while holding the Lakers to their season low in points. The bench added 36 points, led by Gorgui Dieng’s 13 points and Xavier Tillman’s eight points in his second career game.
But it reminded how the Grizzlies’ path to being great is harder than the Lakers (6-2). They matched their intensity but they couldn’t match James and Anthony Davis each scoring 26 points.
“Every time you play them, you just bring it off rip really. So I think it’s a good measuring mark for us to see what we got to work on and let’s see what we can do better,” said Brandon Clarke, who had 12 points and a career-high three steals.
And yes both teams have done better. Three years ago neither made the playoffs. The Lakers won 35 games in 2017-18 and the Grizzlies won 22.
While the Lakers moved up quicker signing big free agents (James) and trades (Davis), the Grizzlies were patient through the draft and smaller name signings.
The Lakers signed players like Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo last season and both helped in the Laker’s championship run. The rich got richer as they added Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder this offseason.
The Grizzlies struck gold drafting Jaren Jackson Jr, Ja Morant and Clarke the past three years. Desmond Bane looks like another early draft win while Tillman is finding his role after being injured to start the season.
They got productive free agents in Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson. Instead of mega trades, they used Marc Gasol and Mike Conley to acquire Jonas Valanciunas and Grayson Allen as contributors.
Dieng was traded to Memphis last season and has been an offensive spark by scoring in double figures three of the last four games.
De’anthony Melton, who arrived via a trade last season, added five points and five assists Tuesday after missing four games due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols and not playing Sunday.
He also ad a highlight sequence where he blocked Davis to start a fast
break and ended it with a dunk over Talen Horton-tucker.
The Grizzlies’ moves have paid off in their own way and the best is yet to come once Justise Winslow gets healthy.
But success is a longer climb for a smaller market team
Teams like the Lakers can easily woo free agents and make big trades to change fortunes faster. The Grizzlies’ goal of sustained success means a slow build that comes up short against established teams.
As the Lakers left Memphis continuing their quest for a second consecutive title, the Grizzlies, who host the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, took away lessons their path is still leading towards progress, even if its slower.
“That’s just what you want to build towards, you know. We want to get on the level of those elite teams,” Anderson said this week,. “We’re obviously not there yet but that’s what all the guys in here and the coaching staff and everybody here strives for.”