Grizzlies, Jackson Jr. plan to limit fouls
MINNEAPOLIS — D'angelo Russell had Jaren Jackson Jr. in an isolation on a switch during Game 5 of the Western Conference playoff series. As the Minnesota Timberwolves guard dribbled to the left and pulled up near the free-throw line, Jackson was reaching in to strip or block the ball.
Then, before he continued, the Memphis Grizzlies' 7-footer pulled his hands away at the last second and looked over at the referee as Russell missed the jumpshot.
The Grizzlies won Game 5 on Tuesday to take a 3-2 lead and can clinch the series Friday (8 p.m., ESPN, Bally Sports Southeast) at the Target Center.
On that particular play, Jackson almost looked as if he was anticipating a whistle. His recognition to pull back came from an emphasis by Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
“Put your hand in the cookie jar, you're going to get called for a foul, and those are the ones we've got to clean up,” Jenkins said Thursday. “We've paid the price, obviously, in those situations.”
NBA coaches started emphasizing showing hands more as crafty NBA players began finding creative
and unorthodox ways to draw fouls. Earlier in the series, Patrick Beverley noticed the Timberwolves had the Grizzlies in the bonus. While on defense, star guard Ja Morant put his hand out in front on Beverley's chest, which led the Timberwolves guard to launching forward and doing a rip-through move to draw a foul and shoot free throws.
Russell and Karl Anthony-towns are the two players who draw creative fouls, and Towns has put the most pressure on Memphis.
The Grizzlies are committing 23.6 personal fouls per game in the series.
That would have ranked last in the NBA during the regular season. Memphis committed 20 per game in the regular season.
Jackson has been the player impacted most by foul trouble. He's played 22.6 minutes per game after averaging 27.3 in the regular season.
Multiple Grizzlies players have had conversations with Jackson, and he's been self aware of his foulprone tendencies. Jackson pointed out that not only is it showing hands, but Minnesota is crafty on defense, too. The Timberwolves finished fifth in the NBA in charges drawn. Along with sticking his hand in the “cookie jar,” this is the other area the Timberwolves have limited Jackson.
“Show hands, be aware, don't get
charges,” Jackson said. “Just play smarter. You can say all you want about calls, you just got to be smarter, and I got to own it myself.”
There's a big big ripple effect with the foul trouble. Jackson's limited minutes has impacted his usage, but led to bigger roles for Brandon Clarke and Xavier Tillman in the frontcourt.
It's also impacted the backcourt. The Grizzlies finished Game 5 with one of their smallest lineups this season after Jackson fouled out midway through the fourth. Morant, Clarke, Jones, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks closed the game.
Morant played 45 minutes and was open about how tired he was after the game. Getting Jackson on the floor for longer stretches is a big key to helping that, but if Jackson remains in foul trouble, Jones could handle the point guard role on the ball while Morant stays in the game but gets more rest off the ball.
“That's been a combination that's been good for the minutes we've had out there,” Jenkins said of Jones and Morant. “I like what they've done offensively and defensively, so definitely something we're keeping in the back of our mind to get those stretches together.”
Contact Damichael Cole at damichael.cole@ commercialappeal.com and on Twitter @damichaelc