Grizzlies preseason offers 4 keys

The Grizzlies’ 104-91 loss at San Antonio on Friday night marked the end of the dress rehearsals.

Next time the Grizzlies take the court, it will be the real thing. After five preseason games, Memphis begins the regular season at Miami on Wednesday.

Here are five takeaways from the team’s 3-2 run through the preseason.

Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke are fun

The Grizzlies’ pair of first-round draft picks could go down as the best tandem of rookies in franchise history.

Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo had good rookie seasons in 2008-09, but Morant and Clarke could be even better. Morant averaged 11.3 points and 7.3 assists in four

preseason games while flashing his toptier passing skills and athleticism.

Clarke elevated his game as the preseason progressed and finished with back-to-back double-doubles in the two games he played against NBA opponents.

With No. 1 overall pick Zion Williamson expected to miss an early chunk of the season because of a knee injury, Morant will have an early chance to make his case for rookie of the year.

Clarke, meanwhile, is already gaining recognition around the league.

NBA general managers voted him second in the category of “which rookie was the biggest steal at where he was selected in the draft?”

Letting it fly will be ugly sometimes

First-year head coach Taylor Jenkins wants the Grizzlies to let if fly from beyond the arc.

The Grizzlies obliged in the preseason. But it wasn't always pretty.

Memphis missed its first 9 attempts from 3-point range on Friday night before Grayson Allen finally hit one in the second quarter.

The Grizzlies also went the entire first quarter without a made 3-pointer in Wednesday night's win over Oklahoma City.

In total, the team made 49-of-154 (31.8%) shots from 3-point range in five preseason games. Against its three NBA opponents, Memphis made 28-of-96 (29.2%) 3-point attempts.

By comparison, the Suns ranked last in 3-point shooting percentage last season at 32.9%.

Jaren Jackson Jr. still young

Jaren Jackson Jr. could have a breakout season, but his preseason performance suggested there will be bumps in the road.

Last year's No. 4 overall pick racked up 16 fouls and fouled out twice in 74 minutes during three preseason games against NBA foes.

It was a concerning continuation of a

Shooting guard unsettled

The Grizzlies have reportedly expressed interest in free-agent shooting guard Iman Shumpert, and it's not hard to see why.

First, Grayson Allen racked up 36 points in two games against international opponents and earned a start over Dillon Brooks at shooting guard on Monday against Charlotte.

Then Brooks scored 23 points in a quarter on Wednesday at Oklahoma City and took the job back, only to shoot 1for-8 in Friday's preseason finale.

Both players did good offensive things at points. But they both struggled, too.

If that inconsistency continues, expect De'anthony Melton, who is on the mend from a back injury, to get a chance to contribute. Josh Jackson could be another option on the wing, too.

Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Davidwcobb.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks (24) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Abdel Nader (11) defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Wednesday in Oklahoma City.