Grizzlies guard Allen provides an unexpected boost
Grayson Allen caught a pass on a fast break Sunday, and it looked like the Grizzlies guard had an easy dunk attempt. Instead, he went for a finger roll layup much to the surprise of rookie Brandon Clarke.
“He should’ve dunked on somebody, but he laid it up instead, so I’m going to tell him to dunk it next time,” Clarke said with a laugh.
Allen could be forgiven for not being used to slams that made him an exciting player at Duke. Inside the NBA’S bubble, it’s his shooting that’s given the Grizzlies an unexpected boost.
While the Grizzlies are shooting just 31.5% on 3-pointers in Florida, secondworst among teams, Allen is shooting a red-hot 53.8% in six games off the bench.
He’s also taking more shots, increasing his 3-point attempts to 6.5 per game from 3.0 before his hip injury on Jan. 24.
He tied his career-best with five 3pointers against the Pelicans then broke it with six the next game against the Jazz. After having just two 20-point games in his first 68 NBA games, he has two so far in Florida.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. out for the season and Dillon Brooks struggling, Allen has become the team’s most consistent perimeter scoring threat and is averaging 14.7 points.
“That was something that was really needed. Just a player that would come in and take shots and actually make them,” Clarke said. “It’s really fun playing with him. He’s a really high basketball IQ player, so he always takes the right shot.”
Allen, who was traded to the Grizzlies along with Jae Crowder last summer, was making strides before he got hurt and was initially ruled out for the season. When the NBA announced its return after being suspended March 11, it was good news as he was targeting July for his return to basketball activities.
“My body’s getting used to playing games again, but I feel like I’m ready to handle it,” Allen said. “For my game, it’s just continuing to find spots offensively whether its sliding to get open for a guy who’s attacking or using the quick catch to attack and score.”
He was already shooting 36.3% on 3pointers pre-injury, so when he finished rehab, he worked with the Grizzlies’ coaches on shooting with more confidence.
Coach Taylor Jenkins said it didn’t take long for Allen to find his legs when practices warmed up. As a bonus? The gyms in Orlando reminded him of the setting for the 2015 Final Four when he helped Duke win the national championship.
“It’s definitely a good shooting gym because of the backdrop,” Allen said. “Really, the only times in my career I felt that made a difference is like winning the NCAA Tournament in a football stadium. That throws you off, but I don’t think it makes that much difference. But it’s nice.”
While his play helped the Grizzlies stay in the fight for the No. 8 seed, it also bodes well for next season. For a team lacking shooting depth, he adds that layer on the bench with Tyus Jones’ playmaking and Clarke’s efficient scoring.
But he doesn’t want people to forget he’s still a high-flyer even though he’s embraced his role as a shooter.
“I mean, I was mad at myself, too,” Allen said of not dunking on the fast break. “I gotta get back to that mind-set and just going up to dunk, no layups.”