Memphis Grizzlies are building: 3 takeaways from opening week

1. Ja Morant is lightning in a bottle

It should come as little surprise that No. 2 is No. 1. Though he was the second player selected in last summer’s draft, Ja Morant has emerged as an early favorite for Rookie of the Year with a heart-stopping fourth quarter performance in the win over Brooklyn.

Morant’s elite bounce and athleticism attacking the rim were evident as soon as he entered the league and defenses have by and large elected to go over the top of screens for him. The first step for Morant is determining when he has an angle and can beat the defender over the screen and when he needs to pull and shoot (or change direction).

Long-term, of course, the goal is for Ja to become a dangerous enough 3-point shooter that defenses have to double, go under the screen or blitz him coming off the screen to keep him from launching. In the short term, however, there is a decision-making process to learn and refine.

When he makes the right read, and when the defender is too slow-footed to keep up with him, Morant flashes something truly special that makes Memphis Grizzlies fans salivate at the possibilities. At other times, including long stretches during the first two games, Morant is a young player with rough edges who has a very well-known skill set.

Defenses will increasingly gear up to prevent him from driving as he has more success. In order to become a sustainable driver of the Grizzlies’ offense, Morant must develop his jumper. He already demonstrates decent feel in orchestrating an offense for a 20-year-old rookie and has made key passes at times during opening week.

As a distributor, Morant has a solid base to build upon, and his athleticism should allow him to make high-leverage kickout passes to open shooters as he gains experience with the pace and schematic variety of NBA defenses.

Memphis’ future is bright, but still unclear. Opening week has helped to bring the current state of the Grizzlies into focus, showcasing both the good and the bad. Memphis is building something, and we have just gotten the first peek at what they will become.