Memphis Grizzlies: Ranking their projected starting five
Starter No. 3 Dillon Brooks
If you remove the health factor for Winslow, the biggest X-Factor for the Grizzlies is Dillon Brooks.
Brooks is a polarizing player, on one hand, he’s the prototypical 3-and-D wing. Brooks is 6’7”, shot 35 percent from three with being recognized by NBA analysts and the analytics as a productive defensive player.
On the other hand, Brooks is an overall inconsistent scorer and is prone to fouling, while taking extremely inefficient shots. I already dove into the reasons why Brooks is so inconsistent on offense, so for now we’ll focus on the positives
Brooks can create his own shot, often in the pick and roll or on pull-ups, which is useful…. but right now he’s quite bullish to take mid-range shots. However, let’s focus on his “3-and-D” capabilities.
In the 19-20 season, Brooks shot 3.9 catch and shoot threes per game making 38.0 percent per NBA.com/stats. If Brooks focuses on running around screens from Jackson and Valančiūnas, while limiting his off the dribble creation for staggered bench minutes or when the shot clock is winding down — that would make him an overall more efficient offensive threat.
Looking at his defense, Brooks was the 64th highest rated guard in defensive win-shares – ranking above defenders like Lonzo Ball, Matisse Thybulle, and Grizzlies own De’Anthony Melton.
Brooks was ranked 35th in defensive rating among shooting guards, above Austin Rivers and Joe Ingles. The film backs this up, Brooks has a strong base and has an invasive reach into passing lanes and defender palms (1.3 steals + blocks per game.)
Brooks ranked 3rd in this list because of his defense, Brooks according to NBA.com/stats was defending guards 66.8 percent of the time. Covering the best perimeter player and reducing Morant’s reasonability on the defensive end, making Morant’s job a hell of a lot easier.
It should be obvious who 1-2 are, but they are up there for a good reason. Very different reasons, but important ones to a winning team nonetheless.