Memphis Grizzlies starting lineup: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins

Memphis Grizzlies starting lineups: Fringe

Kyle Anderson

Last season we saw the healthy version of the Grizzlies start Anderson at the small forward position. However, with the absence of Jackson, there are now two wing spots to be filled. Anderson will fill the four spot until Jackson returns, leaving the only question left to be; will he start when Jackson is healthy?

Anderson started all four preseason games and has started the first two games this season and it’s with good reason. At 6’9” he’s able to defend well and does a little bit of everything on offense.

He doesn’t do anything particularly great, but there’s a reason he’s been a consistent rotation piece for his career. ‘Slo-Mo’ does the little things coaches love, cutting off the ball, solid defensively, and passes very well for a wing (2.4 assists per game last season.)

Brandon Clarke

The opposite of Kyle Anderson is Brandon Clarke, the athletic and scoring forward who just finished his rookie season alongside Rookie of the Year Ja Morant.  Clarke made All-Rookie first team averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting 36.0 percent from three.

Clarke is like Anderson; as he does a little bit of everything. There is one key difference – no one would call Clarke slow. Clarke can create off the dribble, shoot, finish at the rim and drives into the paint like a mad man.

He has the defensive tools to be the perfect small-ball four — hyper-athletic with a 6’8” frame and wingspan. Clarke has plenty of time to become a dangerous frontcourt defensive duo with Jackson at the five. One of the Grizzlies’ better lineups from last season was a small ball lineup with Morant, Melton, Brooks, Clarke and Jackson, which had a +6.8 efficiency differential per Cleaning the Glass.   

The combination of freakish athleticism and solid play on both sides of the floor plus a decent shooting rookie season means Clarke will contend to start all season.

To be decided on his new shooting form as so far it looks very unorthodox, to put it nicely.

De’Anthony Melton

De’Anthony Melton started eight games last season when Jackson missed two weeks in late February. Jenkins slid Brooks to the three and put Melton in at the two alongside Morant.

The only significant change in Melton starting verses on the bench was his 3-point percentage. For the season Melton shot 28.0 percent on 2.3 attempts per game coming off the bench compared to 38.0 percent on 3.9 attempts per game as a start.

Playing alongside Morant is going to help any player, but Melton saw better success shooting wise in his short-term promotion.

The main reason he could start is because of his defense. Melton ranked 70th in defensive win shares among guards. My favorite example from last season of Melton being a defensive pest was against Buddy Hield. It’s like watching a cat follow a laser pointer.

Grayson Allen

Taylor Jenkins has shown his faith in Allen by starting him in the first two games this season. The synopsis is Allen is your 3-and-D guard who shot 40.0 percent from three last season.

Allen is in his third season and has only started four times in his career with his two most recent being the first two games this season. Allen has shown a lot of grit and has earned the trust of the coaching staff to start in an injury compromised lineup.

With the fringes out of the way, it’s time to look at the guys who could break into the starting lineup.