Memphis Grizzlies: 3 stars from play-in win over the Warriors
Second star for the Memphis Grizzlies: Xavier Tillman
In an ideal world, the Memphis Grizzlies and head coach Taylor Jenkins would never have put Xavier Tillman into the game on Friday night. Jonas Valanciunas could kill the Golden State Warriors on the glass, and young sharp-shooting big man Jaren Jackson Jr. could fill the remaining center minutes, especially considering the Warriors like to play small.
More from Memphis Grizzlies
- NBA Trades: Memphis bolsters their roster in this deal with Toronto
- 3 ways acquiring Marcus Smart will improve the Memphis Grizzlies
- Ranking the 10 championship-less NBA teams by closeness to title
- 4 Memphis Grizzlies who must step up in Ja Morant’s absence
- NBA Rumors: Is a season-long suspension for Ja Morant on the table?
Yet Valanciunas had early foul trouble, and Jackson Jr. had foul trouble just slightly later. That left Jenkins to turn to his bench, and he summoned Tillman to the court. The rookie out of Michigan State was a second-round pick and filled a key role during player absences all season long.
He stepped in for 23 minutes Friday night, including during crunch time and overtime after Valanciunas fouled out. He was not magnificently flashy but he was certainly present, disrupting shots and passes, setting screens and hitting a few crucial shots. The biggest such shot was a buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer; he spotted out to the line and bailed out Morant at the end of the shot clock.
In sum, Tillman totaled 11 points and seven rebounds. He deterred multiple shots from even being taken, moving his feet and staying close enough to the rim to cause havoc. He is no Dikembe Mutombo, but it is clear he will be a reliable defender for years to come.