ACGrizz

I looked at it quickly - don't think I saw any instances of 4 games in 5 nights, which would at least be a positive!

The Elam ending made last year a pretty exciting end to the game; I'm open with the ASG continuing to be a forum for experimentation on items like that

This is slight cherry picking, but there's only 13 players in the league right now shooting over 75% from the free throw line and under 25% from the three-point line (with a 15 min/game threshold) - it just so happens that both the Grizzlies point guards, Ja and Tyus, fall in that unlucky 13. https://www.nba.com/stats/players/traditional/?sort=FT_PCT&dir=1&CF=FT_PCT*G*75:FG3_PCT*L*25:MIN*G*15&Season=2020-21&SeasonType=Regular Season

It's bad. It started off being a concern after the All-Star game (shot 35.8% before it, then 30.1% afterwards), became a real issue in the bubble (9/40, for 22.5%) and has continue this season. If anything, the looks are even better than he was getting early last season, as teams are daring him to take the 3. I hope and expect this will be Ja's focus in the offseason, because without at least a serviceable shot, it diminishes the part of this game that make him special.

Hmm, maybe we can throw in Dieng in some sort of multi-team trade involving Drummond going to another team to help salaries work for everyone? Don't know how our cap is looking these days, but just thinking about whether we can pull off some maneuvers here.

On top of what everyone else has already said, the Heat have been missing a ton of players for quite a while now. Butler hasn't played in several games

I assume we won't have been practicing since our guys went into the protocol, right? May be a rough couple games back with conditioning/rust issues.

More time for Ja to strengthen the ankle and the other guys to heal up and get closer to their return. Not great that it coincides with our momentum over last few games, but I can live with it.

Time-worn debate about whether it's more impactful long-term to make the playoffs but potentially get swept or just miss playoffs and have shot at a high draft pick.

Luckily, there are stats for this! If anyone wants to nerd out with me, take a look at this page: https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/clarkbr01/lineups/2020 Seems like the best player to pair with BC is actually Melton.

Contrast that with the way the Lakers pressured the ball against us the moment we sat both Tyus and Kyle (leaving Desmond to get stripped by Schroder). Players ain't the only ones with growing pains.

I'm glad he hit a couple 3s last game, but I'm still concerned about his shot overall and the reason for his change in form. The free throw shooting is actually the biggest red flag to me. If he's consistent and the percentages eventually go up, I'm fine with however he chooses to shoot it. Unfortunately, right now he's down in every shooting category from last year - I can chalk up the field goals on playing a different role and coming back from injury, but even his free throw shooting is down from a respectable 75.9% last year to 42.1% this year. It's a small sample size, but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask what the cause for the drop is (injury vs. conscious effort to change the stroke). Yeah, the spacing is all off and not having Ja to set him up for lobs/that patented bunny hop shot put at the top of the key takes off an easy 4-6 points for him every game.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

Also a nice way to ever so slightly increase your chances of retaining players as a small market, non-marquee franchise. I dig it.

Sexton might be questionable too. And Okoro showed up on the injury report.