{"uid":"Entry:6cecaf92-8ca1-48fb-ab3d-54c4623aced6","title":"Quick Recap: Grizzlies cook Nuggets in resounding win","dek":{"html":"The Memphis Grizzlies put together a massive win over the Western Conference’s top seed, Denver Nuggets."},"createdAt":"2023-02-26T01:20:21.000Z","url":"https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/2023/2/25/23615255/quick-recap-memphis-grizzlies-cook-denver-nuggets-in-resounding-win-morant-tillman-nba","wordCount":777,"updatedAt":"2023-02-26T04:01:15.000Z","author":{"fullOrUserName":"Parker Fleming"},"authorProfile":null,"contributors":[],"communityGroups":[{"name":"Front Page"},{"name":"Quick Recap"}],"body":{"components":[{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"JvyufK","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Memphis Grizzlies returned to FedExForum for their first home game after the All-Star break, as the top-seeded Denver Nuggets rolled into town. The Grizzlies (Steven Adams) and Nuggets (Aaron Gordon) were both missing key players, but it still served as an anticipated bout on this Saturday slate of games."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"B6S8t9","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Grizzlies and Nuggets started with a fast, back-and-forth pace. Xavier Tillman quickly scored 6 points off the bat. The Nuggets started off fine, but they cooled off significantly towards the end of the quarter. Ja Morant was pretty much able to get wherever he wanted on the floor, attacked the paint at will. The Grizzlies closed with a 28-20 lead after the first quarter."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"Dyiifk","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Grizzlies made it rain from deep in the 2nd quarter — drilling 6 three-pointers in the quarter. Tyus Jones led the charge here, connecting on 4 triples, which really generated some flow in the offense when Morant sat. The Grizzlies used a 14-2 run to start the quarter to blow the doors open a little bit, generating a sizable double-digit lead quick. The Grizzlies finished with a 66-42 lead at halftime."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"kkc4wP","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Grizzlies built their lead up past 30 points, and they didn’t budge. Their offense was still crisp, and they were going after 50/50 balls too — Morant included:"},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyEmbed","placement":{"id":"5chwY3","alignment":null},"embed":{"embedHtml":"

It's such a tone-setter when your star player goes after 50-50 balls this hard

And obviously the silky finish from Ja Morantpic.twitter.com/TazQjeT6Up

— Grizzly Bear Blues (@sbnGrizzlies) February 26, 2023
\n\n","provider":{"name":"Twitter"}}},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"Su2lAZ","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Grizzlies closed with a 94-62 lead at the end of the 3rd quarter."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"FGXpeu","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Nuggets pulled Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. at the start of the 4th quarter. Nothing totally eventful happened in the quarter. Luke Kennard and Tyus Jones hit a couple of 3’s to bring their totals to 4 and 5, respectively."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"06FwYI","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Grizzlies ended the game with Kennedy Chandler, Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, David Roddy, and Kenneth Lofton Jr. The fans got treated with some good Jr. moments."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"TABBqq","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"Memphis Grizzlies close with a resounding 112-94 win."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyHeading","placement":{"id":"soyN84","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"Quick Takeaways"},"level":2},{"__typename":"EntryBodyList","placement":{"id":null,"alignment":null},"items":[{"line":{"html":"Stones back rolling. Tyus Jones went on an absolute heater in the 2nd quarter, and it was great to see him snap out of a funk lately. In his last 11 games, Jones has averaged 4.5 points and 3.6 assists on 33.9% shooting from the field and 14.3% from 3. He played with extra swagger and confidence on the offensive end, and when he’s doing that, the offense tends to hum and work its way around in the halfcourt. For the Grizzlies to officially navigate out of this weird month stretch of play, getting the “Tyus Stones” version of Jones will be crucial."},"placement":{"id":"BsqcVt"}},{"line":{"html":"X solid again. Xavier Tillman go the starting nod, so that the Grizzlies had a physical option against Nikola Jokic. He played rock-solid defense against Jokic, holding him to 15 points and 13 rebounds. The biggest difference was Jokic was minimized as a playmaker, only generating 3 assists. Tillman also was ready offensively, as he connected on all 6 of his attempts for 12 points, while also dropping 3 dimes. I don’t know his standing in the rotation once Steven Adams returns, but he’s reemerged as a good player to have in emergency situations."},"placement":{"id":"2u4lnp"}},{"line":{"html":"Sneaky Dillon game. We don’t need to delve much into the 2023 it’s been for Dillon Brooks, but he put together a sneaky steady game — probably his best in awhile. He connected on 5 of his 9 shot attempts, while making 2 of his 4 three-point tries. Everything he sought offensively came within the flow, nothing was forced. He was also instrumental in holding Jamal Murray into a 3-13 shooting night (1-5 from 3). It’s not the most eye-popping game we’ve seen from Dillon Brooks, but he doesn’t need to be on this version of the Grizzlies. He served as the perfect complementary piece within the system."},"placement":{"id":"4mfrlU"}},{"line":{"html":"Much-needed Grizz win. This is the kind of win that can turn the tide for the Memphis Grizzlies. From start to finish, they laid the smackdown on top-seeded Denver Nuggets. They minimized their star, made his supporting cast complete non-factors, and kept things flowing offensively. The Grizzlies have now won 4 of their past 6 games, but this one seems like it could be the foundation for a bounce-back into a massive month of March on the horizon."},"placement":{"id":"R5QTxN"}}],"ordered":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"Ocov0D","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"The Memphis Grizzlies will get a couple days off before they play the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Tuesday February 28th."},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false},{"__typename":"EntryBodyParagraph","placement":{"id":"2hiC3a","alignment":null},"contents":{"html":"Grizzly Bear Blues will be moving to Bluff City Media on 3/1, and you can subscribe here for insider Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers content. Use promo code “GBBLIVE” for 10% OFF an annual subscription. Follow Grizzly Bear Blues on Twitter and Instagram. For more Grizzlies talk, subscribe to the Grizzly Bear Blues podcast network on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and IHeart. "},"dropcap":false,"endmark":false,"lead":false}]}}
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Writer's pictureParker Fleming
Aug 5, 20233 min read

The possibility of dealing Dillon Brooks

Original Date: 2022-06-13





There are a lot of intriguing trade possibilities for the Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, and I’ll dive into them more over the next week and a half, but let’s start with Dillon Brooks.


Brooks is the most polarizing Grizzly. He’s everybody’s favorite trade target, especially after a forgettable postseason – with a valley of a Game 4 against the Warriors. There’s a bit of bias with how the fallout of the trade with Jonas Valanciunas last season, as the veteran’s departure led to individual breakouts from Morant and Bane, and to a huge leap for the team. The common thought process with a Brooks trade is, why can’t they replicate that recipe with Ziaire Williams waiting in the wings.


GBB Senior Staff Writer Nathan Chester illustrated the downsides of trading Dillon Brooks quite well for the blog a couple weeks ago, so I don’t want to get too deep into it. With trading Brooks, there are different elements to consider. The Grizzlies need a good answer for the team’s perimeter defense, besides just giving Ziaire Williams a larger role. Williams has the tools to be a great individual defender, but Brooks is already one of the best in the league as a perimeter stopper – while also possessing the range to guard many of the dynamic stars loaded in the Western Conference. If the Grizzlies trade Brooks, they need a perimeter defender that’s already as good as, or better than, Brooks — not one that could possibly defend as well as him.


Secondly, there needs to be a legitimate upgrade on the wing, and it’s hard to do so from Brooks. There aren’t many available wings better than Dillon Brooks. OG Anunoby is a name out there, and former Site Manager Joe Mullinax put together a trade I’m selling myself on more and more each day.





But at the same time, are we sure Toronto will want Dillon Brooks and picks, instead of the 7th pick or Rudy Gobert? Are we sure OG (or Klutch Sports Agency) wants a lateral move in the pecking order? Doesn’t being the 2nd option next to Damian Lillard or Donovan Mitchell sound more enticing? It’s more likely Anunoby goes to Utah or Portland.


The same questions follow with Jerami Grant, who’s emerged as a popular trade target around the league. Portland and Atlanta are the primary suitors there, with Memphis hanging on as a lingering one. Would Detroit prefer Dillon Brooks and picks, the 7th pick, or whatever Atlanta can offer around their 16th pick? In addition, will Grant be more inclined for a 2nd option role in Portland or Atlanta, or a 3rd or 4th in Memphis? Recent patterns suggest the former.


Gordon Hayward is another name out in the rumor mill, as Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported on the Dunc’d On Podcast that the veteran swingman is ready to move to a team in more of a winning situation than the Hornets, and Charlotte may look to find a new home for him since they need to open up space to pay Miles Bridges. However, the difference between his offense and Brooks’ offense doesn’t justify the defensive drop-off that’d occur from this swap – even if the Grizzlies moved up to the 13th or 15th picks.


If the Grizzlies want to make Ziaire Williams the starting 3, a Kuzma and Brooks swap could be something to look for. Washington has had interest in Brooks dating back to last offseason. I wonder if Brooks, the 22nd pick, and the Warriors 2024 pick are enough to acquire Kuzma and the 10th pick.


Regardless, the idea of trading Dillon Brooks is tricky. He has proven to be the “spirit leader” and the “head of the snake” for the Memphis Grizzlies, as stated by his coach and his teammates. Brooks is a really good 3-and-D wing that has impacted winning for the Grizzlies – led the team in on/off point differential the past two seasons, per Cleaning the Glass. Defensive stoppers like him are necessary to hang in a Western Conference loaded with perimeter talent.


On the flip side, like Jonas Valanciunas, both sides may just need to move on to fully become the optimized version of themselves. Brooks does take a lot of shots, and it can be challenging to reel in a player whose role has been to create offense since the moment he set foot in Memphis. It may be easy to buy him into reeling it back, with the prospects of winning of a championship serving as the mission. Or, it’s best for them to move on.


The Grizzlies shouldn’t just give him up without clearly improving their wing rotation, and I’m unsure if there’s that player in the trade market right now. Nonetheless, the possibility of dealing Dillon Brooks is as real as it’s ever been.

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