Los Memphis Grizzlies They hope that last night will be the last sad note of a 2023-2024 season that has started disastrously. The players, coaches and fans are rubbing their hands, as they finally feel very close to the return of I Morant. The electric star of 24 years and lighthouse of the group he fulfilled during the resounding defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder for 116-97 su 25th game of suspension for having shown a firearm in a live broadcast on social networks for the second time in May of last month.
Without him, and with several long-term injuries to key men such as Steven Adams o Brandon Clarke, the Grizzlies have sunk hopelessly in the table. There are already five consecutive defeats and a total of 19 so far this year, with only six wins. When Morant returns, he will take over a broken team that is second to last in the Western Conference and has the play-in positions eight wins away.
OKC’s beating was unappealable. In three quarters it was enough for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, author of 30 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals, to settle the hostilities and leave the last quarter for trials and garbage minutes. All of Mark Daigneault’s starters broke double digits, and Chet Holmgren clearly surpassed Santi Aldama when they were paired. The rookie, with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 7 blocks He once again showed that he does not have much to envy, beyond the media attention, Victor Wembanyama, the rookie who has grabbed all the headlines so far.
The Spanish international had a modest night starting from the bench with 9 points, 9 rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes of play. His basket pass, yes, was a spectacular shot between the legs of one of the three defenders who blocked his path in Memphis’ last offensive play in the first half, which ended with a three-pointer. John Konchar. Despite that highlight, the Grizzlies went into halftime down 68-53 and with no arguments to dream of victory.
Aldama recorded 2 of 10 in field goals and 2 of 7 from the three-point line, in line with the rest of the group, which was only able to achieve 35.3% overall and 35.2% from long range. distance. Desmond Bane added 17 points, and Ziaire Williamswith 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, he was the most successful player starting from the bench.
Morant’s absence has taken a toll on Memphis, but also the constant injuries like those of Marcus Smart y Derrick Rose, among others, called precisely to replace him in this initial stretch of the campaign. Despite these hardships, the image against the Thunder was far from that of two years ago, when the Grizzlies were able to defeat OKC by 73 points.
They were on the track last night, Jaren Jackson Jr., Bane, Aldama, Xavier Tillman and John Konchar just like then, but the tables have changed a lot. That’s the NBA, although in Memphis they hope to have passed their penance now that Ja Morant returns to the court.
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2023-12-19 07:04:02
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