The Friday Three: Playing next to Ja Morant
Things to know, and grow.
Ja Morant remains the focal point of all that matters for the Memphis Grizzlies in terms of their organization’s success. Sure, Jaren Jackson Jr. (more on him in a bit) is coming off arguably his best game of the season in Orlando Thursday night. And Desmond Bane remains vital as the lone legitimate perimeter threat the Memphis Grizzlies have. But Morant is the Sun, and the rest of the Grizzlies are but planets in his orbit.
With that in mind, in two-man lineups Morant’s partnerships bear watching closely. For as this Memphis franchise evolves in the years to come - and as salary cap space becomes more and more precious for the Grizzlies at and near the NBA’s Luxury Tax - the goal must be to identify who doesn’t just play WELL alongside Ja - but who THRIVES. Who both benefits from being a teammates of Ja’s, but also seems to make Morant better themselves.
First, some ground rules-
All data is from before the Grizzlies/Magic game, so…safe to say Ja and Jaren’s numbers are probably a bit improved, for example. But we’re talking sample size here.
The cutoff for minutes played alongside Ja to be considered is at least 300 so far this season. That enables both Bane and Jackson Jr. to be in the conversation.
NBA.com advanced lineup stats is the source of all data shared below that doesn’t have a separate link. So 20 or so MORE links aren’t necessary (research is fun!) Here’s the website.
In keeping with the Friday Three theme, the structure is focusing on the “good”, the “bad”, and the “surprise”.
Time to dive in.
The Good
Desmond Bane and Ja Morant are perfect for one another. The very best net rating partnership involving Morant (again, entering the Magic game) was Ja alongside the sharpshooter from TCU at +17.3. Offensively, this is not a shock. Their games are quite complimentary - Morant the dominant dribble penetrator, Bane the three point threat. But their scoring acumen while very good (117.2 offensive rating), isn’t what puts this pair over the top.
It is their DEFENSIVE rating - a staggering 99.9 when considering both of their…ahem…limitations, on that end…that is a pleasant surprise. Part of that is the fact that these guys share a lot of THEIR partnership with the likes of Jaren Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, and Dillon Brooks - three good-to-great defenders - and their ability to take on easier assignments as a result.
But they have grown as defenders this season. The team is forcing more turnovers with Bane on the floor than ever before (+1.7% more, per Cleaning the Glass, among the best at the wing position in the NBA) and while no one will mistake Ja for Marcus Smart any time soon, for the first time since Ja’s rookie year opponents are shooting more when Morant is on the floor than off of it (almost 2% worse in effective field goal percentage, per Cleaning the Glass).
Morant and Bane are rising to the standard set by their starting counterparts. And that, plus their offensive acumen, makes them the most dangerous duo on the Grizzlies (right now…)
The “Bad”
It probably won’t surprise you that Morant’s “worst” pairing within our parameters is still a net positive. Ja is the best player on the Grizzlies, and while his own personal net rating isn’t the best on Memphis (Morant is actually 4th behind Jackson Jr., Steven Adams, and the man which that honor still belongs to - Dillon Brooks at +12.8 before the Magic game) he is the All-NBA talent that the team rallies behind.
But given the time logged (468 minutes) it is worth noting that Santi Aldama has the lowest net rating alongside Ja at +5.5. Now, Aldama arguably has the least experience of any Grizzlies player to have played this much alongside Morant (Ja and David Roddy are a +3.1, but have played less than 300 minutes together) - that surely matters. But keep in mind that while Jaren Jackson Jr. was out to start the season, Aldama filled the void as a starter.
So Santi logged minutes alongside not just Morant, but Bane, and Brooks, and Adams, while being next to Ja. And that starting five was extremely effective in their own right (+13.8, per Cleaning the Glass). So the drop-off is coming when Aldama and Morant are surrounded by the likes of Roddy, and Tyus Jones, and Brandon Clarke - who the numbers do NOT like as much this season (both Jones and Clarke have NEGATIVE net ratings to this point this season).
But Aldama better finding his footing next to Ja specifically matters, because Santi is on a team-friendly deal for the next two seasons. He’s unlikely to go anywhere - and his game as a floor spacer (38% from three - not bad!) helps maximize what Ja does best. Growing this +5.5 as the season goes on is worth keeping an eye on - because it will mean not only are these two playing better together, but multiple reserves are alongside Morant as well. That raises the Grizzlies ceiling all the more.
Speaking of “raising the ceiling”…
The “Surprise”
That Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished 2nd in this exercise behind Ja and Bane isn’t the surprise. Nor is the fact that this is Jaren’s most productive partnership - he and Steven Adams have a higher rating of +17.5, even better than Morant and Bane’s team best, but at only 270 minutes together they missed the criteria.
The “surprise” is that there is an area of their game that can be better - much better - meaning this number can go even higher…
Much higher.
Entering the Orlando game, no player in the NBA averaged more possessions per game in the pick and roll than Ja Morant. This makes sense, given Morant’s elite athleticism and handle coupled with his eye for creation off the dribble for not just himself, than others.
But Ja isn’t executing those sets with Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson Jr., just a few short days ago, was ranked as one of the NBA’s LEAST active bigs as a roll man. Brandon Clare and Steven Adams are more utilized in this area than Jaren, and Adams and Clarke combine for over 7 screen assists per game compared to Jackson Jr.’s .6. Jaren is a perimeter big, a decent creator off the dribble who is improving in understanding his size and using it at and around the paint/rim on offense, as well as defense (where we already know he’s elite).
The next step in that development, however, will make his pairing with Morant dominant on a nightly basis.
Jaren often sets “ghost screens” or slips off of set screen looks, popping on the perimeter or quickly cutting to the rim. This helps the Memphis offense remain difficult to predict - if Jaren did the same thing as the more offensively limited Adams or Clarke, that would limit their impacts. But if Jackson were to prioritize being the primary partner of Ja when creating space with his own impressive frame (6’11”, 242 pounds…he isn’t small) on screens?
Now he can still pop to the perimeter, with more open looks from three as defenses collapse. Or he can use his handle to get to the rim, draw fouls, or - the next step BEYOND this step - find open cutters or shooters in the corners. Jackson Jr. is essentially the same age as Morant - there is room for growth on the offensive end of the floor, just as Ja can maintain or develop as a defender.
If these two can find one another not just on drive and dish shots off of Adams screens, or alley-oops? If they can add an Embiid/Harden-esque connection? The 60+ combined points for Morant and Jackson Jr. against the Magic on Thursday night won’t be the exception - Ja and Jaren both scored more than 30 points in the same game for the first time ever Thursday in Orlando.
It will become close to an expectation. As will NBA Finals appearances in Memphis.
Now that would be surprising.