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When it comes to nature, I don’t think too many people would disagree when I say that a grizzly bear would beat a buck in a fight. The size, strength, teeth, claws. Advantage grizzly. Unfortunately not even the laws of nature apply to an NBA game. And that leaves us with the result we saw tonight, as the Bucks beat down the Grizzlies 111-101 in a game that wasn’t really as close as the score might indicate.
With this loss, the Grizz have dropped 10 of their last 11 and could be transforming into a different version of the tank-squad we all witnessed last year. Despite the tough results, Memphis will continue to grind through the season and try to get better.
What grades did the players get?
JaMychal Green: B
Green almost got an A just for this poster:
.@Jmyke1, why you do that man like that??????? pic.twitter.com/RnQYDfsiIi
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 17, 2019
Aside from almost dunking Ilyasova into oblivion, JaM got a solid grade for an overall solid performance, and the Grizz should appreciate that. Green continues to boost his trade value with big energy performances off the bench. With games like this and playing on an expiring deal, there has to be a deal for Green out there to be made. And it should be made.
Omri Casspi: B-
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Casspi played a team-high 35 min in the loss to Milwaukee, mostly because of injuries to other wings and that every mistake Justin Holiday makes apparently earns him at least 15 min on the bench per mistake. Casspi continues to provide value to the Grizz with effective shooting and overall intelligent play. All of this while playing on a veteran’s minimum contract? Score. Casspi is still one of the more underappreciated signings of the offseason to me.
Jevon Carter: C+
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Did Jevon Carter have a good game? Not really. What he did have was more points than Temple and Jackson. A better shooting percentage than Holiday, Temple, and Jackson. More assists than Conley. More blocks than Gasol. And he didn’t play that well. Does Carter have talent? Yes. Is it showing? Sometimes, but not enough. Am I reading too much into his numbers, searching for anything positive as the Grizzlies fall further down into the abyss while my brother, who is a huge Bucks fan, sends me texts making fun of how bad Memphis looked tonight?
You better believe I am.
One more stat, courtesy of @fastbreakbreakfast:
The #Grizzlies are 0-11 in games where Jevon Carter plays pic.twitter.com/jdPU6ulyWj
— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) January 17, 2019
While tonight was another rough night for the Grizz, they have a chance to get back into the win column Friday against the Celtics.