Breaking down Grizzlies' key players in opening-night win vs. Jazz

Throughout the night, Morant showcased his signature explosiveness, blowing by defenders with his lightning-quick first step and finishing at the rim with ease. When the defense collapsed, he displayed solid playmaking ability, finding shooters on the perimeter. The Grizzlies capitalized on the space Morant created, shooting 37.8% from deep on a barrage of wide-open three-pointers.

Morant finished the contest with a double-double, racking up 22 points and 10 assists in just 28 minutes of action.

Zach Edey

Zach Edey’s highly anticipated NBA debut provided more cause for concern than celebration. The 7-foot-4 center struggled to find his footing, appearing lost on both ends of the floor and battling foul trouble throughout the contest. Edey’s performance was marred by rookie mistakes: missed box-outs, blown opportunities at the rim and defensive lapses that allowed Utah’s Walker Kessler to dominate the center matchup.

The game exposed many weaknesses scouts had identified before the draft. Edey’s lack of lateral quickness was evident, particularly when guarding the perimeter. He struggled to keep pace with the Grizzlies’ up-tempo offense, often trailing the play and looking winded. Even his supposed strength, rebounding, proved to be a challenge as he was consistently out-hustled and out-muscled on the boards. Edey finished with a meager five points, five rebounds and a team-worst -5 plus/minus rating.

Santi Aldama

Aldama emerged as the Grizzlies’ leading scorer (27), showcasing his offensive versatility. He connected on five of 10 attempts from beyond the arc and formed a potent two-man game with Morant. He expertly exploited gaps in the Jazz defense, finding space for cuts to the basket and providing an outlet for Morant when Utah collapsed on him.

However, the Grizzlies were overpowered on the boards, losing the rebounding battle 49-41, a critical factor in the game’s tight finish. Aldama, despite his offensive contributions, managed only five rebounds and was often outworked by the Jazz’s frontcourt duo of Kessler and Markkanen. If the Grizzlies aspire to be true contenders, Aldama will need to elevate his rebounding and physicality.

Desmond Bane

Desmond Bane delivered another reliable performance, scoring 24 points while connecting on 40% from three-point range. He effectively played the role of Robin to Morant’s Batman, providing consistent scoring and solid perimeter defense. Bane’s defensive efforts were instrumental in limiting Utah’s Keyonte George to a dismal 3-of-18 shooting night.