First Grizzlies’ Takeaways Under Tuomas Iisalo

Iisalo’s Defensive Personnel

Surrounding All-Star DPOY candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. has been an excess of serviceable to solid on-ball guard defenders. Rookie standout Jaylen Wells has made an early living at the point of attack, limiting the game’s most potent dynamic scorers. Wells suffered a fractured right wrist after coming down hard on a fastbreak field goal attempt in Tuesday’s win in Charlotte. The first-year swing guard is third on the team in three-pointers made. The Grizzlies also pace a 111.9 defensive rating per 100 possessions when Wells is on the floor.

Pesky floor general Scotty Pippen Jr. routinely challenges opposing ball-handlers, often pressuring them up the court before sets. The Grizzlies rely a lot on staying home on their dribble drives and forcing kick-outs. Their point-of-attack depth helps guide penetrators into their paint anchors in Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey. On the season, Memphis is third in opponent field goal percentage. Trailing only title favorites in the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. Over their last four games, they rank first in the metric. Backcourt mates Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Pippen Jr. have been impactful defenders this season. The three primary decision-makers, plus Jackson Jr. and Wells are all at least in the 74th percentile in estimated defensive plus-minus.

Maximizing Edey in Iisalo’s Offense and Defense

Rookie lottery pick Zach Edey has endured plenty of peaks and valleys during his first season in Memphis. His promising paint/rim presence, understated shot touch, and rebounding prowess were all strengths that made him a clear-cut additive asset alongside Morant, Bane, and Jackson Jr. Edey’s learning curve and sporadic minutes are a couple of unavoidable factors that can affect a player’s rookie season. The Grizzlies weren’t often optimizing Edey’s offense in the paint because of their motion/read-and-react half-court playstyle under previously tenured Taylor Jenkins. Memphis had also shockingly run the fewest pick-and-rolls in the league.

Iisalo has since modified the offense to Edey’s strengths, and as a result, the offense is not as stagnant when the pace is compromised. Increasing the number of pick and rolls, and screens with Edey reduces redundant half-court play while enhancing more spacing in high-octane actions through dribble-handoffs, Iverson cuts, etc. Edey is averaging 10.3 points, 17.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks on 63% in his last four games. Edey’s constant prowling in the paint at that stature will pay dividends on both sides of the court for the Grizzlies. Ultimately this may help earn Iisalo a permanent stay as the head coach and be a difference-maker for the Grizzlies’ playoff chances in the West.