Where Tuomas Iisalo needs Zach Edea to step up in Ja Morant’s absence

The The Memphis Grizzlies need no reminders from how thin theirs are the margin for error is without Ja Morant. The analytics, the film and the scoreboard delivered a message every night that the All-Stars had missed the past few years. Fourteen games into a season they thought would re-establish their place in the Western Conference hierarchy, Tuomas Iisalo‘s Grizzlies instead look like a team that lacks a singular force that usually tilts the floor geometry. Frankly, Morant seems to be i Jaren Jackson Jr. still missing Stephen Adams. luckily Zach Edey is finally ready to solve a few problems.

Morant’s gloss can’t solve all problems, especially those involving auxiliary screens and rim protection. Eddie can, and the numbers show exactly where he needs to step up to keep the Grizzlies afloat until Morant returns. Unfortunately, the numbers paint a clear picture; these Grizzlies are basically broken in the trenches. Even Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the massive, stabilizing presence that EVP/GM Zach Kleiman drafted in to solve the decade-long problem.

Makes Ja Morant’s life easier

Edei really has one job: make Ja Morant’s life easier for 35-40 minutes per game. Without Morant’s threat downhill, possession stalls, and the attack lacks rhythm.

• 27th in screen assists (5.5); 25th in Screen Assist Points (13)

Iisal’s attack requires structure, timing and pressure. Without a dominant guard, possessions often begin to lag. Edei is a world-class screener that creates separation simply by standing still. Morant’s downhill game thrives because of it. Jackson Jr. Jalen Wells can work with the remaining space as a slasher. Memphis had to rely on finesse to create separation, and the defense just wasn’t concerned.

With Morant, screens create advantages. Without it, they are necessary for survival. The Grizzlies had to produce every inch without Edei, making Iisal’s job increasingly difficult. Pick-and-roll games did not provide enough helpers due to weak screens. The points obtained from the screen are overwhelming. Edei must use his massive frame to free up the rest of the team’s ball players, creating any semblance of an advantage in the half court.

• 27th in the effective field (50.9%); 26th in true marksmanship (55.8%)

Edei’s screens have an effect for everyone, regardless of Morant’s availability. The quality of the recordings dropped, and so did the conversion of the recordings. The players try to look sharper as the defense does not respect any inside threats. They didn’t have to have Jackson Jr. cycle through five-wheel positions. Edei reverses that dynamic by compressing the defense around the rim and creating natural gravity. The Grizzlies don’t need him to score 15 a night; they just need him to make the defense flinch.

Grizzlies rarely use the high post effectively (28th in elbow touches, 6.6 per game). Edey’s touch and elbow passing could add a new dimension, facilitating cuts and handoffs that complement Morant’s speed. Despite Morant’s acrobatic finishes, the team struggles to score effectively inside (25th in Points in the Paint, 45.8 per game). Edey’s post-up game and ability to draw double teams would open up the paint, giving Morant more driving lanes and increasing the overall interior score.

Grizzlies are being bullied

The Grind City mantra needs to be retired. Nostalgia is fun and helps sell tickets in small markets, but no one on this team is ready to step into Z-Boo’s shoes, much less replace Adams. Well, not yet. Eddie has dealt with a slew of injuries and will work through a minutes restriction process, but he’s ready to be the bully the Grizzlies need. Tuomas Iisalo just wants to stop the bleeding from not having enough of a jump shot.

The team lacks physical strength in sealing the opposition (25th in box outs, 5.3 per game). Edei’s massive frame stands out here; his college numbers suggest that pinning the record solo is a more realistic question than the lottery. Even on offense, the Grizzlies struggle to create space (25th in offensive turnovers, 1.4 per game) for second-chance points.

• 28th in second chance points for opponents (17.5)

This is the most impressive stat specific to Edea, as the Grizzlies were penalized on the glass multiple times. Defensively, the Grizzlies bleed extra points off rebounds. Edey’s strength and length out of the box would reduce these giveaways and improve transition opportunities. Eddie led college basketball in space control. He doesn’t need post touches; the Purdue alum needs to terminate the property. There is simply no other player who can do that consistently.

• 23rd in second-chance points (13.8 per game)

Bound by poor offensive rebounding, Memphis fails to capitalize on turnovers. Edei’s offensive rebounding rate (over 15% in college) would translate directly into more layups and second chances, turning misses into points. The Grizzlies are near the bottom in breaking the offensive glass (25th in offensive rebounding, 10.5 per game)limiting opportunities for second chances. Opponents feast inside (23rd in opponents’ points in the paint, 53.9 per game) against Grind City’s small frontcourt. With Edei patrolling the perimeter, this number could drop, as his defensive instincts would prompt layups and force harder shots.

Zach Edei craves revenge

Edei may have earned NBA All-Rookie team honors, but the 7-foot-4 phenom has a long way to go to convince critics that Adams has been replaced. The Grizzlies didn’t use a top-10 pick in the draft, though; they have developed a special, experienced elder remedy for their most obvious weaknesses.

The Grizzlies lack a consistent rim-protecting presence. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a phenomenal shot blocker on the weak side, but the team needed solid strength in the middle. Edei’s sheer size and timing make him a formidable last line of defense, allowing Jackson Jr. to roam and wreak havoc.

• 28th in field goal percentage (43.5%)

At the most basic level, the Grizzlies can’t put the ball in the basket. Ranking at the very bottom in shooting efficiency is a recipe for disaster. Edei’s presence as a dominant shooter and post shooter will create more percentage shots at the rim, boosting this anemic number simply by providing an effective option.

• 23rd in defensive rating (117.4)

The overall defense was a sieve, especially inside. The entire defense system needs a foundation. Edei’s communication and presence as the last line of defense is critical to organizing the team and establishing a defensive identity that can win tight, low-scoring games. Nothing stabilizes a defense like stopping possessions and deflecting drives. Edei does both. His arrival will not solve every issue, but he is the missing foundation of the scheme.

Zach Edey was supposed to be a Stephen Adams-like antidote to all ills from day one. Color deterrent. Second chance machine. A screening hub that could turn Iisal’s movement-heavy system into something dangerous. Instead, the Grizzlies were forced to survive without him for a long time due to injuries, surgeries and rehabs.

Morant’s return will revive the heartbeat of the forwards. Edey’s arrival will provide the infrastructure this roster has lacked for years: elite rebounding, baseline screening, rim pressure, interior defense and a simple, physical offense. Individually, this duo can address several specific issues. They treat them all together. The Grizzlies don’t just need Ja Morant back. Iisal needs Zach Edea just as much and the numbers make that clearer than ever.