Grizzlies identify areas of growth after Zach Eddy’s first 30 games

Opinions about Zach Edey fluctuated in the 2024 NBA Draft Since then, not much has been settled due to circumstances, schemes, injuries and some fluctuating rotations. I Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies are still teaching Zach Eddy shades, but Taylor Jenkins is encouraged by what the rookie has picked up over the first 30 games of his NBA career.

The franchise’s leader in wins spent several minutes talking about Edey’s evolution after his battle with Mark Williams in a 132-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was mostly free, but there were a few Grizzly things you want to see improvement in the next 40 games of the season.

“Continue to improve your pick-and-roll defense. “Obviously (LaMelo Ball) got a couple of shorter shifts on the baseline,” Jenkins said. “We wanted them to shoot some buoys.” We did a good job in the first half when Williams wasn’t making those shots. Second half, different story.”

The The Grizzlies shifted from top gear in the second half of a somewhat lethargic victory. Eddie had trouble stopping Mark Williams from scoring, but at least Memphis made him work for all 38 points.

“(Williams) had a rhythm in that second half. I thought (Edei) did a pretty good job except for a couple of layups that he gave up. Just his positioning, staying under the roller, not giving up the lob,” Jenkins relayed. “We wanted to give up floaters and try to get the ball out of a certain guy’s hands. Williams had a good night tonight.”

Jenkins wasn’t assigning blame though, just picking Edei up after a bit of a rough night.

“You shouldn’t get discouraged because I thought (Eddie) really did a pretty good job,” Jenkins added. “Rejection was a big key. I know we got hurt when he came out of the game, but I thought for the most part he did a pretty solid job of being in jump position with the pick-and-roll coverage he was in.”

Jenkins is betting on a more consistent Edea that will impact entire games in the back half of the season. The scheme doesn’t count on Edey’s post-heavy offense, but on the offensive expansion that Purdue has all but ignored. Jenkins appreciates Eddie’s adaptability to the Grizzlies’ style of play, which isn’t always centered around giving the ball to the big man. Emphasizing that potential is, however, an inaccurate process.

“There’s no button to push or anything like that.” I think he might not benefit from certain things when we run. “With our spacing, he’s not going to get touches,” Jenkins explained. “I thought in the first half he was doing a great job cutting the perimeter, getting in for dunks. The boys were finding him. Had a couple of lobs and some deep touches. The teams double team and he gets the breakout. He just takes what the game gives him.”

Still, fitting in with the Grizzlies wasn’t a problem at all. The only headache is the type that any organization expects with a new face in facilities. Finding the right spots on the field was more of an adjustment than joining a new team with an unfamiliar playbook.

“Like I’ve said all along, (Eddie) is adjusting really well to our style of play,” Jenkins said. “If he can get behind (the defense) and bend against the mismatch, great. If not, playing on the perimeter, I think projection is something we want to continue to work with in different coverages. The way he kind of understands it, every step he’s taken is growth.”

However, some things should not be changed. The Grizzlies are perfectly fine with the everyday, blue-collar approach Eddie brings to the team.

“I just want him to continue to focus on what his impact can be,” Jenkins stressed. “Don’t worry about goals or productivity and all that. I think he makes the right plays. That’s all that matters. Sometimes he’ll have a slow start and a great second half, so it’s just about staying the course when he’s (on the pitch).”

Next up is a matchup against fellow rookie big Yves Misi and New Orleans Pelicans Zion Williamson. The Grizzlies need Zach Edea to come up in a big way to continue climbing the NBA Western Conference standings.