Story by
Inside the evolving battle of Zach Edey's offensive role with the Memphis Grizzlies
- Story by
- Inside the evolving battle of Zach Edey's offensive role with the Memphis Grizzlies
The numbers are glaring. The shift is noticeable.
Memphis Grizzlies rookie Zach Edey was once the favorite to win the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. His teammate Ja Morant said before the season that Edey should "easily" win the award , and early on he looked like he was headed in that direction.
Advertisement
Fast forward 44 games into the NBA season, and his odds have dropped drastically.
Is it due to declining performance? Not necessarily, though his stats are down. What about the recent migraine, and the nose injury that resulted in him wearing a mask the past two games?
"It's harder to see out of (the mask), but I can still be physical," Edey said. "I can still hit somebody."
The answer is more about what the Grizzlies are prioritizing in their developmental plan for the 7-foot-4 center. They want to expand Edey's game beyond being a traditional back-to-the-basket player on offense.
Advertisement
Earlier this season, the Grizzlies seemed to be making sure he got his touches, but there has been a shift in the past month. In November, Edey averaged 12.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. In December, he had 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per night.
January's production hasn't been the same. He is averaging 4.9 points and 5.7 rebounds, and his current 10-game streak of scoring less than 10 points a game is easily the longest of the season. Before January, he hadn't gone more than two straight games with less than 10 points.
Edey finished Wednesday's 132-120 win over the Charlotte Hornets with seven points and six rebounds in 19 minutes.
"Whoever number is called and a play is called, that's what I do," Morant said. "Other than that, I just tell (Edey) to continue to run the floor, make yourself available and I'll get you your touches because I know what you can do on the floor."
Advertisement
Explaining why Zach Edey's numbers are down
STAYING CONNECTED: From Vanderbilt to rival NBA teams, Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jerry Stackhouse remain connected
How Edey would fit into this new-look Grizzlies offense was a hot topic entering the season. The team prioritizes constant movement, cutting and 3-pointers. The old offense didn't focus on low-post touches, either, but there was more high pick-and-roll. That allowed for players like Steven Adams to shine as screen-setters and dominate the game doing the dirty work.
Edey's role is defined, but it's not similar to what Adams did before him, or what he did in college at Purdue when he was getting low-post touches on nearly every possession.
Advertisement
"Everybody's got a different role to do," Edey said. "My role has changed through the year. Just trying to buy into that role. Buy into being an elite rebounder, buying into being an elite rim protector, buying into being a spacer and cutter more than I've ever been used to. If it helps the team win, that's what I'm going to do."
Part of the statistical drop-off can be chalked up to a sense of urgency. January has been the toughest stretch of games this season for Memphis.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins believes Edey will develop more into a player who can be successful in the post. Right now, the team wants Edey to get most of his interior post touches on duck-ins, when he flashes in front of the basket against a mismatch or has great positioning. In college, Edey was able to overpower players with his strength that matched his skill on the low block. Getting the preferred positioning hasn't always come easily at the NBA level on his hook shots and post touches.
"I think his duck-ins are improving," Jenkins said. "Physicality is an adjustment for him and the speed of the defense. He's doing a great job playmaking out of those spots and utilizing spatial awareness on the baseline, lobs, duck-ins, but also in the pick-and-roll to be an opportunity for a duck-in there."
Advertisement
The long-term outlook for Zach Edey
Memphis recently has flashed a dosage of pick-and-roll plays where Edey comes to the top of the key and sets a screen. That hasn't been a staple of the offense this season, but it was sprinkled in during Monday's win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"Yeah, that's my favorite type of offense," Edey said. "Usually gets something good."
Clearly, that's an area where he is comfortable, but it's one the new offense won't rely on. Edey's rebounding and overall presence is needed for Memphis to reach its goals. The growing pains along that journey are expected and necessary.
Advertisement
The Grizzlies are on a four-game winning streak and seeded No. 3 in the Western Conference, but make no mistake about it — Edey's progress affects the team's ceiling.
The Grizzlies have a plan for Edey. They're not discouraged by his play in recent weeks. Jenkins this month has complimented Edey's ability to play in space and be comfortable on the perimeter this month.
But simply put, Memphis didn't draft Edey to be the exact player he was at Purdue.
"I'm trying to get him to continue to identify the versatility that he can show — that he's been showing over the last couple of weeks," Jenkins said. "At the end of the day, he's shown a lot of growth . . . It's dominate the paint. It's on the rebounds, your duck-ins, it's your spatial awareness down in the dunker but also the pick-and-roll play and the perimeter play as something we want you to grow into because you got so much more in your game that can make an impact at this level."
Advertisement
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Zach Edey's role in Memphis Grizzlies offense, stats are evolving
