Grits and Grinds: Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies tie an NBA record for 3-pointers, and how lottery reforms will affect Memphis

·34 min·3 clips
The Grizzlies face the Jazz in a game where both teams are desperately trying to lose to secure better lottery odds.
The episode opens with Keith Parish noting the Grizzlies have two games left and have improved their lottery chances by losing. He reviews recent losses to the Raptors, Bucks, Cavaliers, and Nuggets, highlighting how the Pelicans' win affected standings. Parish emphasizes the upcoming game against the Jazz as a critical tanking showdown, where both teams aim to lose for better draft odds. He details individual performances, such as Cedric Coward's 27-point outburst against the Nuggets and his positive plus-minus stats despite team losses. Parish discusses Ryan Ruppert's 30-point triple-double, comparing him to legends like LeBron James and Magic Johnson based on age-specific achievements. He mentions the Grizzlies tying the NBA record with 29 three-pointers in a game against the Cavaliers, yet still losing, illustrating tanking absurdities. The host covers minutes limitations for players like Omax Prosper and Cam Spencer, citing coach Tomas Isolo's comments about body issues as a pretext. After a break, Parish delves into proposed NBA tanking reforms, explaining a flat odds system where the 10 worst teams each have an 8% chance at the top pick and no floor for draft position. He analyzes how this could affect the Grizzlies, questioning if they would have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. knowing these changes. Parish argues reforms might remove incentives to tank next season, benefiting fans, while increasing the value of picks acquired from the Jazz. He wraps up with end-of-season media availability, focusing on Zach Eadie's health concerns and how they might justify the Jackson trade. The episode concludes with reflections on Cedric Coward's potential as a building block and the team's future draft assets.

As heard by us

Memphis ties the NBA three-point record as Ryan Ruppert's wild line gets both credit and a reality check.

Grits and Grinds finds a tidy angle in a final home game where Memphis hit 29 threes against the Cavs and tied the NBA record. The larger draw, though, is Ryan Ruppert's strange statistical night: a 30-point triple-double with at least four steals, putting him in rare age-21…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want 29 threes, a strange Ryan Ruppert milestone night, and a Memphis fan conversation that keeps finding new numbers to chew on.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on