“You just have to watch the games and improve yourself. There really isn’t much else to do ”. This is how Jaren Jackson Jr. summed up the advice he gathered from his coach, teammates and dad about his complicated start this season.
Expected as the main lieutenant of Ja Morant, especially following the injury of Dillon Brooks, “JJJ” is struggling on both sides of the floor. After delivering a good performance in the second game of the season with a 3-point basket “clutch” registered on the floor of the Clippers (21 points, 7 rebounds), the interior of the Grizzlies fell back into its pitfalls. Not only awkward from afar (31.3% success, with a 0/8 against Miami), he was also sadly distinguished by his awkwardness near the circle.
His tendency to make silly faults on the other side of the field does not help, as evidenced by the last game against Denver, in which he could only play 18 minutes, conceding two fouls in quick succession after the break. , to end the game with 11 points, 4 rebounds and… 5 faults.
A question of rhythm and benchmarks
Even though he struggles to restart the machine, his teammates have no doubts about his ability to bounce back very quickly. For Steven Adams, one of the new elements that Jaren Jackson Jr. has to deal with, not to mention the increased responsibilities of the Melton-Bane tandem, it’s only a matter of time.
“Everyone is still trying to find their rhythm. Myself, I’m still trying to understand different things, especially what the defense can offer us in front of us. It’s not just him, it’s everyone, nothing more. We shouldn’t focus on one person in particular ”.
As a good leader, Ja Morant has taken his share of the responsibility even if he also expects more creation from his teammate.
“You just have to put him where he excels in the field and make him more comfortable, to make his job easier”, he stressed. “ Now he has to create more things. I just have to involve him a little more in the actions, on “pick-and-pop” for example, so that he limits his dribbling “.
Morale is still there
Jaren Jackson Jr. ensures for his part to be able to rely on his mind and his ability to remain positive in addition to the support of his teammates, Memphis having also managed a more than correct start to the exercise.
“It’s as difficult as we want it to be. If you come out on the pitch and play freely, trust your teammates and everything that’s going on, it’s not difficult. If you are tense all the time, that you do not do the right readings, it will be difficult ”, he added.
Next meeting tonight against Memphis, still against the Nuggets.
| Jaren Jackson, Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2018-19 | MEM | 58 | 26 | 50.6 | 35.9 | 76.6 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 13.8 |
| 2019-20 | MEM | 57 | 29 | 46.9 | 39.4 | 74.7 | 1.0 | 3.6 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 17.4 |
| 2020-21 | MEM | 11 | 24 | 42.4 | 28.3 | 83.3 | 1.6 | 4.1 | 5.6 | 1.1 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 14.4 |
| 2021-22 | MEM | 7 | 26 | 32.5 | 31.2 | 100.0 | 0.9 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 12.4 |
| Total | 133 | 27 | 47.2 | 36.9 | 77.4 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 15.3 | |
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