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

The Memphis Grizzlies need no reminder of how slim their margin for error is without Ja Morant. The analytics, film and rankings delivered the message every night that the All-Star has been missing in recent years. Fourteen games into a season they thought would reestablish their place in the Western Conference hierarchy, Tuomas Iisalo’s Grizzlies look more like a team lacking the singular force that usually tilts court geometry. Frankly, it seems like Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are still missing Steven Adams. Luckily, Zach Edey is finally ready to work out some issues.

Morant’s genius cannot solve all the problems, especially those related to screen assistants and rim protection. Edey can, and the numbers show exactly where he needs to step in to keep the Grizzlies afloat until Morant returns. Unfortunately, the numbers paint a clear picture; these Grizzlies are fundamentally broken in the trenches. Even Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the massive, stabilizing presence that EVP/GM Zach Kleiman drafted to solve a decade-long problem.

Making life easier for Ja Morant

Edey really only has one job: make Ja Morant’s life easier for 35-40 minutes per game. Without Morant’s downhill threat, possessions stagnate and the offense lacks rhythm.

• 27th in screen assists (5.5); 25th in screen assist points (13)

Iisalo’s offense needs structure, timing and pressure. Without a dominant screener, possessions often start late. Edey is a world-class screener who creates separation simply by standing still. Morant’s downhill game thrives on this. Jackson Jr.’s pick-and-pop jumper thrives on this. Jaylen Wells can work with the remaining space as a slasher. Memphis has had to rely on finesse to create separation, and defenses simply aren’t worried.

With Morant, screens create advantages. Without it, they are a necessity for survival. The Grizzlies had to manufacture every inch without Edey, which made Iisalo’s job increasingly difficult. Pick-and-roll plays did not provide enough help due to weak screens. The points generated from the screens are disappointing. Edey must use his massive frame to free up the team’s other ball handlers, thereby generating some semblance of an advantage in the half court.

• 27th in effective field goal (50.9%); 26th in live fire (55.8%)

Edey’s screens have a ripple effect for everyone, regardless of Morant’s availability. The quality of the shots has deteriorated, as has the conversion of the shots. Players attempt harder looks because defenses don’t respect any inside threats. They didn’t have to with Jackson Jr. roaming the five-out wheel positions. Edey reverses this dynamic by compressing defenses around the rim and creating natural gravity. The Grizzlies don’t need him to score 15 points a night; they just need him to make defenses flinch.

The Grizzlies rarely use the high post effectively (28th in Elbow Touches, 6.6 per game). Edey’s touch and passes from the elbow could add a new dimension, facilitating cuts and handoffs that complement Morant’s speed. Despite Morant’s acrobatic finishing, 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 form double teams would open up the paint, giving Morant more driving lanes and improving the overall interior scoring.

Grizzlies are being harassed

The Grind City mantra needs to be retired. Nostalgia is fun and helps sell tickets in smaller markets, but no one on this team is willing to step into Z-Bo’s shoes, much less replace Adams. Well, not yet. Edey has dealt with a plethora of injuries and will go through a minutes-restricted process, but he’s ready to be the low-block intimidator the Grizzlies need. Tuomas Iisalo just wants to stop the bleeding points from lackadaisical rebounding.

The team lacks the physicality to isolate its opponents (25th in Box Outs, 5.3 per match). Edey’s massive figure excels here; his college exit numbers suggest that anchoring the solo boards is a realistic ask from the lottery pick. Even on offense, the Grizzlies struggle to create space (25th in offensive takedowns, 1.4 per game) for second chance points.

• 28th in opponent second chance points (17.5)

This is the most egregious Edey-specific stat, as the Grizzlies have been punished on the glass multiple times. Defensively, the Grizzlies lose extra points thanks to rebounds. Edey’s strength and length would reduce these giveaways and improve transition opportunities. Edey led college basketball in controlling space. It doesn’t need post-touches; the former Purdue must end his possessions. Iisalo simply doesn’t have another player who can do this consistently.

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

Linked to poor offensive rebounding, Memphis fails to capitalize on the misses. Edey’s offensive rebound rate (over 15 percent in college) would directly translate into more putbacks and second chances, turning misses into points. Grizzlies rank last in crushing the offensive glass (25th in offensive rebounding, 10.5 per game)limiting second chance opportunities. Opponents feast inside (23rd in opponents’ points in the paint, 53.9 per game) against Grind City’s undersized frontcourt. With Edey patrolling the rim, that number could drop, as his defensive instincts challenge layups and force harder shots.

Zach Edey wants revenge

Edey 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. After all, the Grizzlies didn’t use a top 10 pick on a draft; they have written a specific and tested remedy for their most glaring weaknesses.

The Grizzlies don’t have a consistent rim-protecting presence. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a phenomenal shot blocker on the weak side, but the team needed a pillar in the middle. Edey’s size and timing make him a formidable last line of defense, allowing Jackson Jr. to move around 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 bottom in terms of shooting efficiency is a recipe for disaster. Edey’s presence as a dominant roll man and post scorer will create a higher shooting percentage at the rim, lifting that anemic number simply by providing an efficient, go-to option.

• 23rd in defensive rating (117.4)

The overall defense was a sieve, especially on the interior. The entire defensive system needs a foundation. Edey’s communication and presence as the last line of defense are crucial to organizing the team and establishing a defensive identity capable of winning close, low-scoring games. Nothing stabilizes a defense like ending possessions and deterring drives. Edey does both. His arrival will not solve all the problems, but he constitutes the basis that was missing from the project.

Zach Edey was supposed to be the Steven Adams-style antidote to all ills from day one. A paint deterrent. A second chance machine. A control center that could turn Iisalo’s system into something dangerous. Instead, the Grizzlies were forced to survive without him for extended periods due to injuries, surgeries and rehab.

Morant’s return will reignite the heartbeat of the offense. Edey’s arrival will provide the infrastructure this team has lacked for years: elite rebounding, screening foundations, rim pressure, interior defense and simple physical offense. Individually, this duo can address some specific issues. Together they heal them all. The Grizzlies don’t just need Ja Morant back. Iisalo needs Zach Edey just as much and the numbers show that more clearly than ever.